[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

Good questions! There were many fine commanders in the history!

Julius Caesar
Ghengis Khan
Atilla the Hun
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Normandy Invasion)
George Washington (Valley Forge, etc.)
Rommel (Brilliant Tactician)
Zhukov (Brute Force in relatively undisciplined army)
"Bull" Halsey (Brillian Tactician)

Notice I did not question their idealogy but their skills in commanding a large army and the example of leadership.

[Fatalis]

How about MacArthur, Saladin and Tamerlane. Also Sargon.

[Norman Bates]

I think the Allies succeeded at Normandy in spite of Eisenhower, not because of him. But that's just my opinion. To give him credit, he was a great coalition leader; Just not an outstanding military general.

Zhukov? Sheer numbers, that's all.

[BushMeister]

I agree with some on this board that Alexander the Great is head-and-shoulders above anyone else. He took the throne at 20, immediately conducted difficult operations to cement his control of much of Greece, and then went on a 22,000 mile rampage of conquest. He had an incredible feel for the flow of battle, a sure instinct as when to strike the crippling blow, and personal courage unequaled among rival commanders.

I recommend Peter Green's "Alexander of Macedon", for those who want to learn about this man, who might have lived the most extraordinary life in human history. A lighter read, with photos of present-day locations, is Michael Woods' "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great".

Alexander was a ruthless bastard, and caused about 1 million deaths, but we're talking about military prowess, here.

Other great commanders that come to mind are Julius Caesar (for Alesia alone), Wellington, Patton, Hannibal (another amazing story, but he failed to deliver the knockout blow to Rome), and Scipio Africanus.

[xone]

bump

[JasonC]

Of those, only Caesar and Rommel were outstanding commanders. The others just led winning sides. And Rommel had his drawbacks.

[qam1]

Atilla the Hun

Flavius Aetius, A.k.A. The "Last Roman" should be on the list

With a collapsing Western Empire he was able to beat/hold off the Goths, Vandals and of course his great victory over Attila at the battle of Charlons.

If it wasn't for Aetius the Western Empire would have collapsed 50 years earlier and Christianity would have been extinct by the 6th century.

[mirkinmuffley]

Patton is coming on AMC right now. 10:45 CST

[sauron]

Okay, we've listed the GOOD ones.

Now, let's class them, group them, by STYLES.

E.g., Patton and Zhukov were very similar in approach.

Zhukov, in his bio, mentioned that he'd never hesitate to cross a minefield...he figured he'd take losses crossing it, but certainly no more than if he'd been engaging the enemy the whole while. (What a Theory X manager!)

[JCEccles]

Halsey? I'd rank Spruance above Halsey.