The 15 Best Military Commanders In Human History, Ranked

[@GrungeHQ]

Who do you think is the G.O.A.T. military commander?

[@edljnehan2811]

Where's George Patton or Omar Bradley I believe you have too many ancient rulers on this list😮

[@swiftsilva7723]

Can’t believe you got mr Barca at 6 . At least 2. Hannibal could’ve copied Alexander with Alexander’s troops. Not sure if Alexander could’ve wielded hannibals army so well

[@brokenbridge6316]

The GOAT is Alexander the Great. So glad you had him as number one on your list.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@edljnehan2811 Patton is so overrated

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Alexander or Napoleon

[@Sunbeard.9]

Genghis khan's general Subutai should have been added to this list. He never lost a battle with 65 victories. Unprecedented military genius! Hands down!

[@davidk6269]

Subutai and also his colleague Jebe should both be on this list.

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Nice addition! I agree!

[@marcobiagioli3905]

Also for me he was the greatest, but he was once defeated by the Volga Bulgarians.

[@Sunbeard.9]

@davidk6269 Agreed, thanks for that .👍👍

[@Schimenator]

Attacked Russia IN THE WINTER and won. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Napoleon and Adolf

[@jameswaterfield]

Eisenhower does NOT belong in this list, as he never commanded troops in battle! He was a great administrator, who knew how to delegate. All the achievements he made were through other peoples efforts, a bit like Edison really. Also, wouldn't a qualifier for this list be that the leader involved, never lost a battle? Like Sir Arthur Wellesley or to create such clever tactics, that your force consistently defeats foes with far greater power, like Thomas Cochrane or Horatio Nelson. I do note a distinct lack of British leaders here! Oh and I forgot. William "Uncle Bill" Slim, who took charge of a defeated army, turned it round and soundly defeated the Japanese on the mainland, it should also be noted, that two divisions of the 14th army were only prevented from destroying the Viet Minh, by the French returning to south east Asia and, basically, telling them that "It's OK, we are back, we can finish the job"! They, of course dithered enough for the Viet Minh to re-arm and re-equip and, eventually, soundly defeat first the French and then the US armies.

[@TomTomicMic]

Yes the UK got the biggest empire with the smallest army!?!

[@jpx1508]

Eisenhower was a consummate 5-star staff general of generals, but Eisenhower never led troops at a combat level. There was always another general between Eisenhower and the fighting. If you want an American general the usual top two picks are George Patton and US Grant.

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Glad some one said it! He was not so much a military commander, but a bureaucrat. That is fine, managing something of that scale requires those skills, but not a military commander in the sense people think of.

[@mobrule8219]

How about George Washington. He only defeated the greatest military power of the age, Great Britain to win our independence!

[@jonmce1]

You could easily list a group of German generals better than all three of them.

[@Patrick462]

Boys study tactics. Men study logistics.

[@SeanBlantonPhD]

His skills befit modern, large scale military campaigns. He was in charge of all the allied armies in Europe. Hard to deny his accomplishments

[@BobbyRyan21]

Khalid ibn al Waleed is easily a top 5 commander the fact that he isn't even on this list says how much people in the west don't even know who he was. Which is pretty sad.

[@doylekitchen9795]

and Baibars. The Muslims cheered Baibars over Salah ad Din. Salah ad Din lost.

[@iftikharuddin999]

very much true. How come the author ignore Khalid Bin Walid whose successful victories against both Roman and Persian Empires during the peak broke and defeated both empires and created a new one the Caliphate that set into motion the changes which saw Spain and places far as North East as Siberia. He has also been insnstumental in subduing the Arabian peninsula from Oman till Iraq and Syria, Palestine and present day Jordan. He is also said to have defeated the combined forces of the Roman and Perian Empires who after successive defeats joined hands to face the Muslim Armies and were also defeated again. Yet Khalid Bin Walids name is missing from the list which is mind beyond comprehension.

[@BobbyRyan21]

@@iftikharuddin999 The reason why he is left off almost every list is simply they don't know who he is. They just list the same old names who are already well known.

[@qudusask]

Western bias and hatred for Arab Muslims. That’s the only explanation

[@lonelywolf1480]

@@doylekitchen9795 Yavuz Sultan Selim and Fatih Sultan Mehmet should also be in the list.

[@7seriesbeemer]

Khalid ibn al Waleed?????

[@LindaYariger]

Tyvm

[@Stefan-ei5wg]

Correct...the guy was undefeated in all of his battles..and he doesn't get a spot here?

[@streetscholar3539]

​@@Stefan-ei5wg usually with smaller and inferior forces too, he used new tactics and revolutionary methods but dont expect him to be on a mickey mouse list like this 1 with ppl like cortez on it 🤦🏻

[@TirabintaToktik-hz1lx]

Who tf is that? 😂😂

[@stevearmstrong1430]

Grigory Zhukov. I'm just saying. The guy did more generaling than anyone else. He put more violence against more violence than anyone else. Not even close.

