# Who are your country's best-known (historic) military leaders? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515 "2009-08-24T16:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/21 "2009-08-25T15:39:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > There were several Roman generals and emperors born in Iberia; the only one whose name I remember as being a military leader was Pompeyo (founder of my home town of Pamplona). Pompey was born in Italy, in what was then Picenum, and is now the province of Marche. He founded Pamplona when he was in Spain putting down rebels. Spain can claim Emperor Trajan, who won wars against the Dacians, Arabians, and Parthians, and who was born in Italica. There was also Emperor Theodosius the Great, who was born in either Italica or Coca, and who defeated the Goths and won a civil war (and also made Christianity the religion of the empire.) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/22 "2009-08-25T15:47:49Z")
I’m struggling to think of the names of any specifically Canadian historical military leaders. Lots of Brits and French leaders who fought in Canada, of course - Wolfe and Montcalm, Brock, etc. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/23 "2009-08-25T15:54:57Z")
\*\*Spain: \*\* Partly because of the movie, El Cid is probably still the Spanish military leader most famous in the USA. After that… it may depend whetehr we count the conquistadores of the New World as “militiary leaders.” If we do, then Hernan Cortes is certainly mighty famous here. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/24 "2009-08-25T15:57:41Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > This may be a hijack, but… > > Why not see how many great military leaders you can name from OTHER nations? > > I’m guessing if you asked an American to name some military leaders from other lands, you’d hear: Off the top of my head: William the Silent, his sons Maurice and Frederik Hendrik of Nassau (who led the sieges of Breda, Hulst, Maastricht and other major fortress-cities,) William’s other son Justin of Nassau, all of the House of Orange/Dutch Republic. From France: d’Albret, Turenne, Montmorency, Gaspard de Coligny… From England: many of Elizabeth’s courtiers were military commanders: Leicester (Robert Dudley,) Essex (Robert Devereux,) Cumberland (George Clifford, the admiral who captured San Felipe del Moro in Puerto Rico.) From the English Civil War: Oliver Cromwell, of course, and William Waller and Arthur Haselrig on the Parlimentarian side, and Prince Rupert of the Rhine on the Royalist side… Italy: [Ambrosio Spinola](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosio_Spinola) is the first to come to mind, although he fought for Spain primarily… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/25 "2009-08-25T16:24:01Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’m struggling to think of the names of any specifically Canadian historical military leaders. Lots of Brits and French leaders who fought in Canada, of course - Wolfe and Montcalm, Brock, etc. Sir Arthur Currie? He rose to command the Canadian Corps in World War I. There was also Sam Hughes, who wasn’t really a great general, but he was certainly an interesting guy (He had commanded militia during the Fenian raids, and then when the Boer War started, convinced the Canadian government to send troops over there, which he led. He spent most of his time in South Africa lobbying to get the Victoria Cross, and finally got sent back to Canada because the British generals couldn’t stand him. Then when World War I broke out, he tried to organize volunteer units in Quebec, which was a disaster, because he hated Catholics and the French. He then, as Minister of Militia and Defence, refused to supply the troops with anything not made in Canada (It wasn’t until 1916, when purchasing decisions were taken from him, that the Canadian made Ross Rifles, which tended to jam in the trenches, were replaced by British made Lee-Enfields.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/26 "2009-08-25T16:25:18Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > From France: d’Albret, Turenne, Montmorency, Gaspard de Coligny… You forgot Gilbert, the Marquis Lafayette, who was simultaneously a Field Marshall in the French army and a Major General in the US Continental Army. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/27 "2009-08-25T16:32:56Z")
Off the top of my head… (brits, that is) Duke of Wellington Admiral Lord Nelson Sir Frances Drake Sir Walter Raleigh Field Marshal Montgomery Oliver Cromwell Do Royals who led from the front count? In which case… King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) Henry V Does Winston Churchill count? He was First Lord of the Admiralty back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/28 "2009-08-25T16:34:41Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Sir Arthur Currie? He rose to command the Canadian Corps in World War I. There was also Sam Hughes, who wasn’t really a great general, but he was certainly an interesting guy (He had commanded militia during the Fenian raids, and then when the Boer War started, convinced the Canadian government to send troops over there, which he led. He spent most of his time in South Africa lobbying to get the Victoria Cross, and finally got sent back to Canada because the British generals couldn’t stand him. Then when World War I broke out, he tried to organize volunteer units in Quebec, which was a disaster, because he hated Catholics and the French. He then, as Minister of Militia and Defence, refused to supply the troops with anything not made in Canada (It wasn’t until 1916, when purchasing decisions were taken from him, that the Canadian made Ross Rifles, which tended to jam in the trenches, were replaced by British made Lee-Enfields.) There are lots of Canadian leaders, but they don’t have the same name recognition. Everyone knows who Wolfe was; Sir Arthur Currie and Sam Hughes, I’m ashamed to admit, I’d have to look up. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/29 "2009-08-25T16:34:51Z")
