Name history's top 5 generals:

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Saras
although not a general, technically

I think a senior commander of the senior service of the British Empire qualifies quite nicely.

[Zenn-La]

#1 Hannibal "the father of strategy"
#2 Alexander The Great
#3 Julius Caesar
#4 Genghis Khan
#5 Napoleon Bonaparte
HM Saladin

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Zenn-La

#5 Napoleon Bonaparte

Bonaparte, not Wellington? Why so??

[Felch]

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck

MOBIUS!!!! Correct, as usual.

[CerberusIV]

I think there is a lot to be said for generals who change the way war is waged in terms of tactics and methods. Some are fairly obvious - such as Napoleon for the use of artillery and mass conscript armies - but there are others who deserve a mention.

Oliver Cromwell - for creating a new method of controlled cavalry charge, trashing a numerically superior army at Dunbar and building a military force every monarch in Europe wanted on their side. Without him the English Civil War would quite possible have ended in a negotiated stalemate or even a Royalist victory by default.

Gustavus Adolphus - changed the way professional armies in Europe were organised, introduced mobile field artillery and proper logistics and beat competent (as well as incompetent) Imperial generals, including Wallenstein, repeatedly.

One who should be on any top 5 list - Frederick the Great. For taking training and tactics to a new level as well as a string of brilliant victories. Napoleon himself summed it up - "It was not the armies of Prussia that defended the country for 7 years, it was the genius of Frederick."

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Alexander
Scipio Africanus
KAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!
John Churchill
George Washington

[Boris Godunov]

In no particular order:

Alexander
Caesar
Sun Tzu
Adolphus
Pershing