[@bdleo300]

I prefer Suvorov, Russian general who never lost a battle. I guess not good enough for this Mickey Mouse 'list'.

[@stevearmstrong1430]

@@bdleo300 Arguably a good choice. Both of our opinions have merit but, I don't believe you need to win every battle when the odds are actually against you. The only way to win all the battles is to avoid fearsome odds.

[@swhip897]

High casualties is no way to run an army

[@stevearmstrong1430]

@@swhip897 Finishing a war is how you run an army.

[@olivierpuyou3621]

Rather strange ranking... Napoleon won more battles than Caesar, Hannibal and Alexander the Great combined and most often outnumbered.

[@SardonianSmile]

drink a beer ...

[@frankgesuele6298]

Alexander died as the master of the known world. Caesar was assassinated as the master of the Roman Empire. Napoleon as the master of a small island.

[@SardonianSmile]

@@frankgesuele6298 hahaha bad but funny as well

[@danilo4631]

che dici. cesare ha fatto innumerabili battaglie in decenni di servizio militare e poi da generale, e in campo, in prima linea a volte.

[@Freedom2111]

Not more than Julius Caesar and Alexander. Probably more than the overrated Hannibal. Napoleon lost many battles too - Waterloo, Leipzig, and caused huge French army to be destroyed in Russia.

[@davidbarkin8269]

Leonidas, one of the Great Generals in history? Really?

[@streetscholar3539]

Exactly. Id say the 1st half of the list is questionable at best.

[@RoxanneM-o3t]

Also, putting in that line about 'free men" and "tyrants" as if it's actual history: the Spartans were generally way more cruel than the Persians to be people they have conquered. The Helots would have probably jumped at the chance to be under Persian rule instead of constantly being used as target practice and annual slaughters for practice.

[@Schimenator]

Leonidas' victory at Thermopylae? Whaaaat?

[@psier11]

If that's not a strategic victory!

[@laogalaxy3792]

Tamerlane should be way higher. He didn't have super generals like Genghis Khan to help him. The success of his battles and wars depended on him so much.

[@willardsteele4857]

Agree. Way too low ranked. Some others don’t even belong on this list.

[@Stefan-ei5wg]

​@@willardsteele4857Like Cortez..

[@lonelywolf1480]

You are right. This list reflects the kind of education he (the host of this video) had and the culture he has.

[@loboloco866]

EXCELLENT, outstanding, brilliant description of true history of military strategists. Unbiased choice and great content.

[@jackofswords7]

You missed out Wellington. The General who was never defeated. From India to Portugal, Spain, France and Belgium. He defeated every one of Napolian's generals sent against him and even Napoleon himself at Waterloo.

[@conwellketterer7772]

I don't think you can give wellington credit for waterloo, the British were doomed if the Prussians didn't show up

[@jackofswords7]

@@conwellketterer7772 I think you can as Napoleon's army was already defeated and in retreat, by the time Blücher's army turned up late (thanks to Gneisenau, Blücher's C of S, who didn't like or trust Wellington) Blücher's Prussians did a fantastic follow-up pursuit of Napoleon's army completing the destruction. Something Wellington's army no longer had the energy for. So yes, Wellington did defeat Napoleon at Waterloo.

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

The French were not in retreat before the Prussians arrived… the Prussians were the ones who forced the retreat. Also even if the Prussians hadn’t shown up, Napoleon was forced to rush due to the chance of them showing up. Then add on top of that the weather and Napoleons illness and you get the real picture. Also Wellington lost like 5 battles in Spain. He was not undeafeted.

[@jackofswords7]

@@Pospolite-Ruszenie ER... No, he didn't. Get back to me when you have some real facts.

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

@@jackofswords7 Siege of Burgos, Second siege of Badajoz, Battle of Tordesillas?

[@Dan-uf2vh]

a popularity commanders instead of the best commanders

[@ulyrhee8123]

Where's Attila? Where's naval commander Yi sunshin ?,who never lost a battle against japanese armada while greatly out numbered. English Naval commander Nelson against Spanish armada? Wheres the desert fox Rommel? Where's the israelite commander Joshua who went on conquering and conquering while wandering? Also should Eisenhower be on this list? He had alot of help , no?

[@lonelywolf1480]

Yes. And also Yavuz Sultan Selim and Fatih Sultan Mehmet are missing in the list. - Yavuz Sultan Selim (Selim the Grim): He increased the size of Ottoman Empire three fold within an incredibly short period of 8 years during the time he was on the throne. He defeated major powers of the day such as Safavid and Mamluks and transferred the Caliphates from Egypt to Istanbul); - Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmet the Conqueror): He managed lot of victories, among them was the capture of Constantinople. This conquest is considered by some historians to be the event that ended the Middle Ages and started the New Age.

[@chensun6156]

Atilla did lose though.

[@marcsongini091165]

Generalship excellence is more than battlefield tactics. There’s intelligence, supply chain management, long term strategic planning, diplomacy, the ability to lead and inspire men. And luck. This mixes things up and doesn’t do precise comparisons.

