100 Military Leaders: The Most Influential Military Commanders in History

Author: Lan Ning
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The military leaders listed in this book dominated their eras and had a profound impact on later generations. They are ranked from 1 to 100 based on their influence during their time and the enduring impact on subsequent generations. The influence is divided into positive and negative aspects, including the number of people affected in world history and the direction of military and civilizational development. Those who are merely famous or proven to be efficient only in war cannot secure a place in the "Top 100 Rankings." The positions on the list are determined by the lasting influence. The Top 100 Rankings span from the 5th century BC to the Desert Storm of the 1990s. Commanders of major wars and military innovators, writers who described the art of war, liberators and conquerors share honor on the list. Even brutal tyrants who murdered their opponents and ruled their people with terror have a place in the "Top 100." Political leaders are included here only based on whether they directly led their country's armed forces, regardless of their outstanding historical achievements. This list excludes mythical or fictional figures, as well as legendary individuals whose accomplishments lack substantial evidence. Some of the Top 100 figures lived several centuries ago, and their influence has been proven to be timeless and transcendent through the test of time. The positions of more modern military figures on the list are more subject to the passage of time, world events, and the emergence of new leaders.