Since Churchill only saw actual combat as an infantryman in the Boer wars, I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/30 "2009-08-25T16:46:54Z")
**Mythical** [Cú Chulainn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn) **Ancient** [Brian Boru](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru) **Modernish** Wellington 😃 😉 [Michael Collins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_%28Irish_leader%29) [Éamon de Valera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89amon_de_Valera) Any of the signatories of the [Proclamation of Independence](http://www.iol.ie/~dluby/proclaim.htm) who fought and died. [Tom Barry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Barry) I couldn’t name any member of the Irish Army since 1932 if my life depended on it. I suppose that’s a good thing really IYKWIM ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/31 "2009-08-25T16:50:50Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > \*\*Russia \*\*: General Zhukov is the most famous. Aleksandr Nevsky and Peter the Great probably come to mind sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/32 "2009-08-25T16:51:51Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > **Mythical** > > **Modernish** > > Wellington 😃 😉 > [@](#): > > Being born in a stable does not make one a horse > > - A retort to being called Irish. Dunno if he actually said that, but I couldn’t resist. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/33 "2009-08-25T16:56:57Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > **Modernish** > > Wellington 😃 😉 You gave up the right to claim Wellington when you got independence. Pretty sure it’s in the Anglo-Irish Treaty. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/34 "2009-08-25T17:14:39Z")
I actually watched a History Channel prog only last night about Waterloo. The guy they had playing Wellington in the re-enactments had a pretty strong Irish accent. I highly doubt the actual man did. ---
**Author:** ![aesop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aesop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aesop)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/35 "2009-08-25T18:19:41Z")
off the top of my head, **Hungary:** Attila, Árpád, Dozsa György, Hunyadi János, Kinizsi Pál, Dobó István, Rákoczi Ferenc **Albania:** Skanderbeg Yes, I know, Attila pre-dated the country of Hungary, but he hung out here quite a lot and the locals definitely claim him as one of their own. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/36 "2009-08-25T18:32:52Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Aleksandr Nevsky and Peter the Great probably come to mind sooner. Hmm… maybe. I guess when I see “military leaders,” i try to think of generals and warriors, rather than monarchs. But Nevsky was BOTH, of course, and he inspired a great movie with a fantastic soundtrack. Nevsky probably belongs higher on the list than Zhukov. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/37 "2009-08-25T18:44:15Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Since Churchill only saw actual combat as an infantryman in the Boer wars, I don’t think so. Well, no. As a junior cavalry officer in the Sudan. Ol’ Winston did participate in what may have been the last cavalry charge made by the British Army, if you don’t count the Palestine Campaign in WWI and some mounted skirmishing and the destruction of the Indian Cavalry Division on the Western Front in 1914-1918. Churchill was a newspaper correspondent during the Boer War, not a serving soldier. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/38 "2009-08-25T19:10:04Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Russia : General Zhukov is the most famous… but considering that Russia played the leading role in defeating Hitler, it’s astonishing how little known Zhukov is here. Not really, in light of the cold war. I would guess that Kutuzov is pretty well-known in Russia as well. In America, it’s amazing that Patton is more well-known than Omar Bradley. I guess the movie helped a lot. During WWII (according to my dad; I’m not that old), you heard about Bradley 20 times for every mention of Patton. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/39 "2009-08-25T19:27:24Z")
I think the tank helps too. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515/40 "2009-08-25T19:37:05Z")
(Off the top of my head) Among Texans, at least, Sam Houston is pretty popular. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-countrys-best-known-historic-military-leaders/507515.md?page=3)