Favorite Commander/General Within the Context of Europe: 1600-1800

This poll is designated for the greatest military commander in Europe from the historical timeline of 1600-1800.

The greatest general/commander is not necessarily the one with the greatest breadth and scope of subjugation and dominion, but could include a combination of strategic talents, tactical strengths, the administration and practicality of grand strategy, logistics, charisma and/or an overall sense of value based on two or more of such qualities. Other elements of importance are of innovation within the field of military science and/or as a refiner of standard military methods and practices.

Please, state your reasons as to why the particular general/commander was chosen.

Thank you.

Didn't I dip in there? ;)

I don't think there is a question about this, it has to be Napoleon. No other commander so drastically changed the Europe of the period as well as the Europe that we have today geographically and politically.

NAPOLEON RULES! He almost pwnzored all of europe! Lul...

Napoleon... ha!

I voted for Fredrick the Great, he revolutionized military tactics of the age. That combined with his vast political achievements easily earns him the top spot.

General Koszciuszko, because without him, America wouldn't be here.

I can haz necros?

I voted Napoleon.

Napoleon came to power in 1794 or so, and by 1800 nobody in Europe had heard of him apart from a few French paupers...

The time zones are too rigid...

Still....his power and stuff started in the 1700s, so he still qualifies.

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Originally Posted by Milonius

Still....his power and stuff started in the 1700s, so he still qualifies.

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But in the 200 years as quoted he was nothing, his influence was after 1800.

Of the individuals listed I would say Napoleon, come on the man conquered half of Europe, was beaten back, and than was able to convince to French people/army, to take another crack at; now that’s some leadership, but I think Alexander I of Russia deserves a place on the list, it was he who first turned back the French army and he who put together the Holy Alliance, and he and massively expanded Russia, and unlike Napoleon when Alex conquered you, you stayed conquered, now I know he falls a little outside the time line, but I also think the presence of Napoleon on the list expands the time frame to include the Napoleonic Wars.

To EduLeics I: 1) Napoleon from the years 1796-1797 C.E had accomplished great and glorious objectives: the establishment of the Cispadane Republic, Transpadane Republic and the Cisalpine Republic in Northern Italy as under the hegemonic control of the First French Republic. [The Italian satellite states/buffer zones were governed in a similar manner to the French government, a Five-Man Directory as the executive branch alongside with a legislative assembly.] Napoleon as Commander of the Army of Italy, repulsed the Piedmontese and the Austrian Habsburgs from almost all of Northern Italy; Piedmont, Savoy, Genoa were directly annexed to France whilst the Lombardy region was under the hegemonic control of France. [The Venetian Republic was still under Austrian Habsburg rule as in accordance to the treaty of Campo Formio. Napoleon I Bonaparte fought in such battles from 1796-1797 of Montenotte, Millesimo, San Michele, Ceva, Lodi, Bassano, Rovento, Mondavi, Arcole, Rivoli, Mantua, etc.

[At a later conflict, some territories were lost in the War of the Second Coalition with the Russians under the command of Alexander Suvorov defeating the assembled armies of France under the generals of Joubert, Macdonald, Massena. However, when Suvorov was switched from the Italian theatre of operations to the Helvetian/Swiss zone, the Allied effort lost its offensive power whilst the French counterattacked.]

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Alexander_I_of_Russia

Technically it was Aleksandr Pavlovich Romanov although Alexander Petrovich is often subbed in, and Alex road victorious though the streets of Paris, I don't know I'd say France lost some territory.

If I'm not mistaken, it was Alexander's men who kept retreating during Napoleon's conquest of Russia.

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Originally Posted by Milonius

If I'm not mistaken, it was Alexander's men who kept retreating during Napoleon's conquest of Russia.

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It was a tactical retreat. The further they drew back, the less supplies they left Napoleon's men, the more they were battered by the Russian winter. The thinner the supply lines were stretched.
Eventually, these tactics forced Napoleon to retreat, or be destroyed.

Sort of a cheap, yet effective tactic. Napoleon lost over 400,000 of his original 600,000 men to starvation and the cold weather.

EDIT (Correction): "The Armée had begun as over 400,000 frontline troops, but in the end fewer than 40,000 crossed the Berezina River in November 1812, to escape." ~ Wikipedia

That same tactic of slash and burn retreat was used in WW2 and was just as effective. Leave nothing for the enemy, but let them advance faster than their supply lines can.

Russia has a long history of using this tactic and it always works. You would think at some point, someone would learn and use it to their advantage instead of falling for the trick.

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Originally Posted by abracax

That same tactic of slash and burn retreat was used in WW2 and was just as effective. Leave nothing for the enemy, but let them advance faster than their supply lines can.

Russia has a long history of using this tactic and it always works. You would think at some point, someone would learn and use it to their advantage instead of falling for the trick.

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A certain Austrian, once leader of Germany (Mr. A. H.....) was a big fan of Napoleon I, he, according to the stories, had read all Napoleon's books/reports/etcetera. In this light it is highly surprising that Mr. A.H. totally and utterly failed at the same way Napoleon did in his attempt to conquer Russia...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Milonius

Sort of a cheap, yet effective tactic. Napoleon lost over 400,000 of his original 600,000 men to starvation and the cold weather.

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Actually a strategic withdrawal must be very skillfully handled or it can very quickly turn into a rout. Napolean Bonaparte was a big fan of artillery and relied heavilly on artillery. This was his strength and his weakness.
This is also why his invasion of Russia was such an abysmal failure.

Marshal-General Hermann-Maurice Comte de Saxe.

He's a marshal, general, hermann and maurice called Comte de Saxe.

EASY?