[@guydawe7231]

John Churchill Duke of Marlborough who won every battle he fought and succeeded in every siege he undertook deserves to be in any top five imho along with General Jackson, Napoleon, Tamarlane and Hannibal.

[@jtpalooki7757]

Uh… Galipoli was a tremendous military blunder!

[@jonmce1]

@@jtpalooki7757 you are aware that the John Churchill Duke of Marlborough was a commander in the 1600s.

[@jtpalooki7757]

@@jonmce1 you got me parter!🤠.. however El Cid, who liberated the Iberian peninsula from seven hundred years of Muslim control also deserves mention!

[@ElenaGeorge1]

@@jtpalooki7757 Wrong Churchill...

[@billybobobenner]

Eisenhower was an effective administrator but as a Military Commander he should be nowhere near this list. You are missing many great commanders like Subatai, Scipio Africanus and The Duke of Marlborough.

[@ciceroromavisa3399]

He was a war criminal

[@johnsimca7093]

Giap lost at Tet and the Easter Offensive. He was right, “you will tire of the fight”

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Yeah, the US won nearly every battle in Vietnam. People get this wrong all the time. The military was not defeated despite the absurd handcuffs put on them. The Vietnamese agreed to the demands of the US. Only after the bulk of the US military left and was no longer fighting did the South fall. Still a strategic loss for the nation, but not a military defeat.

[@mikeflynn2926]

No, Giap won with the Tet offensive. It utterly changed American popular view of the war from "winnable" to "let's get out of here"

[@kornofulgur]

David vs Goliath 3 times in a row, won the 3 times. Yup, definatly one of the greats.

[@Tboy439]

@@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle ....The primary reason for the Vietnam war was to create a social uprising in America, and it worked just the way they planned it. America had no intentions of winning the war

[@alokgarg1245]

Samudragupt was perhaps the best general of all time . He was a genius and a great strategist who never lost a war . He ruled for a very long time and was greatly loved by his people .

[@raf4532]

Khalid ibn al waleed the man who never been defeated destroyed the Roman and Byzantine empire, who outnumbered him by 10x, and was one of the sole reason why Islam’s golden age began? You’re telling me he doesn’t deserve to be on the list? He should be atleast top 5

[@DaRandomGees]

I only found out about him recently But he definitely should be up there His personal bravery and decision making in the heat of battle changed the course of history

[@psier11]

Thanks for pics of Dikesenhower. Female gait and long index confirms she was an ftm

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough and Scipio Africanus should be considered.

[@psier11]

Scipio 4th place as he defeated Hannibal. Malborough incredible achievements are less lasting than most strategists in the list. Even mostly not his fault, Malplaquet transformed a complete victory in the near parity at Utrecht. If Malborough had had gnostic bosses instead of real illuminists, like the owners of Transukraina for example, he could have accepted every loss and won entirely.

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

@@psier11 You’ll get no argument from me. I can tell that you know more about this than I do.

[@markwarnberg9504]

Strainge how Western Historiens never mention Karl XII of Sweden 1682 - 1718.

[@p40148]

Maybe in top 50.

[@davidk6269]

With all due respect, Mongol generals Subutai Baghatur and Jebe should be included on this list.

[@davidk6269]

@sercanyilmaz4816 I am not sure if that is correct. Everything I have read about him claims that he is Mongol, without any mention of being of Turkish descent.

[@jrb2333]

He's been vilified by revisionist history but U.S. Grant was considered one the greatest battlefield commander alive during his lifetime and immediately after his death. He lectured some of the great military minds and his tactics are still studied.

[@bonganindlovu7925]

Shaka Zulu and Marshall Zhukov are missing

[@dwightdjackson]

Zhukov was the greatest general of WW2. He should be on this list before Eisenhower

[@kevinsullivan7831]

Not really, all he did was throw bodies at the enemy

[@surters]

When seeing that Leonides is on the list I wonder why Miltiades isn't, commanding the battle of Marathon, the first Cannae-like battle (yeah Hannibal did many more tricks so deserves a good position).

[@far444444]

Naader Shah of Persia (Iran) in 18th Century.

[@revolutionariesoffreedom2374]

Bro put Alexander at first position but he only fought against mainly one empire Yet he put Napoleon fourth when he fought an internal war against counterrevolutionaries while at the same time fighting against whole Europe Bro put Ghenghis khan when he only attacked tribes Julius Caesar is justified Napoleon should be #1

[@somaliano99kingkonghimself75]

The real comander is and will always be hanibal barca to me as professional war tactician

[@joegatt2306]

I agree totally. Hannibal, with a rag-tag mercenary army, achieved his victories against the foremost army of the era. And not just the well known battles of Trebia and Trasimene and the total annihilation of four consular armies at Cannae, but also Ticinius in 218, Cales, Arminium and Geronium in 217 (before Canae), 1st Tarentum, Silarus and 1st Herdonea in 212, 2nd Herdonea and Numistro in 210, Canusium (Asculum) and Caulonia in 209 and Venusium in 208, and these exclude minor victories and ambushes. Without any help or reinforcements from Carthage, he marched up and down southern Italy, unmolested by Roman armies, (who gave him a wide berth when he approached!) for a total of fifteen years, undefeated, except for a couple of minor setbacks, (his failed relief of Capua against the second Roman siege of 211, springs to mind). Any thing more serious was Livy's biased imagination.

