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In your opinion - Who is/was the most sucessful miltary leader of all time?

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
There have been a lot. And there are a lot of ways to measure success.

Genghis Khan is really up there.
SW-User
👀 he and I share the same last name.. @QuixoticSoul
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@SW-User You need to keep that on the dl before you doxx yourself 😂
SW-User
Nah I have a middle name too and nobody gets anywhere with just the last name cause it’s common @QuixoticSoul
HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F
I don't know, then again I don't classify killing as success.
SW-User
@QuixoticSoul Thomas Cleary's translation of the Art Of War starts with an interesting parable about three brothers who are healers. The most famous of whom admits that the least famous brother is the best healer because he prevents sickness from happening in the first place. Its an interesting read.
HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F
@SW-User military without killings, when did that ever happen?
@QuixoticSoul very well said, but usually when we're talking about a strong or successful military we're referring to who's most feared, who occupied most places etc.
I guess any military leader who didn't resort to violence even if that seemed the most obvious thing to do is successful to me. I just don't know any to name.
SW-User
@HannibalAteMeOut I said that killing does not have to be how you measured success. However you measure it, it is up to you.
firefall · 61-69, M
Most successful in his lifetime? Probably Alexander the Great.

Maybe Subotai if you measure by total land area conquered, I guess.

Most successful longterm, I'd say Gaius Julius Caesar
anathemaJack · 46-50, M
@helenS Cannae was a smashing success, No?
helenS · 36-40, F
@anathemaJack Carthage... Carthage... let me think... where was it again?
anathemaJack · 46-50, M
@helenS 🙄 Applying this logic, eh?
You're just jelly.

Just because the state failed or the empire doesn't exist anymore, doesn't exclude them from having some of the best minds or tacticians the world has ever known. imho
Troy123 · 22-25, M
HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M
@Troy123 I'll second that motion.
MartinII · 70-79, M
Fascinating question, and too difficult to answer. For instance, who would rate more highly - Napoleon or Kutuzov?
helenS · 36-40, F
@MartinII A successful leader will not only win the war. He will also win the peace after. That's what made Cesar successful, whereas Alexander failed.
SW-User
@MartinII Wouldn't that have been an interesting face off
MartinII · 70-79, M
@SW-User Well, it happened and Kutuzov won!
LucyFuhr · 56-60, F
I don't know enough about "war" to really have a strong opinion but I always thought it was Sun Tzu.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@LucyFuhr Tbh we know very little of his actual military career, so nobody can really say whether he was a particularly successful general or not.

His insight, however, is undeniable.
LucyFuhr · 56-60, F
@QuixoticSoul Did you read the one about ST and the concubines?
Gigglers to soldiers; that's the one that sold me LOL
How can I answer that? I’m not even a history buff.
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
Vlad the Impaler
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@Nyloncapes He certainly had an interesting career. But few count him among the preeminent military minds in history.
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
@QuixoticSoul yes bloody and interesting career ,
Koxzinga-ran the Dutch out of Taiwan.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@SStarfish Seriously? Tbh a wartime president/prime minister is not usually considered a military leader. That term is for people who are a bit more hands on - generals and the like.
@QuixoticSoul shrugs idk any military personnel per say so

Yeah seriously
patkaren1717 · 36-40, M
My Wife, she rules with an Iron Fist.
Ghenghis Khan

 
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