Who are the five greatest generals of all time?

Your posts seem remarkably warlike for someone calling himself St Francis of Assisi.

Originally posted by St. Francis of Assisi My list is: 1. Napoleon Bonaparte 2. Hannibal 3. Alexander the Great 4. Genghis Khan 5. Erwin Rommel

I can agree with 1,2,3, and 4. Rommel doesn't belong in the top five. You have to take in to consideration Rommel's innovations for warfare and his success. There are a few who outrank him in these categories: Frederick II, Subedei, Scipio, Adolphus, Jackson, Cordoba, Churchill, Belisarius, or Wellington. Rommel could be in a top 20 list but not a top 10 and definately a top five list.

I think the question is basically impossible, considering that there are many different qualities, let alone the vast number of generals and the evolution of warfare. For example, different criteria include:

1. Size of conquest/campaign
2. Tactical Skill
3. Skill in grand strategy
4. Traditional vs. innovative tactics
5. Charisma
6. Political/Administrative Skill

Many in the list who are great in one area do poorly in others. For example, Hannibal is great for #2, but weak in everything else, while on the other hand, Genghis Khan is strong in #1, #5 and #6 and probably average for the rest. Alexander was strong in #1, #2 and #5, but was especially weak in #6. 

On the whole, I think most of the people in your list of 10 are good picks (although there are far more that were as great), except for Caesar, whom I think shouldn't even be in the top 10 for Roman generals.


Edited by Imperator Invictus

You make an excellent point though! I failed to look deeply enough into the aspects of an effective General....... After your post, I may review and edit my selection!

hmmmm.... i almost never give people numbers, so ill just name my favorite 5 (probably not the best).

Here goes:
Erwin Rommel (what did you expect )
Genghis Khan
Alexander the Great
Hannibal Barca
and Gaivvs Ivlivs Caesar

My list is:

Alsander the Great
Julious Ceaser
Napolean
Wellington
Sun Tzu

My criteria was basically on how good their army was.

Sun Tzu was not a general.

There is doubt that he was even a real person, instead of a series of authors.

We have no record of him winning ANY battles.

How can you place someone who probably didn't exist, and of whom we have no record of fighting any battles above such great generals as Hannibal and so on?

And Caesar was not that good of a general!

Subotai ,Li shi min,Alexander,Aguda Khan,

Sun Tzu was no general? I guess I am incorrect on that selection then...I based alot of that post on the fact that Sun Tzu has world renowned military logic, I guess I just assumed he was a general.

Originally posted by Jay. My list is: Alsander the Great Julious Ceaser Napolean Wellington Sun Tzu My criteria was basically on how good their army was.

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We don't know much about Sun Tzu and his actual military leadership. Of course he wrote THE book of military strategy and thought but his accomplishments and victories are hidden if they ever truly happened. I wouldn't include him in a top Generals list.