In your opinion, who is the single greatest leader in history?

There have been idiolistic leaders, crazy leaders, efficient leaders, fascists, communists, crappy leaders, ETC... But who in your opinion is the greatest of all time? I'm going to have to go with Napoleon Bonaparte of France.

- Took France out of their worst time in their history; transforming it from a corrupt peasant nation to a feared empire

- Created the napoleonic code which is the basis of most European laws

- Actually fought in the wars his nation participated in

- Freed all slaves from France, emancipating the jews, and revitalized French nationalism

It says a lot then when someone is exiled and comes back, as he marches people create an army behind him so he can overthrow a monarch. Probably the most respected emperor in history with this unwavering support. Apparently, when Louis XVIII wanted to arrest him, the cops bowed to Napoleon instead of arresting.

Some other good leaders I can think of are Augustus Caesar, George Washington, Lenin (simply because he was idealistic and tried to make communism work), and Churchill.

I'm not very well read on historic leaders but I've always liked Alexander the Great, I mean he almost conquered the whole world.ikwal

Martin Luther King Jr.-Jiggles-

[QUOTE="-Jiggles-"]Martin Luther King Jr.CruxisXIII

Doesn't make him better, though.

Hitler...No joke

Hitler...No joke

Beatles401

- wanted to unify all the Germans - Germany got split into East and West Germany. One being communist which he hated

- wanted to kill all the Jews - Jews got their own country

- Wanted to destroy the USSR and end communism - USSR became a world superpower because of him

- Wanted a thousand year empire - empire was destroyed in about a dozen years

Lenin (simply because he was idealistic and tried to make communism work)CruxisXIII

Genghis Khan.

His life was epic.

[QUOTE="CruxisXIII"] Lenin (simply because he was idealistic and tried to make communism work)famicommander

Ghenghis Khan.

His life was epic.

The_Ish

You have to remember that there is no proof he ever existed. It is all a bunch of legends.

Either Hitler Stalin, or Saddam Hussein

Hitler make Germany arguably the most powerful country in the world, and started the worst war of all time. He also nearly succeeded in wiping a prominant religion off the face of the earth. In addition, he lead Germany out of a horrible economic situation.

Stalin took the USSR, which was firmly based in farming, into a world superpower. He killed 30 million people, and helped win WWII.

Saddam Hussein Saw Iraq grow from a small middle eartern country into a powerful nation in the middle east, with the fourth largest military on earth. He also arguably won the Iran Iraq war, which if you remember, was one hell of a war. Of course, he also killed thousands of people, gased the kurds, got his country destroyed twice by the Americans.

Power-wise, maybe Ghengis Khan or Alexander the Great.

Leader-wise, I'm not sure. There are a lot of good and bad leaders, past and present.

You have to remember that there is no proof he ever existed. It is all a bunch of legends.

Nicolas101

I have never come across anyone saying that there is no proof of his existence.

Either Hitler Stalin, or Saddam Hussein

Hitler make Germany arguably the most powerful country in the world, and started the worst war of all time. He also nearly succeeded in wiping a prominant religion off the face of the earth. In addition, he lead Germany out of a horrible economic situation.

Stalin took the USSR, which was firmly based in farming, into a world superpower. He killed 30 million people, and helped win WWII.

Saddam Hussein Saw Iraq grow from a small middle eartern country into a powerful nation in the middle east, with the fourth largest military on earth. He also arguably won the Iran Iraq war, which if you remember, was one hell of a war. Of course, he also killed thousands of people, gased the kurds, got his country destroyed twice by the Americans.

buxboy

If all he did was atrocities how is he a good leader. His country was destroyed TWICE by America. That definetly isn't a good leader.

With Hitler also, he never destroyed an entire religion, it couldn't have been the most powerful. The reason Germany conquered so many places so quickly is

a) Britian and France appeased Hitler and gave him countries

b) His Blitzkrieg tatics were so far ahead of the time that it caught everyone off guard.

And with Stalin, how does killing 30 Million people make you a great leader?

