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.
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.
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.
bump
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.
Patton is coming on AMC right now. 10:45 CST
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!)
Halsey? I'd rank Spruance above Halsey.