History has witnessed some of the greatest army generals. From the likes of Alexander the Great, who rose to power at only twenty years old, to Georgy Zhukov, who stopped the Nazis from invading Russia, the list is endless. While every culture has a general that it considers the best, is there a particular one that outshines the rest? In today’s post, we have compared and contrasted all the military commanders in history, and we think we may have found the greatest general of all time.
Determining the Greatest General in History
Napoleon Bonaparte, a former French statesman and military officer, is undeniably one of the best military commanders of all time. During his era, he expanded the borders of the French Revolution to Russia.
Unlike most generals who developed new tactics, Napoleon utilized and improved existing schemes to give France an added advantage. He was exceptionally tactical in his approach, enabling him to conquer many nations easily. Napoleon was so good that people still study his battle plans two centuries after his death.
But why Napoleon? Aren’t there other army generals who did a much better job? In 2017, Ethan Arsht, a student from the University of Chicago, attempted to answer this same question. He utilized statistical formulas used in baseball to create a mathematical model that would evaluate more than 6,000 generals. This formula compared the weight of various battles the above army generals fought and ascertained that Napoleon Bonaparte was the best general in history.
From Ethan’s experiment, Napoleon was followed by other generals such as Julius Ceasar, Takeda Shingen from Japan, and Khalid ibn al-Walid, a close companion of the Prophet Mohammad. Other notable figures on the list included Alexander the Great and Georgi Zhukov.
Why Napoleon Bonaparte Might Be the Greatest General in History
Mathematics aside, it’s understandable that some may doubt Ethan’s formula and its effectiveness. As such, here are more reasons why Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest general ever.
He Was an Excellent Leader
Napoleon was an impeccable leader. Historians say that Napoleon was deeply adored by older soldiers in his troops. One advantage Napoleon had was that the French Revolution led to a wide availability of soldiers, which other monarchs lacked. Regardless, Napoleon was gifted at selecting the right leaders for his troops; a good example is Louis-Nicolas Davout. These marshals would receive orders from Napoleon and share them directly with their troops while providing him with information.
He Found a Way to Govern His Large Troops
Besides his close relationship with his lieutenants, Napoleon used a specific way to divide the army into corps but under one command. This allowed each subdivision to function perfectly while fighting for a common goal. Even though this didn’t work initially, such as in the Battle of Neerwinden in 1793, where the corps lacked coordination, Napoleon was still determined to refine it and made it permanent in 1803.
Napoleon Was Good at Good at Factoring in Calculations and Chances
Another factor that led to Napoleon’s success on the battlefield was his ability to factor in calculations and chance. Using intelligence from his men, he would know how to approach an enemy and leave room for chance. He was famous for making last-minute calls depending on what his army ran into. For instance, in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon had intended to invade from the north. However, when he faced resistance in the north, he decided to invade from the center, which was a pretty bold move.
As a skilled army general, Napoleon made quick but knowledgeable decisions. He would know when to launch artillery preparation before following it with the infantry and the cavalry. The reason behind Napoleon’s quick decisions lay in his experience as an artillery officer and in participating in previous wars.
He Understood Various Terrains and Battlefields Well
This shrewd general had a vast knowledge of the terrain that he would use to win future wars. As a result, this got him names such as the god of war from the likes of Russian theorist Carl Von Clausewitz. Unlike most generals who lay back and wait for the army to do everything, Napoleon was constantly aware of what was happening on the battlefield. With access to vast information, Bonaparte could actively participate in warfare. It’s said that during war, Napoleon would go for long without sleep or rest.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Legacies
While writing about Napoleon Bonaparte, various journals have wondered whether he was a good general or a strategist because he excelled perfectly in the latter. Napoleon’s strategies were so good that the French and Americans copied him years later despite having advanced weaponry and tactics, leading to many disasters.
In 1914, General Joffre implemented Napoleon’s strategy for the Battle of Austerlitz. He was beaten on all fronts but still held the French frontline. Fortunately, generals following Napoleon’s footsteps learned not to copy his entire strategy but only the principles.
Did Napoleon Bonaparte Have Any Weaknesses?
Napoleon was not a good head of state despite being a great general. He drastically failed in implanting foreign policies. The general did not negotiate with allies because of his cunning personality, which eventually led to his defeat.
Towards the end of his tenure, war, and politics had taken a huge toll on his morale, and it’s safe to say that he was tired. His enemies, the Prussian and Austrian armies, had learned from their mistakes and embraced the army corps system.
Be as it may, every great thing must come to an end. Napoleon Bonaparte deserves the title of greatest general of all time. How he reorganized the French army and incorporated advanced strategies is nothing short of genius.