[QUOTE="famicommander"][QUOTE="CruxisXIII"] Lenin (simply because he was idealistic and tried to make communism work)CruxisXIII

It's hard to say. A lot of the notable leaders of history were actually terrible people, and ended up getting too ahead of themselves and causing the collapse of their empires. I'd say the best would probably have to have been...well, as much as I hate to admit this, Bill Clinton was one of the best. I think he didn't really do a lot of good or anything, but he managed to get us into a nice economy, which made our lives and the 90's extremely good times for many. I wouldn't say Bill is the "single greatest leader in history" but he does deserve some credit for helping the US in that one significant and substantial way.Shiggums

[QUOTE="buxboy"]

Either Hitler Stalin, or Saddam Hussein

Hitler make Germany arguably the most powerful country in the world, and started the worst war of all time. He also nearly succeeded in wiping a prominant religion off the face of the earth. In addition, he lead Germany out of a horrible economic situation.

Stalin took the USSR, which was firmly based in farming, into a world superpower. He killed 30 million people, and helped win WWII.

Saddam Hussein Saw Iraq grow from a small middle eartern country into a powerful nation in the middle east, with the fourth largest military on earth. He also arguably won the Iran Iraq war, which if you remember, was one hell of a war. Of course, he also killed thousands of people, gased the kurds, got his country destroyed twice by the Americans.

JohnnySN1P3R

If all he did was atrocities how is he a good leader. His country was destroyed TWICE by America. That definetly isn't a good leader.

With Hitler also, he never destroyed an entire religion, it couldn't have been the most powerful. The reason Germany conquered so many places so quickly is

a) Britian and France appeased Hitler and gave him countries

b) His Blitzkrieg tatics were so far ahead of the time that it caught everyone off guard.

And with Stalin, how does killing 30 Million people make you a great leader?

Sacrifices for motherland, just statistics

[QUOTE="JohnnySN1P3R"][QUOTE="buxboy"]

Either Hitler Stalin, or Saddam Hussein

Hitler make Germany arguably the most powerful country in the world, and started the worst war of all time. He also nearly succeeded in wiping a prominant religion off the face of the earth. In addition, he lead Germany out of a horrible economic situation.

Stalin took the USSR, which was firmly based in farming, into a world superpower. He killed 30 million people, and helped win WWII.

Saddam Hussein Saw Iraq grow from a small middle eartern country into a powerful nation in the middle east, with the fourth largest military on earth. He also arguably won the Iran Iraq war, which if you remember, was one hell of a war. Of course, he also killed thousands of people, gased the kurds, got his country destroyed twice by the Americans.

DrCoCoPiMp

If all he did was atrocities how is he a good leader. His country was destroyed TWICE by America. That definetly isn't a good leader.

With Hitler also, he never destroyed an entire religion, it couldn't have been the most powerful. The reason Germany conquered so many places so quickly is

a) Britian and France appeased Hitler and gave him countries

b) His Blitzkrieg tatics were so far ahead of the time that it caught everyone off guard.

And with Stalin, how does killing 30 Million people make you a great leader?

Sacrifices for motherland, just statistics

But that doesn't make them good leaders.

[QUOTE="DrCoCoPiMp"][QUOTE="JohnnySN1P3R"][QUOTE="buxboy"]

Either Hitler Stalin, or Saddam Hussein

Hitler make Germany arguably the most powerful country in the world, and started the worst war of all time. He also nearly succeeded in wiping a prominant religion off the face of the earth. In addition, he lead Germany out of a horrible economic situation.

Stalin took the USSR, which was firmly based in farming, into a world superpower. He killed 30 million people, and helped win WWII.

Saddam Hussein Saw Iraq grow from a small middle eartern country into a powerful nation in the middle east, with the fourth largest military on earth. He also arguably won the Iran Iraq war, which if you remember, was one hell of a war. Of course, he also killed thousands of people, gased the kurds, got his country destroyed twice by the Americans.

JohnnySN1P3R

If all he did was atrocities how is he a good leader. His country was destroyed TWICE by America. That definetly isn't a good leader.

With Hitler also, he never destroyed an entire religion, it couldn't have been the most powerful. The reason Germany conquered so many places so quickly is

a) Britian and France appeased Hitler and gave him countries

b) His Blitzkrieg tatics were so far ahead of the time that it caught everyone off guard.

And with Stalin, how does killing 30 Million people make you a great leader?

Sacrifices for motherland, just statistics

But that doesn't make them good leaders.

