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Apr 11, 2016 · A list of history’s 100 best military commanders, from ancient to modern times. These are the most important military leaders in history, from the classical era to the present day. Close
- John J. “Black Jack” Pershing. Pershing is the first great modern American general. Born near the beginning of the Civil War, Pershing grew up in Missouri surrounded by veterans of that devastating war.
- George S. Patton. Arguably the most famous general after George Washington, George S. Patton is the personification of what many Americans think a general should be (or more specifically George C. Scott’s portrayal in the iconic 1970 film about him is what Americans think a general should be).
- William T. Sherman. William T. Sherman believed the only way to win the Civil War was to completely destroy the South’s will to fight, and he did so with ruthless efficiency through what would later be termed “Total War.”
- David Petraeus. Probably the most controversial pick on the list for his personal transgressions, Gen. David Petraeus is credited with bringing counterinsurgency back into the Army and turning around the Iraq war.
- Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) was a monarch of the ancient Greek state of Macedon, known throughout history as the man who nearly conquered the world.
- Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was a renowned military leader best known for his military campaigns in the Gallic Wars and the subsequent civil war that eventually led to his rise to power.
- Hannibal. If you’re an ancient Roman reborn, chances are you’ll hate the name Hannibal with passion. Dubbed Rome’s “public enemy number one,” Hannibal was a great Carthaginian general who stormed ancient Rome with his innovative combat philosophies.
- Napoleon Bonaparte. If we’re talking about whose conquests are most dissected and studied by modern-day military experts and tacticians, then it’d be Napoleon — for both good and bad reasons.
- Blake Stilwell
- Alexander the Great. Ancient Macedonians didn't have sideburn regulations, apparently. As previously mentioned, Alexander was a great strategist, but since his life was cut short and he had only nine battles from which to draw data, it leaves the model very little to work with.
- Georgy Zhukov. Soviet General and Stalin survivor Georgy Zhukov. Zhukov has only one more battle than Alexander and his overall score barely squeaks by the Macedonian.
- Frederick the Great. Frederick is #8 on this list but he places first for "coolest portrait." Ruling for more than 40 years and commanding troops in some 14 battles across Europe earned the enlightened Prussian ruler the number 8 spot on this list.
- General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant's face says, "Do you see any Confederate generals on this top ten list? No? You're welcome. " Grant's performance commanding Union troops in 16 battles earned him the seventh spot on the list – and the U.S. presidency.
- George Washington: It was Washington's misfortune to end up on the $1 bill. The portrait of what appears to be an effete old man in a wig has caused future generations of Americans to underestimate him.
- Winfield Scott: Since 1943, America has become accustomed to launching amphibious assaults of overwhelming strength. D-Day and Tarawa were tough battles, but at least the attackers were backed by massive resources.
- Ulysses Grant: Grant or Lee? Lee or Grant? Trying to decide which general was better will trigger debate and tempers until America itself is but a memory.
- George Marshall: If any one man deserves credit for America's victory in World War II, it is Marshall. When he became U.S. Army Chief of Staff in 1939, he inherited an army smaller than that of Romania and led by decrepit old generals unfit to lead a Boy Scout troop.
Jul 3, 2024 · Some of the best American generals are also the top military leaders in history. The army leaders and generals in the US Army on this list all either held the most important positions in the US military or were immortalized in the history books for their actions in war.
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Sep 2, 2023 · 1. George Washington. Washington has to top this list. As commanding general of the Continental Army, he was more responsible for the victory of the U.S. over Great Britain in the...