[@derekblythe6143]

Best general ever,said that for years

[@stephenhofmann5763]

I appreciate seeing Nguyen Giap of Vietnam. You failed to mention his victory over the Japanese in 1945, the Cambodians in 1979 and held back the Chinese invasion also in 1979.

[@khurramshahbaz8032]

This list sucks. There are so many insignificant names like Leonidis He stand against Persian army at hot gates but just one battle does not make him the greatest commander all time. For me the greatest of all May be: Hanibal Napolean Khalid Ibn Alwaleed Chengz Khan Alexander the great These are the people who employed new tactics and defeated battle-hardened armies of their time. Hanibal Entered Italy from Alps and defeated Roman republic multiple times in their home soil. Napolean was a military Genius and introduced modern tactics. Khalid Ibn Alwaleed defeated 2 superpowers of its time and employed tactics like single envelopment and double envelopments with great effect and never been defeated even against greatest numbers of enemy forces. Chengz Khan was another military Genius and created world's greatest cavalry force and maser the techniques of siege warfare, feigned retreat. Alexander masters the Phalanx formation and defeated great Persian army. I would also like to include Attila, Julias Ceasar and subtai and few others.

[@wingman4356]

Toussaint Louverture not top 15 battlefield commander but defeated the 3 most powerful European empires driven to conquer + re-enslave them (roughly 50,000 French (32,000 on Napoleon’s Expedition), 50,000 British and 20,000 Spanish troops over 13 years with # varying depending on who’s counted as troops, when + where in Haitian Revolution (1791-1804): as strategist masterfully combined military, economic, diplomatic, PR, logistics, training, inspiration, government administration, fusion of guerilla tactics and traditional, Machiavellianism and intuition to see how'd they come together while always multiple steps ahead, understanding how dominos would fall while in a Hunger Game scenario on an island with about 20 overlapping factions of empires, regions, classes, ideologues, races, free, slave, maroons, rich whites, poor whites, rich blacks, poor blacks, subjects from different African states all constantly switching sides, aligning, fighting and nobody knew who would come out on top. Yellow fever's impact vastly overstated with battlefield casualties not out of line with other wars at time, especially in climate, which a study of medical records after battles showed, and Toussaint used disease to trick and corral Europeans into areas where he could take action to cause biggest impact (why didn't enemies see it coming?), which Napoleon actually did see the rope a dope at play in reports right before his army did, which his brother-in-law confirmed with a panicked 180 in month 3 saying if massive reinforcements weren't sent they had no hope, but then key Hattian generals switched sides and extended war. I mostly credit TL with defeat of French expedition even though he didn't make it to the end since it was his strategy and preparation that was followed to the end, although it wasn't among his top few contingency plans, but it worked. Disease comparison: US Civil War two-thirds of the approximately 660,000 deaths of soldiers were caused by uncontrolled infectious diseases, and epidemics played a major role in halting several major campaigns. Cuban War of Independence: Spain 9,413 killed in battle 53,313 dead from disease. US Rev Germans mercs 7,774 total dead, 1,800 dead in battle; Loyalists: 7,000 total dead, 1,700 dead in battle. US Rev 6,800 US Battle Deaths (41,000 troops), GB 8,500 Battle Deaths (48,000 troops) French Deaths in Battles in just 3 Battles: 1. Most Dead: Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot 2000 (Leclerc tried to hide numbers) 2. First Major Battle: Battle of Ravine 200. 3. Last Major Battle: Battle of Vertières 1200. That's 3,400 in just 3 engagements. (32,000 troops sent). GB Treasurer estimated empire could take no major military action for 6 years because of how much they invested, so it wasn't like they weren't trying. Also, Shaka often gets token African mention when it should be Sonni Ali of Songhay whose innovations with river navy + cavalry (armor and horse breeding) revolutionized African warfare while conquering and consolidating more territory than any African before. West African historian Mahmoud al-Kati (1468 - circa 1593) who hated Ali wrote "He was always victorious. No army led by him in person was put to rout. Always conqueror, never conquered, he left no region, town or village … without throwing his cavalry against it, warring against its inhabitants and ravaging them.

[@badshahshah4611]

This is a typical western stereotyped presentation which depicts generals who affected the course of European history in Europe. This is not an impartial Military assessment of general ship. This presentation is superfluous & ignorant & should be ignored.

[@adamstrange7884]

Subatai should be in the top 5!

[@asmundukkelberg8741]

I think Gaius Marius should be on this list. His reforms turned the roman military into a force that lastet for 500 more years.

