--- title: "The 10 best generals of all time, determined by statistical analysis" description: "Ever seen \"Moneyball?\" Well, someone did the math on history's best battlefield leaders and ranked them. Here are the 10 best generals." date: "2021-07-09" modified: "2025-08-26" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/best-generals/" categories: - "History" - "Wars" tags: - "Famous Veterans" - "Military History" - "Wars" --- # The 10 best generals of all time, determined by statistical analysis ![best generals napoleon]() *"Napoleon Crossing the Alps," painted by Jacques-Louis David* Someone went and Moneyball-ed military history. Data scientist Ethan Arsht applied the principles of [baseball sabermetrics]() to the performances of history's greatest generals, examining their ability to win battles. He started by comparing the number of wins from that general to a replacement general in the same circumstances. The math is tricky, but the list of the best generals is definitive. There are just a few caveats. First, where is all this information coming from? Although an imperfect source, Arsht compiled Wikipedia data from 3,580 battles and 6,619 generals. He then compiled lists of key commanders, total forces, and, of course, the outcome. The general's forces were categorized, and his numerical advantage or disadvantage was weighted to reflect tactical ability. The real power lies in ranking the general's WAR score, also known as Wins Above Replacement. For each battle, the general receives a weighted WAR score, with a negative score for a loss. For example, at the Battle of Borodino, which pitted Napoleon against Russian Gen. Mikhail Kutuzov, the French had a slight numerical advantage over the Russians. So, the [model devised by Arsht]() gave [Bonaparte]() a WAR score of .49, which means a replacement general had a 50% chance of still winning the battle. Kutuzov gets a -.49 for Borodino, indicating that a replacement for him had a 51% chance of losing anyway. ![best generals kutuzov borodino]() *The score paints a bad portrait of Kutuzov at Borodino, much like this actual portrait of Kutuzov at Borodino.* The more battles a commander fights and wins, according to the model, the more opportunities he has to raise his scores. Fighting fewer battles doesn't help, either. There were some surprises in the model, such as the apparent failures of generals like Robert E. Lee and those of more recent times. For modern generals like George S. Patton, lower scores can be attributed to the relatively small number of battles commanded. For more about Arsht's results, responses to criticism, and his findings, [visit his post on Medium's "Towards Data Science]()." To see every general's data point and where they sit in the analysis, [check out the Bokeh Plot](), an interactive data visualization. Remember, this has nothing to do with overall strategy, and it's all in good fun. Arsht does acknowledge his shortcomings, so be sure to check those out as well. Here are history's 10 best generals. ### 10. Alexander the Great ![alexander the great best generals]() *Ancient Macedonian armies didn't have sideburn regulations, apparently.* As previously mentioned, Alexander was a great strategist, but since his life was cut short and he had only nine battles from which to draw data, it leaves the model very little to work with. Still, the conqueror of the known world is ranked much higher than other leaders with similar numbers, including the Japanese Shogun Tokugawa, [German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel](), and Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. It should be noted that Alexander's per-battle WAR average is higher than anyone else's on the list. ### 9. Georgy Zhukov ![georgy zhukov best generals]() *Soviet General and Stalin survivor Georgy Zhukov.* Field Marshal Zhukov has only one more battle than Alexander, and his overall score barely squeaks by the Macedonian. But in terms of Russian stature, he more than makes up for Kutuzov's failures. Interestingly enough, his score is far, far above that of Gen. [Douglas MacArthur]() and Confederate Generals Jubal Early and John Bell Hood. That's what overcoming the odds does for your WAR score. ### 8. Frederick the Great ![frederick the great]() *Frederick is #8 on this list, but he places first for "coolest portrait."* Ruling for more than 40 years and commanding troops in some 14 battles across Europe earned the enlightened Prussian ruler the number 8 spot on this list. His per-battle average was also lower than Alexander's, but, on the whole, he was just a better tactician. ### 7. General Ulysses S. Grant ![ulysses s. grant]() *Do you see any Confederate generals on this top ten list? No? You're welcome."* Grant's performance commanding Union troops in 16 battles earned him the seventh spot on the list – and the U.S. presidency. Although his performance on the battlefield is clearly much better than that of his contemporaries, it should be noted that his Civil War arch-rival, [Robert E. Lee](), is so far below him on the list that Lee actually has a negative score. ### 6. Hannibal Barca ![hannibal barca best general]() *Hannibal will very patiently kill you with elephants.* Hannibal, after being captured by the Roman general Scipio Africanus, is believed to have given his own ranking system to Scipio, once the two started talking. His personal assessment wasn't far off from the truth. He listed Alexander the Great and himself. Both of whom are in the top ten, even centuries later. ### 5. Khalid Ibn al-Walid ![]() *Westerners may have never have heard of him, but they sure felt his effects.* Khalid was a companion of the Prophet Mohammed and one of the Islamic Empire's most capable military leaders. In 14 battles, he remained undefeated against the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Persians, and played a crucial role in spreading Islam to the broader Middle East. Compared to others who fought similar numbers of battles, his score eclipses even Frederick the Great. ### 4. Takeda Shingen ![]() *With a look that says "zulu f\*cks"* Being one of the best military minds in feudal Japan is a really big deal, because almost everyone seemed to be a military mind and being better than someone else might mean you get challenged to a duel. After 18 battles, the Tiger of Kai reigned supreme – in Japan, anyway. ### 3. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington ![]() *Wellington is best known for giving Napoleon a proper drubbing.* It's a pretty big deal to be the guy who delivered a solid defeat to the man they called "Master of Europe." Napoleon's old nemesis, the Duke of Wellington, also saw command of 18 battles, but his WAR score is considerably higher than that of Takeda Shingen, his nearest challenger. ### 2. Julius Caesar ![]() *Caesar sadly never got to try his own salad.* [Caesar]() didn't have command in as many battles as Shingen or the Duke of Wellington, but his WAR score reflects a greater degree of risk and shrewdness in his battlefield tactics. But even Caesar also couldn't top Alexander's per-battle WAR average. ### 1. Napoleon Bonaparte ![napoleon considered one of the best generals]() *"Guys, move over there. Trust me, I'm really good at this stuff."* Yes, you might have guessed by now, but the number one spot belongs to *l'Empereur*. Napoleon is so far ahead of the normal distribution curve created by the data for these 6,000-plus generals, it's not even close. After 43 battles, he has a WAR score of more than 16, which blows the competition away. There can be no question: Napoleon is the greatest tactical general of all time, and the math proves it. ### Don't Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty: [A pilot survived a Mach 3 ejection from the edge of space by not ejecting at all]() [9 troops who became heroes after they disobeyed orders]() [10 most lethal special operations units from around the world]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()