Favorite Historical Character

[Avicenna]

I find Alkiviades (Alkibiades) of Athens the most intriguing personality of the ancient world, and maybe of all times. Extremely capable, political genious, unlimited potential, great "behind the scenes" person, very able military commander, was also a serious case of degradation, decadence, hedonist, self-loathe, immoral bastard... an extremely complicated personality, but with a sole aim: his own well beeing. He pretty much shaped the history of the Greek world, by determining by his actions the outcome of the pelopponesian war.

His legacy goes further than that. When the Spartans received a prophecy from Delphi saying that they would fall if there was a crippled kingship, the throne was not going to go to the lame Agesilaus, but to someone else (forgot who). However, the other king (Laomedon?) wanted Agesilaus for his own personal benefit, and so spread the word that the other contender to the throne was conceived when Alkibiades visited Sparta and had an affair with the heir's mother. This of course meant that Alkibiades became the king. He then spelled doom for Sparta, pretty much starting the Corinthian War on his own when a lot of respect was given to Thebes during a meeting. This sparked off the war that lead to Leuktra and the crushing of the Spartan military superiority and lifestyle.

EDIT: almost forgot.
Sun Tzu - The art of war is still the best military book there is.
Sun Yat Sen - unified and modernised China, kicking out the Manchu.
Zhu Ge Liang - in one brilliant stroke he destroyed an army of hundreds of thousands by burning their ships and drowning them.
Hannibal - military genius, bold, quick thinking leader.
Pythagoras - brilliant mathmetician, philosopher and thinker.
Hippocrates - pretty much started the science of medicine, wrote the Hippocratic Oath and greatly influenced later medical thinkers such as Galen and Avicenna.
Avicenna - a child prodigy who learned medical theory at a young age, greatly advanced medical knowledge and treated the poor for free. Re-wrote the interpretations of Galen and Hippocrates by other Muslims, who had lost most of the meaning of their work through their translations. Great doctor, mathmetician, philosopher, physics, astronomer, thinker and even musician.

[Aenlic]

I'll go with Abu Al-Walid Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Rushd, otherwise better known as Averroës. His translations and commentaries on Aristotle influenced Aquinas and many others, and could be considered a cornerstone for the post-medieval philosophical rebirth which led to the Renaissance and everything after.

And, of course, I'm fond of the revolutionaries like the great one in my sig.

[Subedei]

I'll go with Abu Al-Walid Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Rushd, otherwise better known as Averroës. His translations and commentaries on Aristotle influenced Aquinas and many others, and could be considered a cornerstone for the post-medieval philosophical rebirth which led to the Renaissance and everything after.

And, of course, I'm fond of the revolutionaries like the great one in my sig.

Splendid choice Aenlic....he was very important, but often forgottrn [esp. by Western civs]

[Strike For The South]

I'll go with Abu Al-Walid Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Rushd, otherwise better known as Averroës. His translations and commentaries on Aristotle influenced Aquinas and many others, and could be considered a cornerstone for the post-medieval philosophical rebirth which led to the Renaissance and everything after.

And, of course, I'm fond of the revolutionaries like the great one in my sig.

They always come back....

Anyway. Yalls chocies are wrong

[Strike For The South]

I'll go with Abu Al-Walid Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Rushd, otherwise better known as Averroës. His translations and commentaries on Aristotle influenced Aquinas and many others, and could be considered a cornerstone for the post-medieval philosophical rebirth which led to the Renaissance and everything after.

And, of course, I'm fond of the revolutionaries like the great one in my sig.

They always come back....

Anyway. Yalls chocies are wrong

[Aenlic]

That's an impressive stutter.

[rotorgun]

On the tactical side, at least in modern times, I would have to say that General "Dutch" Cota, of WWII fame was one of the best. His taking direct charge of the debacle of Omaha Beach and getting the stalled attack going in his sector was instrumental to the outcome. Coupled with his outstanding leadership of the 28th Infantry Division, the Bloody Bucket, during the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge, leave him at the top of the class IMHO. If it where not for his decision to defend Clervaux at all costs, I believe that Bastogne would have fallen because sufficient reinforcements were not in position to reach there in time had the 28th folded. It was his firm, stobborn personality that gave his men the confidence to hold out. Not a bad performance from them considering the turnover of personnel during the Hurtegen Campain.