I guess its depends if the 30 millions deaths were actually a good steppin stone for motherland evolution

Bill Clinton was one of the best. I think he didn't really do a lot of good or anything, but he managed to get us into a nice economy, which made our lives and the 90's extremely good times for many. Shiggums

[QUOTE="Shiggums"]It's hard to say. A lot of the notable leaders of history were actually terrible people, and ended up getting too ahead of themselves and causing the collapse of their empires. I'd say the best would probably have to have been...well, as much as I hate to admit this, Bill Clinton was one of the best. I think he didn't really do a lot of good or anything, but he managed to get us into a nice economy, which made our lives and the 90's extremely good times for many. I wouldn't say Bill is the "single greatest leader in history" but he does deserve some credit for helping the US in that one significant and substantial way.CruxisXIII

They both had their scandals that affected how people remember their presidencies though. But yes, both led us through some strong economic times. If anything, Clinton has one up on Reagan with the beej :P

I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. CruxisXIII

Yeah, with corrupted leaders and a president TOTALLY CONTROLLLLLLLLED by his prime minister, which was president b4 but couldnt run again.

*cough* Georgia *cough*

I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. CruxisXIII

What reforms?
Forced purges? Gulags? Secret Police? Forced Starvation? I guess those are great steps for modernization.

I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. CruxisXIII

While he did actually do some great things while in power, he did also at the same time mercilessly kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people, not quite as bad as the Holocaust, but still really bad.

But I will agree, if it wasn't for Stalin-run USSR, the Nazis would have been a bigger problem.

I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. CruxisXIII

[QUOTE="CruxisXIII"]I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. Shiggums

While he did actually do some great things while in power, he did also at the same time mercilessly kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people, not quite as bad as the Holocaust, but still really bad.

But I will agree, if it wasn't for Stalin-run USSR, the Nazis would have been a bigger problem.

[QUOTE="CruxisXIII"]I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. Shiggums

While he did actually do some great things while in power, he did also at the same time mercilessly kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people, not quite as bad as the Holocaust, but still really bad.

But I will agree, if it wasn't for Stalin-run USSR, the Nazis would have been a bigger problem.

Well, Stalin would've never been into this that much without Hitler attaking him. Hitler pretty much dug his whole grave. ****ing with all the powers at the same time. I consider this Hitlerz fault, not Stalin good action or w/ever

[QUOTE="CruxisXIII"]I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. famicommander

Thanks for adding some stuff I didn't say.

[QUOTE="Shiggums"]

[QUOTE="CruxisXIII"]I believe that Stalin is a hero. He modernized Russia, saved the world from Nazism, left his nation a superpower. He thought of he future, he made life better for Russians TODAY. Why remember him as an evil murderer? At the end of the day he had a better country and because of his reforms, Russia is what it is today. famicommander

While he did actually do some great things while in power, he did also at the same time mercilessly kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people, not quite as bad as the Holocaust, but still really bad.

But I will agree, if it wasn't for Stalin-run USSR, the Nazis would have been a bigger problem.

Really? Hm...guess my knowledge was a little skewed. How many innocent people were killed by Stalin and his political ideologies?

Hitler killed what? Over 6 million jews, homosexuals, gypsies, and ethinic slavs?

Really? Hm...guess my knowledge was a little skewed. How many innocent people were killed by Stalin and his political ideologies?

Hitler killed what? Over 6 million jews, homosexuals, gypsies, and ethinic slavs?

Shiggums

Margaret Thatcher pawned Argentina :P

Seriously though, I cant believe anyone has mentioned the great Sir Winston Churchill. Without him, Britain would have fallen to the Nazis, therefore America would not have been able to attack Europe using Britain as a platorm, meaning Hitler would have been fighting a war on only one front, which means Russia would have fallen, which means the Axis would have basically owned all of Eurasia.

[QUOTE="Shiggums"]

Really? Hm...guess my knowledge was a little skewed. How many innocent people were killed by Stalin and his political ideologies?

Hitler killed what? Over 6 million jews, homosexuals, gypsies, and ethinic slavs?

famicommander

:shock: Seriously? Holy crap, I honestly thought he killed only a few million tops. Why the hell would we criticize this man less than Hitler if he has done several times the amount of killing.

[QUOTE="famicommander"][QUOTE="Shiggums"]

Really? Hm...guess my knowledge was a little skewed. How many innocent people were killed by Stalin and his political ideologies?

Hitler killed what? Over 6 million jews, homosexuals, gypsies, and ethinic slavs?

Shiggums

:shock: Seriously? Holy crap, I honestly thought he killed only a few million tops. Why the hell would we criticize this man less than Hitler if he has done several times the amount of killing.

Because Hitler tried to destroy a religion and started a War