[@taha546]

where is khalid ibn alwaleed , undefeated commander who never lost a war before joining muslims and after. tbh i expected him to be on #1

[@Türkyurduofficial]

😂😂

[@DrFroyd123]

I stopped at Leonidas. Leonidas was sixty, had one usable eye and Thermopylae was the only passage to southern Greece at ancient times

[@tucopacifico]

Take a shot every time he says “calvary” instead of cavalry.

[@DTk5584]

I’m having an existential crisis now since you made me realize I have been saying it Calvary for my entire life, knowing full well how to spell it.

[@williamvissers9906]

He is not the only one seems knowing a lot about war weakens other skills

[@bobmcrae5751]

Hannibal should be at number one. He was such a superb tactician that his battles were won before the first blow was even struck.

[@psier11]

But the author, and ,ignoring Dikesenhower, he is right, chooses strategy over tactics. Patton was a master tactician not probably in the first 15 strategists. Hannibal 6th is correct due to his limits in grand strategy (attacking a superior foe on external lines!).

[@Freedom2111]

Hannibal lost too many times - he was stopped Marcellus at Nola three times, pushed back by Claudius Nero, and decisively defeated by Scipio at Zama. And as a naval commander working for the Seleucids, he lost again.

[@joegatt2306]

@@Freedom2111 'Hannibal lost too many times' - only if you believe Livy. 'he was stopped Marcellus at Nola three times' - the first battle was a minor victory for the Romans, the other two were stalemates. 'pushed back by Claudius Nero' - again only if you believe Livy, (totally debunked by J.F. Lazenby). 'Zama?' - Where was the battle fought, if it ever took place? Google: The Trouble With Zama: Paradox, Smoke and Mirrors in an Ancient Battlefield.

[@Freedom2111]

@@joegatt2306 Only a fool would believe a nobody trying to make a name for himself by changing history like J.F. Lazenby over the great Roman historian Livy.

[@joegatt2306]

@@Freedom2111 First of all, I never said Lazenby doubted Zama, that was Professor Yozan Mosig. The same conclusions arrived at by Lazenby were also the conclusions of Theodore Ayrault Dodge. Will you brand him a nobody too? And if, as you said, Lazenby is a nobody, you are are....?

[@jamesburgin8168]

Eisenhower and Giap don't belong on this list. Tamerlane should be several spots higher and Genghis Khan should be #1. Also, as anyone who has studied history knows, the correct pronunciation is Chinghis Khan with a ch or even a j sound. Even then, as someone has already pointed out, his actual name was Temujin--but these days everyone simply refers to him by his title.

[@jpx1508]

Good comments. Include the "modern big-army" generals US Grant and Patton. At the top, Alexander. Then Caesar and Napoleon both at 2.

[@taghavibalatarin6543]

Cyrus The Great, Nader Sha (The last quanquerer of East, Surena (who defeated Crassus), Shahpoor (Who destroyed the Roman Arme and took Valerian empror as captive). It is better if you do a bit research before posting such a video.

[@jamesberry3230]

yes you should ,if you had you would know that it was not the Roman army but the Byzantine empire

[@tolik5929]

proof is in the pudding , Genghis Kahn . Oh , by the way dude , his name wasnt Khan , Genghis Khan was a title , not a name . Meaning Universal rular in Mongol . His name was Timagin . Alexander the not so great , his territory was very small in comparison . Genghis Khans general Subitai was much more skilled than Alexander , as was Caesar . The Mongols were the only people to conquer Russia .....and the did it in winter .

[@MalikYee51]

I don’t think you know your history very well buddy. His name was Temuijn, Mongolian language changed it to Chinggis Khan, which means ruler, Khan isn’t a Mongolian word. Also you can compare two different times with Alexander and Temujin. That’s like comparing Lebron to Jordan. Both were great in perspective individuality.

[@jamesberry3230]

most of the territory conquered by Mongols was by others after Genghis Khan''s death

[@tolik5929]

@@jamesberry3230 very true , huge expansion during Ogadai .

[@Tboy439]

Kahn basically conquered a good part of what be latter called Russia before thy were well populated and organized, as was much of the territory the Kahn's conquered. It was mostly Ivan II, III and IV, the Terrible who eventually kicked them out of what became Russia. Genghis Kahn's marching orders actually came from the Vatican, along with support from Pope Innocent III. Just as Kahn was getting ready to launch, Pope Innocent III launched the 4th Crusade that instead of attacking Islam, attacked Christian Consantanople to weaken and clear the one obsticle that may have hindered Kahn. BTW... It was Popr Honorious I who sanctioned the creation of Islam in 634 AD and have controlled it ever since. As Albert Pike wrote and boasted...We control Islam, and we will use it to destroy the West. And that's now happening as we speak. Israel was deliberately created the mess we now see. The first attempt to create Israel was by the Jesuit Napoleon in June-July 1799, as it's been planned for centuries.

[@doylekitchen9795]

Richard I of England (The Lionheart) defeated Saladin! Had him leave the battlefield, destroy Ascalon, and then held up in fear in Jerusalem.

