Who would you considered as the greatest military general in the history of the world since the year 1500?

Question

Out of all military generals in the history of the world, which military general would you say has made the greatest contribution to their country's military and to the world since the year 1500?

This military general had to have served from January 1, 1500 to the present day (today in November 26, 2007).

Answer 1

Douglas MacArthur

born in a frontier fort in Kansas as his Colonel father chased Indians, he rose to command forces armed with nuclear weapons carried on something called an airplane which didn't even exist when he was born.....

the youngest Colonel and General in the American Army, number 3 in West Point history ( behind R E Lee and an someone who has passed from history ); a man who in his 70's rallied his troops from a bare 5,000 to a million man army which lost less KIA in 3 years of bitter Pacific war then Eisenhower lost at the Battle of the Bulge; if not the inventor then a enthusiastic practitioner of island hopping; the executioner of the audacious insanely brave landings at Inchon; and most importantly, the General the enemy feared the most.

Not only a brilliant practitioner of martial valour, he was an exemplary proconsul; he almost single handed....while running the SW Pacific War...wrote the Japanese constitution adopted post war and made Japan the peaceful democracy...and staunch ally is today.

Answer 2

The question asked 'since 1500' so Alexander, Ghengis Khan etc are irrelevant!!

Napoleon is the most obvious example of a spectacularly successful general (at least in the era before the World Wars) so I'd go for the chap who beat him, Wellington, the Iron Duke.

The modern battle is so different from Waterloo, where everyone was fighting within a few miles radius, that I'll pick another modern general. Most might go for a Nazi, Rommel, von Manstein or Guderian, but I think I'll go for Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf. Although the Allies had overwhelming qualitative superiority I can't think of anyone else who has won an entire war while suffering less than 500 killed.

Answer 3

Patton, (guts, respect for his men)
Alexander and Darius (innovation, courage)
Erwin Rommel (smarts, loyalty, ability to improvise, respect for his men) although never made General rank, served as Field Marshall of Afrika Corps
Maximus Decimus Meridius! (just kidding)
Petain (at least in WW1)

Answer 4

Hello,

I would have to give it to General George S. Patton.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 5

Napoleon

Answer 6

Probably, Alexander the Great. He died young, but led armies to create a vast empire.

Answer 7

Charlemagne.

Answer 8

King Muhammad Akbar. n also Changez Khan though cruel he was of the finest.