Greatest European military leader ?

[Errigal]

Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I would vote for General von Lettow-Vorbeck. He managed to end the war undefeated after tying up British forces for years in German East Africa.

[Buccaneer]

I voted Pizarro, Cortes and Guderian. I always held the conquistadors in a very high regard since they were true adventurers who conquered a whole continent by othing but their greed and brass balls. Guderian I think was a military genius.

[Galaico]

Originally Posted by Marka Ragnos

Mícheál Seán Ó Coileáin (Michael Collins) - Ireland.

He created totally new war-tactic, guerilla war and under him small group of Irish could fought against British Empire.

No offense to Michael Collins, but the guerrilla warfare was created in Spain during the War of Independence against France (1808-1814), that's why it is called guerrilla, that literally means "little war" in Spanish.

[Freebooter]

Originally Posted by Marka Ragnos

He created totally new war-tactic, guerilla war and under him small group of Irish could fought against British Empire.

Besides, Michael Collins was hardly the first to use guerilla warfare tactics. Such tactics were being used by Viriato against the Romans during the Purinos Polemos two millennia before Michael Collins.

[Galaico]

Originally Posted by Vasconcelos

Besides, Michael Collins was hardly the first to use guerilla warfare tactics. Such tactics were being used by Viriato against the Romans during the Purinos Polemos two millennia before Michael Collins.

Certainly, that type of fighting has always existed call it whatever, but the guerrilla as a more clear definition was introduced as I said in my previous post.

Btw, wasn't Viriato from the Spanish part of Lusitania, current Salamanca? j/k

[Freebooter]

Originally Posted by Galaico

Certainly, that type of fighting has always existed call it whatever, but the guerrilla as a more clear definition was introduced as I said in my previous post.

And you're certainly right, of course.

Btw, wasn't Viriato from the Spanish part of Lusitania, current Salamanca? j/k

NEVER!

Just kidding. Honestly, it would make no difference to me where Viriato was from. He was Iberian - a Spaniard - and that's all that matters.

Blas de Lezo.

[GrafWilhelm]

Napoleon, Rommel and Frederich, but Ceaser, Alexander and Herman was great too.

[The Duke]

Alexander III of Macedon (the Great)

[Lagun]

01. Alexander the Great.
02. Napoleon.
03. Julius Caesar.


Within the Spanish, I believe that as a general, no doubt that:

- Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (El Gran Capitán). As it´s considered to be the "inventor" of the unbeatable TERCIOS.

As heros, NO doubt that:

- D. Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta.
- D. Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (EL CID).

As the most audicious adventurers:

- Hernán Cortés.
- Francisco Pizarro.

[Lagun]

Originally Posted by Theobald

He was born in French Corsica and saw himself as a French. You can read his Testament too.
Anyway - although his ethnic background was indeed mostly Italian - his military skills undoubtely came from his French education (he studied in French military schools, Brienne and then the Royal Military School of Paris). Also, his military successes would not have been possible without the strength of France and French soldiers.

I totally disagree.
There is a commented version of The Prince (Maquiavelo), by Napoleon. He constantly refers to himself as an Italian.
On the other hand, No doubt, he served the "Grandour" of France.

[Savorgnan]

The greatest were, in a chronological order, C. Julius Caesar and Napoléon Bonaparte of course.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Lagun

- Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (El Gran Capitán). As it´s considered to be the "inventor" of the unbeatable TERCIOS.

Excellent choice. Most people ignore that the main structure that allowed Spain's hegemony over the world for some hundreds of years was created by him.

Anything else is debatable.

[Sifjar]

Alexander The Great- THE MAN

[Ferran]

Here's another greatest military leaders list for comparison:

Greatest Military Leaders

It surprised me to see so few "Frederickists" among us...

[bombadillo]

How about putting Spartacus on the list? Granted, he didn't have a regular army.

Also I would rephrase the question to: Who were the great European military thinkers (e.g., Clausewitz, Guderian, etc.)?