The most successful leader

Adolf Hitler wasn't successful at all. Hitler was an utter failure.

Attila the Hun was half successful. He succeded in many things but failed in others, and died with unfulfilled goals.

Edited by Imperator Invictus

I believe that one of the most successful leaders in History would have to be Augustus Caesar.


Edited by Knights - 04-Nov-2006 at 09:41

I would have to say Phillip father of Alexander and Muhammed, since both of them excelled in all aspects of leadership, diplomacy militarism and domestic affairs. Also both of them started with more or less nothing and turned it into a world power. 

I am with knights and would have voted for Caesar Octavianus Augustus ... if he were on the list.
That because (following a rationale not significantly diferent from that stated by other people on this thread) he won the control of a large empire, then managed to stop war and violence, had the empire to prosper, and ultimately died a natural death on his own bed.

Among the choicespresented on the poll list, I voted for William the Conqueror, because similar reasons apply, albeit on a smaller extent.

Originally posted by Celestial There has never been a leader like Ataturk and there never will be. He is considered the greatest leader in the Turkish history.

Is that why Turkey is still a 3rd world country...even after 90 or so years?

And I dont know what is sadder, the fact that all Turks here voted for Ataturk or the fact that almost everyone else voted for Alexander, so Ataturk wouldn't be the greatest leader of all time...yet again


Edited by mamikon - 04-Nov-2006 at 12:12

Originally posted by Serge L I am with knights and would have voted for Caesar Octavianus Augustus ... if he were on the list. That because (following a rationale not significantly diferent from that stated by other people on this thread) he won the control of a large empire, then managed to stop war and violence, had the empire to prosper, and ultimately died a natural death on his own bed. Among the choices presented on the poll list, I voted for William the Conqueror, because similar reasons apply, albeit on a smaller extent.

Thankyou Serge. . Augustus all the way!
But yes from the List I would have chosen William the conqueror because of the monumental long term impact he had as a leader. ie. the gradual formation and rise of the British and as a superpower.

Secondly, Where on earth is the 'other' option...the lack of 'other' is basically implying that no one else in history is legitimate for this title --> Very constricting.

There are some very fantastic leaders on the list nevertheless.

firstly why is everyone on this list largely known for thier role in war, or (in the case of Boudicea) did nothing of great importance in any other field? besides some of the people in it LOST the key conflicts they were involved in and other's failed to achieve many of thier goals.

Another Problem is defining Succesful. Succesful is not the same as powerful, brilliant, or influential. The most logical definition of succesful is did you or to what degree did you accomplish your Goals (in this case as a leader). However this creates problems as Alexander the Greats Goal (well one of them) for example was world conquest, however brilliant he was he didn't come close. Whereas a random Member of the state government (doesn't matter which country or what state), let's call him Bill Blogs whose only Goals as a leader are to pay for his Big Screen TV and get VIP seats at the local sports ground while doing little actual work may well achieve all these! The most Succesful leader in history may be someone we've never heard of!!!

Oh and thank you Knights for pointing out the lack of an "other" option, no poll in any way similar to this should be without one.

The debates about interpretations of "success" are a waste of time because ones man's success is another man's failure.  Same thing as when we lose all our time debating the definition of "terrorist" verus "insurgent" or "resistance fighter".

Adolf Hitler wasn't successful at all. Hitler was an utter failure.

Edited by Earl Aster - 07-Nov-2006 at 12:16

Yes, I agree with you about his military genius scottmaning13, but overall, he does not deserve to be revered as a great political leader