There have been many military generals throughout history who have made significant contributions to their countries and have had a lasting impact on the world. It is difficult to definitively rank the top 10 military generals, as the criteria for such a ranking can vary and different people may have different opinions. However, some military generals who are often considered to be among the greatest include:
The Top 10 Best Military Generals in History
10. Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was a Mongol military general and statesman who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries and is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history. He is best known for his role in the creation and expansion of the Mongol Empire, which at its height spanned much of Asia and Europe.
Genghis Khan was born in present-day Mongolia in the early 1200s and rose to power as the leader of the Mongols. He is known for his military tactics and his ability to inspire his troops, and he led a series of successful military campaigns that helped to expand the Mongol Empire.
Genghis Khan is also known for his innovative use of cavalry and for his organization of the Mongol army into a formidable fighting force. He is credited with unifying the Mongol tribes and establishing the foundations of the Mongol Empire.
Genghis Khan’s legacy has had a lasting impact on the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in history.
9. Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a Roman military general and statesman who is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. He was born in 100 BC and rose to prominence as a military general during the Roman Republic. Caesar is best known for his military campaigns in Europe, particularly his conquest of Gaul (present-day France), which he completed in just eight years.
Caesar is also known for his political career, as he eventually rose to become the dictator of Rome. He implemented a number of reforms, including the introduction of the Julian calendar, which is still used today.
Despite his successes, Caesar’s rule was not without controversy, and he was eventually assassinated in 44 BC. However, his legacy has had a lasting impact on the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in history.
8. Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen was a Japanese military general and daimyo who lived in the 16th century and is remembered as one of the most powerful and successful daimyos in Japanese history. He was born in 1521 and served as the lord of the Takeda clan, a powerful family in the Kanto region of Japan.
Takeda Shingen is known for his military tactics and his strategic planning, and he is credited with expanding the Takeda clan’s territory through a series of successful military campaigns. He is also known for his cultural achievements, as he patronized the arts and fostered a culture of scholarship within his domain.
Takeda Shingen is remembered as a skilled and effective military leader, and his legacy has had a lasting impact on Japan. He is still revered in Japan today and is often depicted in popular culture as a symbol of strength and honor.
7. George Washington
George Washington was an American military general and statesman who played a key role in the American Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest military leaders in American history.
Washington was born in Virginia in 1732 and became a military officer at a young age. He served in the British Army during the French and Indian War and later became the leader of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Washington is known for his strategic planning and his ability to inspire his troops, and he played a key role in the American victory over the British. He is also known for his leadership during the early years of the United States, as he served as the country’s first President from 1789 to 1797.
Washington’s legacy has had a lasting impact on the United States, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals and statesmen in American history.
6. Tran Hung Dao
Tran Hung Dao was a Vietnamese military general who lived in the 13th century and is revered as a national hero in Vietnam. He is best known for his role in the resistance against the Mongol invasion of Vietnam in the 1270s, in which he led the Vietnamese army to several key victories against the Mongol forces.
Tran Hung Dao was born in the Tran Dynasty, a period of Vietnamese history marked by frequent invasions from foreign powers. He became a military general at a young age and is known for his leadership skills and his strategic planning.
During the Mongol invasion of Vietnam, Tran Hung Dao led the Vietnamese army in a series of successful campaigns against the Mongols. He is credited with devising a number of innovative tactics, including the use of bamboo stakes in rivers to block the Mongol ships and the construction of underground tunnels to launch surprise attacks.
Tran Hung Dao’s military successes helped to repel the Mongols and protect Vietnam’s independence, and he is remembered as a national hero in Vietnam.
5. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and its associated wars. He eventually became Emperor of the French and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history.
Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica in 1769 and rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution. He is known for his military tactics and his ability to inspire his troops, and he led a series of successful military campaigns that expanded the French Empire.
Napoleon is also known for his impact on Europe and the modern world. He introduced a number of reforms in France and throughout the territories he conquered, including the Napoleonic Code, which is still used as the basis for legal systems in many countries today.
