Who Do You Think Is the Greatest Military Mind of All Time?

[The Murtunian Tribes]

Okay first of all,Sun Tsu wrote THE book on military warfare,

That book was written by multiple people. There is no hard evidence that Sun Tzu even existed, and if he did, we know nothing of who he was, what he did, or if the ideas in the book are his.

Also, that book is fairly general and overrated. It's still an interesting read, but not much more.

It's better if you have some knowledge of Eastern philosophies, but it is somewhat overrated.

[Miklesia]

Khalid ibn al-Walid was probably the greatest general who ever lived. After him, Timur.

[Greater Evil Imperial Japanese Dystopia]

I might add some more greatest military minds.

In Japan, we had:

General Yamashita Tomoyuki
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Uesugi Kenshin
Takeda Shingen
Saigo Takemori

as well as naval designer Commander Kaneda.

[New England and The Maritimes]

i'd tend to side with Fisher and Jellicoe over Nelson.

Eh, Scheer kind of made a fool of Jellicoe.

[New England and The Maritimes]

I might add some more greatest military minds.

In Japan, we had:

General Yamashita Tomoyuki
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Uesugi Kenshin
Takeda Shingen
Saigo Takemori

as well as naval designer Commander Kaneda.

Togo Heihachiro was your greatest naval commander, though.

[Greater Evil Imperial Japanese Dystopia]

I might add some more greatest military minds.

In Japan, we had:

General Yamashita Tomoyuki
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Uesugi Kenshin
Takeda Shingen
Saigo Takemori

as well as naval designer Commander Kaneda.

Togo Heihachiro was your greatest naval commander, though.

Indeed. I use him as one of my RP characters.

[Anti-Obamaland]

Sun Tzu (his "Art of War" is still relevant to modern military thought, 2000 years after publishing)

Sun Tzu is overrated. It's questionable if he even existed, and the Art of War is ridiculously praised simply because it's an early military manual.

De Re Militari and Von Clausewitz's On War are far superior works.

Seems like all of the military academies for officers/NCOs in the US teach Sun Tzu and that General Giap guy from Vietnam did pretty well using Sun's teachings.

[Mike the Progressive]

George A. Custer, of course.

[Conserative Morality]

Seems like all of the military academies for officers/NCOs in the US teach Sun Tzu and that General Giap guy from Vietnam did pretty well using Sun's teachings.

Have you ever read The Art of War?

[Conserative Morality]

I've read the book. I think most sensible people who've read the book think it's not really that great. The excerpts I've read of Machiavelli's Art of War seem to suggest it is infinitely better.

It's also definitely a period piece. =/

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Czar Nicholas II.

[Conserative Morality]

Czar Nicholas II.

Tzar is an infinitely cooler transliteration.

[Caninope]

I've read the book. I think most sensible people who've read the book think it's not really that great. The excerpts I've read of Machiavelli's Art of War seem to suggest it is infinitely better.

It's also definitely a period piece. =/

All military manuals come down to that. From what I understand, Machiavelli did advocate limited war in the piece though.

[Conserative Morality]

All military manuals come down to that. From what I understand, Machiavelli did advocate limited war in the piece though.

On War comes to mind. It's really timeless.

[Caninope]

All military manuals come down to that. From what I understand, Machiavelli did advocate limited war in the piece though.

On War comes to mind. It's really timeless.

I haven't read On War myself, but from what I understand of that, it's just as much, if not more of an exploration of the politics surround war as military strategy itself.

[Conserative Morality]

I haven't read On War myself, but from what I understand of that, it's just as much, if not more of an exploration of the politics surround war as military strategy itself.

Military Theory. It envisions politics and military action as inseparable, which they are.

[Caninope]

I haven't read On War myself, but from what I understand of that, it's just as much, if not more of an exploration of the politics surround war as military strategy itself.

Military Theory. It envisions politics and military action as inseparable, which they are.

Ah, but theory is different from strategy.

At least I make that distinction, anyways.

[Kingdom Republic]

United States Of America OoRAH!

[Conserative Morality]

Ah, but theory is different from strategy.

At least I make that distinction, anyways.

It certainly is. Strategy changes radically with advances in technology, but Military Theory stays throughout radical changes in organization and capabilities.

[Caninope]

Ah, but theory is different from strategy.

At least I make that distinction, anyways.

It certainly is. Strategy changes radically with advances in technology, but Military Theory stays throughout radical changes in organization and capabilities.

Because humanity stays fundamentally the same. We're suckers for the age old traditions of greed, invasion, and violence.

[Conserative Morality]

Because humanity stays fundamentally the same. We're suckers for the age old traditions of greed, invasion, and violence.

Damn right. That's what defines us, isn't it?

[American Nexus]

Sun Tzu

[Farnhamia]

Sun Tzu

Use your indoor voice. Why?

[E-lands]

Personally I would say Hannibal or Sun Tzu (I know that Art of War is basic, but we're talking ancient, so it's impressive.

[Harkonna]

I'd have to say Erwin Rommel is my personal favourite military commander. Not only was he able to defeat his enemies effectively, but he was a good person at heart. He refused to execute POWs or hand them over to the SS, and treated them as they should have been treated in a 'civilized' war. His tactics were superb, his morals were sound, and he was both an excellent commander, as well as a soldier. It's a great pity he was pressured into suicide. It says a lot when your enemies both fear, and genuinely respect your methods, and your skill.