Your favourite historical personality

[Mooks]

Andrew Jackson. The epitome of America

All I think of that man when I hear the name is the Indian Removal act (Not that I dont know his other history, not in-depth though). Forcing native americans to go from their ancestral homelands to Oklahoma. All the while doing it in nazi fashion, being overly cruel on the long march there.

Oklahoma, you ever been there? I grew up there. Not a fun place to be.

[Strike For The South]

All I think of that man when I hear the name is the Indian Removal act (Not that I dont know his other history, not in-depth though). Forcing native americans to go from their ancestral homelands to Oklahoma. All the while doing it in nazi fashion, being overly cruel on the long march there.

Oklahoma, you ever been there? I grew up there. Not a fun place to be.

I never said the man was perfect but what he did for voters and the democratic process outweighs what he did to the Indians.

I have never been to Oklahoma but with good reason, I'm from Texas.

[Sarmatian]

Is that the same guy that used to be a general and commanded American army at New Orleans in the war with UK?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Is that the same guy that used to be a general and commanded American army at New Orleans in the war with UK?

Same fellow.

Though to be picky, Pakenham's defeat at New Orleans occurred after the official end of the war, but before either Jackson or Pakenham could be notified.

[Megas Methuselah]

Caesar and Napoleon. I will emulate their success in the near future.

[Lord Winter]

I never said the man was perfect but what he did for voters and the democratic process outweighs what he did to the Indians.

I have never been to Oklahoma but with good reason, I'm from Texas.

You mean like ignoring the supreme court, his handling of the nulification crisis and the spoils system?

[Strike For The South]

You mean like ignoring the supreme court, his handling of the nulification crisis and the spoils system?

The spoils system is a pretty weak argument. Every president does that.

What did he do about nullification. I know he didn't agree with SC what did he do wrong?

[Lord Winter]

True, but he was the start of it on a larger and offical scale.

As for nullification, he threatened to use force, and alienated the South, starting (among other factors) the build up to the civil war.

[Strike For The South]

True, but he was the start of it on a larger and offical scale.

As for nullification, he threatened to use force, and alienated the South, starting (among other factors) the build up to the civil war.

Debatable considering perviously the same guys were running the show.

If we had a weak willed president the country could have very well split in two right then. While I am a proponent of states rights. A divided union would've probably stayed that way.

[Ramses II CP]

My namesake, of course, Ramses II of Egypt. One of the longest reigning king/emperors in history. Personally led troops to victory in battle. Signed the first peace treaty in recorded history. Fathered about one hundred legitimate heirs. Survived to age 90 in an era when 35 was the typical lifespan. Effectively declared himself a god while still living, and was believed in so firmly that by some accounts his subjects were convinced the world would end when he died.

His success was so great that those who followed him tore down his monuments and tried to erase his memory because they could not match his accomplishments. Failing that, they took his name and claimed his deeds for their own. That despite this his name and some small part of his great works still echo down through more than three thousand years of human civilization bears witness to his might.

Look on his works, ye mighty, and despair. (With apologies to Shelley )

[a completely inoffensive name]

The spoils system is a pretty weak argument. Every president does that.

I agree with Strike that Andrew Jackson was awesome, but I have to note that the spoils system was removed after Garfield's assassination.

[Strike For The South]

I agree with Strike that Andrew Jackson was awesome, but I have to note that the spoils system was removed after Garfield's assassination.

There are ways around those pesky laws. We see it today. It's just not as pronounced.

[a completely inoffensive name]

There are ways around those pesky laws. We see it today. It's just not as pronounced.

Not really, the spoils system was candidates giving cushy jobs to people in return for support and their votes, nowadays support is given by companies who want favorable legislation for their business. Are there jobs given to friends and not necessarily the most qualified person, probably, but it is most likely not on the scale that it still qualifies to be considered a continuation of the spoils system.

[Gbone]

General Lettow-Vorbeck

-Mostly due to his solid (guerilla) campaign against the English and actually winning, even though the odds were not in his favor.

General Sherman

- Due to his total war ideas

Saladin
Sun Tzu

[KrooK]

Jan Karol Chodkiewicz - polish hetman (highest military rank) - for way he defeated Poland into XVII century and Casimir the Great - polish king who changed our country for centuries.
Maybe its a bit nationalistic but I like them. Their influence was visible for many years - into whole Eastern Europe.

[Passatempo]

Julius Caesar

[Seign Thelas]

Nobunaga Oda, one of the most innovative minds to come out of the 17th century.


If not him, Gilles de Rais, nothing beats being one of the most prolific serials killers of all time. Eighty to two hundred people, wow.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'd have to make a list of mine. It isn't in any particular order, mind you, in spite of it being numbered.

1) Otto von Bismarck. I don't always agree with his methods (or, more accurately, I don't like them being applied today to promote a United Europe - but different times must be judged differently), but he was an absolutely brilliant statesman, a true master of the art.

2) Helmuth von Moltke the Elder. The greatest military mind of his day, and certainly in the top ten of any list of European military leaders.

3) Hans Oster/Wilhelm Canaris. Enigmatic, beautiful minds, and true German heroes. The account of the interrogation of Canaris showed his outstanding mind - the amount of false trails, contradictory information, and traps he laid to confound the Nazis were marks of sheer genius.

4) Sir Isaac Brock. Not necessarily an exceptional military mind - he could be far too impetuous - he was nonetheless brave and a heroic figure in his own right.

5) Konrad Adenauer. He was, at least in part, responsible for Germany's return as a power. I am personally indebted to him for some of the things he did. The only problem I had with him was his committment to European unity.

6) Benjamin Disraeli. What a guy.

7) Golda Meir. A leader I very much look up to. Pity she was on the left.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Oliver Cromwell. Led (arguably) the world's first nationwide popular revolution, stopped the Three Kingdoms from becoming absolute monarchies, and organised an incredibly disciplined army way ahead of its time. Plus other more Backroomish reasons.

[navarro951]

Saladin, guy is a badass; gotta love those Saracens.

[Custodis Hellenius]

Oliver Cromwell. Excellent General, ripped England and Ireland apart and was one of the biggest b******s the world has ever seen.

[Imperator Invictus]

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa