The Top 100 Leaders in History

I'm suprised there are no Ottoman leaders.  Very surprised, unless one of our turkish members makes a submission, I'll be willing to give it a go.  It just seems off not to have at least one member of the Ottoman empire on there.

Wasn't Ataturk one of the greatest leaders? He was the greatest leader of 20th century.
He was the leader who attacked imperialism first. He was a revolutionary, a great commander and a great president.
Long Live his reforms!
Long Live Turkey, he founded!
Long Live Kemal Atatürk!
You'll never die, You'll live forever in our hearths..

Dilmun is on your list?  How?  Why?  We don't even know the location of Dilmun and it's only referenced in Sumerian/Akkadian literature.  How is it a candidate? 

Top 100 Leaders BETA

Cyrus The Great is definately one of the greatest leaders in history. But keep in mind that his empire would have fallen immediately, had not it been for the superb administration of Darius The Great, whom in fact, sustained it.

Edited by Penelope - 10-May-2008 at 19:07

46

Shutruk-Nahhunte

1160 BC

Elam its been years since I heard that name.

I've now updated and revised my ratings of English leaders.  There are very many leaders, but very few truly outstanding leaders.  Only 3 really great leaders: Alfred, Elizabeth, and Winston Churchill.  I've got only 4 in the top 100, but an amazing 14 in the top 200.

Meyers, I actually agree having Cyrus at that number, Augustus as well. Though the number 1 and 2 should be interchange in my opinion, overall impact in a historical perspective shows this as so. but I see your point placing George as such.

Originally posted by Efraz Hello Cyrus, Very interesting subject I would like to discuss it. You think Zulqarnain is Cyrus the great? Yes it would be prettier than Alexander yes. But it is not certain. And many scholars of Islam referred him as Alexander for centuries. Also there is a notable work named Romance of Alexander. which is attributed to Pseudo-Callisthenes Some parts just matches Zulqarnain. Like the iron wall and gog&magog. And it's earliest version is written before Quran. Please don't take offence on this I am researching and thinking about the subject for a long time and find it appealing. I am not a supporter of any theory or disliking any. I know today's muslim scholars have conflicting views on his identity. I have even read works claiming "yes he was Iskandar but he was muslim enough" And also who do you think gog and magog are? Or should we discuss in another thread? :)

Its hard to state on this, but if you look at it at the Judeo-Christian religions, both Christianity and Judaism, Alex mentioning is as limit as a few passages, he actually didnt care himself with Israel as much as Cyrus had. And we all know the exploits of Alexander with his agreement with slavery, his being a polytheist, proclaiming himself as a demigod or was it a god, his speculative love with other men (all three religions, Christianity, Islam, Judaism are against it), his egomaniac behavior and etc.

As Cyrus pointed out, Zulqarnain is actually a question by Jews of that time regarding his importance towards them, Cyrus had more of an impact in Judaism than Alex had. I believe in Daniel it is written that the Persians as a Ram, same thing was said in the Quran as the symbol of Zulqarnain though this could be countered by the coins Alex made of himself having ram's head.

The reality though, the romantic tales of Alex made the arabs of ancient times believe he was Zulqarnain, but Alex is far from what Zulqarnain stood for. Didnt Alex's attack be from West to East?

Some of the leaders were more generals or lets say millitarist, is their contributions to culture, arts, architecture or lets say collectively civil works not a factor of being a great leader?

Honestly, all the quotations have very little impact on how I evaluate a great leader.  You've just got to look at the performance--what they did and how it impacted their nation.  Cyrus was the Great, he's in the top 5.