[@pavelivanov2999]

15. Bolivar - from what you mention he does seem to be a great commander, who achived so much, but it is not clear how exactly he did this. What really makes him that good. He may fit in the top 15, but i am just left to doubt that. 14. Leonidas - this guy has no place in this list. Sure he was brave, but bravery does not make you a great commander. Only a dumb person would fight the persians in an open field. This is strategy for beginners. Also which scolars say that the persians fielded 300 000 men? That is just not feasible. 13. Timur - turkish-mongol tribe? The modern nation of Turkey was founded after World War I. Turco-Mongol tribe! Timur should be higher on the list considering he did not lose any battles and he fought a lot of them and he also started as a small tribal leader to the master of Asia. 10. Fredeick the Great - "He was willing to fight, when other would have fled", this is not entirelly true as there were many times, when he had no other option, but to fight, even though the odds were stacked against him. It was either vitory or the end of his reign and empire. Still he was brave and fought battles, which other would not have even considered winnable. 6. Hannibal - he invented double envolopment? I seriously doubt this is true. With so many errors i am not even going to look it up, it is likely not true. 3. Genghis Khan - "Khan started to build his reputation", WTF. Khan is not a name! Jesus, simply Jesus. Are you guys so incompetent? The British Empire was the largest in human history, not the Mongol Empire. 2. Julius Caesar - "his empire"? Its not like he conquered all these lands for the romans. Yes, the empire was his, but the way you say it sounds like he conquered all that land. "He held territories stretching from the Caspian Sea"? When did Rome hold any Territories bordering the Caspian Sea exactly? 1. Alaexander the Great - conquering Egypt and Persia and uniting them? How is Egypt a separate entity? It was part of Persia, dahhh. This video is just bad. You guys dont know anything about history. Please dont release videos about things you know nothing about.

[@Lavery760]

Napoleon at 4 is a crime he's easily the best general ever, I also think a couple could be removed like Leonidas and Cortes to make room for better commanders like Admiral Yi of Korea and Nobunaga Oda or Toyotomi Hideyoshi from fuedal Japan. Probably remove Eisenhower too, no disrespect, but he doesn't strike me as one of the best ever since I think Grant is probably the best American general ever.

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

I agree! Napoleon should be #1. There was a list of the most influential people period, and he was second, behind only Jesus.

[@Lavery760]

Right modern warfare is still very heavily influenced by innovations he first introduced. And he died what? 200 years ago, that's insane.@@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle

[@bdleo300]

This entire s---it list is a crime.... of all KZbin ranking lists this one is the worst (and they all are bad).

[@tobyhorn9641]

What about Patton and MacArthur

[@sankarkrishnan407]

Mehmed the conqoeror, Khalid Ibn Valid, Irwin Rommell, Alaudin Khilji are also included in this list. Some Commanders whom are very inferior also in the list.

[@ojammeh]

You left Khalid Ibn Al-waleed out. He's the most successful general

[@benjaminwoody2570]

Dwight Eisenhower should not be in this list. He led by committee and was considered subpar by ally and enemy generals. His one strength was he had fortitude to order Normandy invasion when he did. Grant Sherman Sheridan or Thomas would have been better choice. How did Richard the second. The black prince Baldwin or Sobieski not make this list

[@Deacon_20]

You’re right on generals like Grant and Sherman, but Thomas and Sheridan? Not really, even though i also like Thomas. Though i do agree Eisenhower shouldn’t be on the list

[@chandrasekhar-ll8lo]

Shivaji Maharaj. Prudhvirsj Chauhan. Maha Rana Pratap . And other great Indian warriors are missing

[@cesime]

What's about the general that defeated the Ottoman empire in the battle of Diu?

[@davidyazdanipanah6941]

Nader Shah of Persia, Hannibal of Carthage, Attila the Hun

[@jhutfre4855]

Atilla is missing sorely! To me probably first place. Tough battle with Alexander.

[@sunhtea]

Khalid Bin Waleed is easily the greatest military commander who fought and defeated the two superpowers of his time simultaneously, the Romans and the Persians!

[@sonicboom3097]

Man, ghengis khan was the king of kings. And this list is incomplete without waleed.

[@puzzled012]

heard of Suvorov? Zhukov?

[@jbonilla315]

No George Washington? One of the founders of this great country. There is only one flaw in our country. We produce democrats. We're deeply sorry for that.

[@jrsands]

Dude, Eisenhower over Marshal Georgy Zhukov? Give me a break!

[@MooLaa-e1s]

Even against von manstein.

[@josephspencer6058]

You need to look at one of the most unknown military leaders Admiral Yi Sun-shin

[@Lavery760]

It's a travesty that I've never seen him on a list like this. He could be the most talented Admiral ever, right there with Horatio Nelson.

