True about the Mongols likely being out as they moved on horseback, but they weren't as many as 50 000 when they invaded, I think 20-30 000 at most, they were often severly outnumbered.
Re: Fastest general
True about the Mongols likely being out as they moved on horseback, but they weren't as many as 50 000 when they invaded, I think 20-30 000 at most, they were often severly outnumbered.
"One of the nice things about looking at a bear is that you know it spends 100 per cent of every minute of every day being a bear. It doesn't strive to become a better bear. It doesn't go to sleep thinking, "I wasn't really a very good bear today". They are just 100 per cent bear, whereas human beings feel we're not 100 per cent human, that we're always letting ourselves down. We're constantly striving towards something, to some fulfilment"
-Stephen Fry
Re: Fastest general
hmm, but they divided their forces, one to poland (decoy) and one to hungaria (main attack). so the entire force prolly was around 50000 if im not mistaken.
We do not sow.
Re: Fastest general
Ok, ok, since everyone is so thrilled about the mongols, let's include them...
Let's do it scientifically though. Numbers is the name of the game, names, numbers, try and provide their exact route, terrain, number of men, groups, commanders that actually led the forces, opposition, etc..
The whole point of this thread and the ones that will follow is to determine what factors make generals stand out, so repeating schoolbook myths is not a good enough approach. Numbers people! this is a historian forum dammit!
Managing perceptions goes hand in hand with managing expectations - Masamune
Pie is merely the power of the state intruding into the private lives of the working class. - Beirut
Re: Fastest general
well... they will be the fastest probably... still i think you cant compare very long distances with very short... i can march an army very quick by just charging them for 30 miles and be the fastest... but it can be done over 300 miles... over long distances foodsupplie, fatigue and moral start to play a much larger role.
We do not sow.
Re: Fastest general
The time also matters, Malaghbroughs march into baveria was considered a lightinging stroke for the time but he only averaged around 5-10 miles aday.
When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples
-Stephen Crane
Re: Fastest general
Maybe we should consider Napoleon, too. Wasn't his Grand Army moving faster to Moscow than the germans did later?
Re: Fastest general
yeah, but napoleon was virtually unopposed... while germans did encounter some fighting, besides that many tanks got stuck in the mud...
We do not sow.
Re: Fastest general
Well, nowadays your average infantry division walks about 12 miles a day...Originally Posted by Destroyer of Hope
Managing perceptions goes hand in hand with managing expectations - Masamune
Pie is merely the power of the state intruding into the private lives of the working class. - Beirut
Re: Fastest general
I imagine the baggage train of the modern infantry division is rather easier to handle and transport than back then.
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