Despite his military successes, Napoleon’s rule eventually came to an end, and he was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. However, his legacy has had a lasting impact on the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in history.
4. Hannibal Barca
Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian military general who lived in the 2nd century BC and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. He is best known for his audacious military campaigns during the Second Punic War, in which he led his army across the Alps to attack the Roman Republic.
Hannibal was born in Carthage, present-day Tunisia, and was the son of a military commander. He began his military career at a young age and quickly gained a reputation for his tactical genius and his ability to inspire his troops.
Hannibal is most famous for his crossing of the Alps, in which he led his army over the mountains and into Italy to attack the Romans. He scored several significant victories over the Romans, including the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, which is considered one of the greatest military victories in history.
Despite his successes, Hannibal was eventually defeated by the Romans and forced to flee to Asia Minor. However, his legacy has had a lasting impact on military strategy and tactics, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in history.
3. Saladin (Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi)
Saladin, also known as Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, was a Muslim military leader who lived in the 12th century and is revered as one of the greatest military commanders in Islamic history. He was born in Tikrit, Iraq, and rose to power during a time of great conflict between the Muslims and the Crusaders.
Saladin is best known for leading the Muslims to victory in the Battle of Hattin in 1187, which resulted in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Crusaders. He is also known for his chivalry and generosity, and is remembered for treating his enemies with respect and compassion.
Saladin was a skilled military commander and is known for his use of innovative tactics and his ability to inspire his troops. He was also a successful statesman, and his rule was marked by a period of peace and prosperity in the region.
Saladin’s legacy has had a lasting impact on the Middle East, and he is remembered as a hero in the Muslim world. He is often cited as an example of the virtues of courage, honor, and compassion, and his name is still revered today.
2. Khalid ibn al-Walid
Khalid ibn al-Walid, also known as Khalid ibn al-Walid al-Makhzumi, was a military general who lived in the 7th century and is revered as one of the greatest military commanders in Islamic history. He was born in Mecca, present-day Saudi Arabia, and was a member of the Banu Makhzum, a prominent clan of the Quraish tribe.
Khalid’s military career began during the early days of Islam, when he fought against the Muslims in several battles. However, he later converted to Islam and became one of the Prophet Muhammad’s most trusted generals. He is known for his military tactics and his ability to inspire his troops, and he played a key role in many of the early Muslim victories.
Khalid’s most famous campaigns were the Ridda Wars, a series of conflicts that took place after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The wars were fought against various Arab tribes who had rebelled against Muslim rule, and Khalid was able to defeat them and reunite the Arabian Peninsula under Muslim control.
Khalid’s military successes earned him the nickname “Sword of Allah,” and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in Islamic history.
Khalid ibn al-Walid was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a highly skilled military leader who played a key role in the early expansion of the Islamic Empire. He is known for his military tactics and his ability to remain undefeated in 14 battles against the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Persians.
Khalid’s military successes helped to spread Islam throughout the greater Middle East, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in Islamic history. His record of remaining undefeated in so many battles is certainly impressive, and he is often compared to other great military leaders such as Frederick the Great.
1. Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was a king of ancient Macedonia and one of the top 10 greatest military generals in history. He was born in 356 BC and became king at the age of 20 after his father, Philip II, was assassinated. Alexander inherited a strong and well-trained army and used it to launch a series of military campaigns that would eventually lead to the conquest of much of the known world.
Alexander is known for his innovative military tactics and his ability to lead and inspire his troops. He is also known for the cultural exchange that took place during his conquests, as he encouraged the spread of Greek culture and ideas throughout the regions he conquered.
Alexander’s military campaigns began in 334 BC when he invaded the Persian Empire, which at the time was the largest and most powerful empire in the world. He defeated the Persians in several key battles, including the Battle of Issus in 333 BC and the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, and eventually conquered much of the empire.
Alexander continued to expand his empire, conquering Egypt, parts of India, and other territories. He died in 323 BC at the age of 32, leaving behind a vast empire that would eventually be divided among his generals. Despite his early death, Alexander’s legacy has had a lasting impact on the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest military generals in history.