[@menssanoincorporesano]

Comparison between Nelson and Yi need to be qualified: Nelson had a larger and fully equipped fleet with full support of the Crown, whereas Yi was practically abandoned and turned against him by the royal court, so he had to build his own ships. Nelson had some defeats, but Yi was undefeated in all of his 23 battles with a much smaller fleet of battleships than the Japanese. In one particular battle, Yi only had 13 dilapidated ships against more than 330 Japanese ships. Yi initially sank 30 Japanese ships, but as the battle progressed, he destroyed an additional 300 or so ships without incurring one single loss. Japan is an island country and thus a seafaring country. Their naval force was nothing to sneer at. Unless one was a brilliant commander and strategist, only a miracle would pull off a victory with 13 ships against a formidable force of 330 ships. Yi was such a great commander and a brilliant strategist who read the ever-changing sea current and utilized to his advantage while battling.

[@alexshadow2778]

Janos Hunyadi protected Europe from Ottaman Empire for decades. He defetead an 80.000 strong turkish army at Siege of Belgrade. (1456) Europe would be muslim without Him.

[@ermalmaloku7960]

You forgot Skenderbej

[@rohanfahad7220]

putting eisenhower over Hannibal is crazy

[@Mottleydude1]

If any U.S. General should be listed it should be Washington (for the same reasons as Giáp) or U.S. Grant for being the first modern General and the mammoth territory he conquered during the American Civil War.

[@jpx1508]

US Grant and Patton

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Agreed!

[@jonmce1]

At best Washington was a mediocre general.

[@jonmce1]

@@jpx1508 Paton did not compare with Guderian, Rommel, or evn Von Rundstedt and was no where near as good as Slim.

[@noooooooo88]

General Zachary Taylor and General Wilfred Scott conquered what is now Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California.

[@ThisisRai]

Khalid Bin Waleed 🤔🤔

[@leotka]

What about Atilla the Hun?

[@TheProgrammer-up4hc]

where is skipio?, the guy who beat hanibal???, the one who saved roman empire around 200 bc

[@batticusmanacleas510]

Well, this is A list. But not A-list.

[@luigipavanello9248]

Scipio Africanus

[@marcobiagioli3905]

Per quasi 1500 anni sicuramente lo è stato,poi Marte si é reincarnato in Subedei.

[@luigipavanello9248]

@@marcobiagioli3905 Grandissimo ma casa ha lascaito dopo? L?impero mongolo è crollato mentre Scipione ha creato, posto le basi per la Roma imperiale. Sapeva far ela guerra ma anche la pace questa è la differenza!

[@gabrielmeyer4136]

He even defeated Hannibal

[@luigipavanello9248]

@@gabrielmeyer4136He was undefeated in his career

[@luigipavanello9248]

@@marcobiagioli3905Subutai grandissimo ma non ha creato nulla, Scipione ha posto le basi e di fatto creato l'impero romano

[@NodirbekOtamurodov]

I think this list wasn't made by historic. 1) Emir Temur 2) Great Alexander 3) Genghis Khan 4) Khalid ibn Valid 5) Napoleon Bonaparte.

[@sav7568]

The greatest leader was Hannibal. Take a look at what he achieved against the Romans with that paltry little army.

[@charlespool7001]

General, Douglas, MacArthur, most highly decorated soldier in American history. Influenced three world conflict, nominated for the medal of honor in an action against Pancho Villa before World War I. Commander of the rainbow division, in World War I, the most effective division in America. 11 to one kill ratio in World War II. He completely changed the culture of Japan as its dictator for five years. He then saved the Korean Peninsula with the landing At Incheon. On his deathbed, he told Johnson to either win the war in Vietnam, or get his troops out, or American. Young men would be no longer willing to risk your life for the country. He was right again. 0:06 When World War II broke out, he was a four-star general,Ike Was 0:06 a major, serving as a file clerk under MacArthur

[@mikeflynn2926]

He also let the American AF get destroyed on the ground when Japan invaded Luzon, failed to withdraw supply caches to Bataan, was surprised by the Korean invasion that began that war, and he unnecessarily cost the lives of thousands of Americans through his hubristic drive to the Yalu river, the beginning of the largest, longest retreat in US history

[@jabbaressakhel5197]

Khalid bin Walid is the father of all these generals

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Eisenhower was a politican not a general, ridiculous to put him on this list. Replace him with the Duke of Marlborough.

[@ciceroromavisa3399]

Eisenhower was a war criminal.

[@chrismenary3340]

what about Oda Nobunaga?

[@davidcarter6314]

Eisenhower at 4! Hahahahahahahaha. Good one

[@mikeflynn2926]

Describes Eisenhower as a "military genius" and makes no mention of Patton. Need I say more?

[@Deacon_20]

To be fair, Patton was more of a tactician than a strategic genius. Plus he was always under someone. Tactics tend to be short term and in the moment whilst strategy is long term and is overall big picture.

[@ElenaGeorge1]

Zhu Huang Di united all of the warring states of China into one empire. That was pretty impressive. Von Moltke the elder took France in six months in 1870-71.

[@Skipper.17]

Esinhower.really.

[@swhip897]

He was the best political general.

[@psier11]

@@swhip897 Very good mason golfer with an eye for (tranny) WAACs

[@奧理斯-u9y]

I vote for Chinese acient generals , Alexander the great did conquered the most land by himself ,but he is no match against Chinese army at the time

[@BrianLaytham]

Cyrus needs to be on this list over Leonidas and Themistocles

[@MarketTeaLeaves]

Eisenhower never commanded a platoon so I fail to see how he was a great military leader. Yes he led an alliance but thats being a great diplomat not a commander of personnel in battle. You missed Patton

[@a.h3629]

Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg stopped the Turkish empire to invade Europe for 25 years. Bested the turks every time and stopped 2 different sultans leading armies 150k strong!!! Just saying!!!!

[@twenty6silent327]

So leonidas gets credit for mitilades tatics??

[@khaledalshaalan763]

No Khalid Ibn Alwaleed ? Al Yarmouk Battle was a masterpiece against Byzantine Empire

[@psier11]

or the armenian general very poor at strategic level?

[@muzaheed57]

Outcome of Battle of emruk would have chnage whole world history , and your list ignored the winner of that battle who won 14 impossible war against super power of that time . 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻

[@tonygreco8720]

i disagree with your selection Julius Cesar had more battle victories that Alexandra the Great when they assasinated Julius Cesar Rome fell into a 20 year civil war when Alexandre the great died no one even whispered his name and his empire was torn apart by his subordinates

[@tonygreco8720]

If anyone should take first place its napoleon he had the most battle victories of any commander , 2nd place Julius Casar

[@solD2Er]

Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. Won every battle, mostly as attacker. Mostly had less forces. He and Ushakov were horror story in Ottoman Empire

[@BarryHatwell]

And where is Richard Coeur de Lion....the general who twice defeated Saladin during the third Crusade........?

[@dancidchen]

not sure Alexander fits to be on #1, his army were on the verge of mutiny toward the end. Top 5 for sure though.

[@Yiannis2112]

From Greece to modern day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, back to Mesopotamia-Iraq, down along the Persian gulf and the Zagros mountain range of south Iran, to Caspian seashores of north Iran, to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and all the way south, along the Pakistani-Indian border. Fighting, walking their arse off for 12 years and finally getting fed up. How dare they, right? Make that top 10, for good measure.

[@TimSerras]

Afonso de Albuquerque, Portuguese viceroy of Portuguese India. Conquered Goa, Malacca, Ormuz, established Portuguese control of the Indian Ocean paving the way for a later European dominance of the East against Muslim powers. Perhaps the most influential man when it comes to the beginnngs of the world’s globalisation.

[@spartannole71]

Themistocles was also the brain behind the battle of Thermoplaye. Leonides gets all the glory because of the land battle. The sea phase is often forgotten, atleast to the folks i chat with.

[@Lp-ze1tg]

Should be 16. Missing Han Xin.

[@bunasser1761]

You did big a mistake but not including Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed the best military commander In human history. His greatest strategic achievements were his quick conquest of the Persian Empire and conquest of Roman Syria within three years from 633 to 636.

[@rochebaudelaire]

1) Napoléon 2) Alexandre le grand 3) Jules César 4) Turenne 5) Grant 6) Frédéric II le grand 7) Louis II de Bourbon-Condé (Le grand Condé) 8) Hannibal 9) Thémistocle 10) Prince Eugène de Savoie 11) Patton 12) MacArthur 13) Cyrus II 14) Joukov 15) Bélisaire + - Vauban - Sherman - Montgomery - Bradley

[@Türkyurduofficial]

Tamerlane Attila?😂 ghengis khan😂

[@brentoconner2537]

Giáp DID NOT defeat the US Army. Walter Cronkite did. The Tet Offensive was the death knell for the NVA until, as if divinely resurrected Walter Cronkite snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

[@Kenan-Z]

The Ottoman sultan and great field marshal Selim I (a.k.a. "Selim the Grim" or "Selim the Resolute") should be also on the list. He was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. Despite lasting only eight years, his reign is notable for the enormous expansion of the Empire, particularly his conquest between 1516 and 1517 of the entire Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, which included all of the Levant, Hejaz, Tihamah and Egypt itself. On the eve of his death in 1520, the Ottoman Empire spanned about 3.4 million km2, having grown by seventy percent during his reign. Selim's masterful crossing of the Sinai Peninsula in 1517 before the Battle of Ridaniya fought against the Mamluks is considered as one of the greatest feats of military history.

[@jeffpollard7304]

What about Trump??? Always telling us how much of a Genius he is.............

[@psier11]

Scipio Africanus at 4th place before Hannibal.

[@keysersoze5920]

LOL! Joke of a list. Ike was an administrator. Where is Scipio Africanus? Hannibal and Caesar should rank higher. Subutai was the Mongol mastermind. Themistocles was the genius of the war against Persia. Napoleon should probably be first, but I agree with Alexander. I could go on, but I’ll just laugh, LOL!