In the spirit of lists that other people have started, I would like to ask who some of the most underrated military commanders in history are. I am using a pretty broad definition of "underrated" - it can be someone who is usually portrayed as incompetent but who you think was at least decent, or someone who is generally acknowledged as a good commander but who you think was great, or someone who was overshadowed by a contemporary who was roughly equal in skill but got more attention, or someone who you think was really skilled but is overlooked because they lived in a relatively little-known place or period of history.
A few of my suggestions, not in any particular order -
Subedei (Mongols, 13th century) - Everyone has heard of Genghis Khan, but relatively few people know about Subedei, a common warrior from a tribe defeated by Genghis Khan who rose to become the most powerful general in the Mongol forces who was not actually related to Genghis Khan. He was active in campaigns against that conquered northern China, the Khitai of what is now western China, and the Islamic Khwarizm empire. He was the mastermind behind an extraordinary "reconnaissance in force" in the 1220s where a detachment of Mongols moved from the recently conquered provinces of central Asia through much of modern day Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia. Along the way they defeated Georgian, Alan, Kipchak, and Russian armies that were equal in size or larger than their own, while moving across a parts of Asia that the Mongols had not traveled through before.
Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus" (Roman Republic, 3rd century BC) - Served as an officer in several of the terrible Roman defeats by Hannibal's army in the first years of the second Punic War. Was later put in charge of the Roman forces in Hispania, where he brilliantly outmaneuvered and defeated the Carthaginian forces while convincing many of the native peoples to switch their loyalty from Carthage to Rome. Later he commanded the Roman force that invaded Carthage's home territory in North Africa. He showed his diplomatic skills again by convincing Massinissa, the most influential leader among the native Numidian peoples, to join the side of Rome. At the battle of Zama, his army met Hannibal's head on and achieved the first and only Roman victory over the brilliant Carthaginian commander.
Heraclius (Roman/Byzantine Empire, 7th century) - When the eastern Roman Empire was crumbling away under attacks by the Persians and Avars, he led a force to Constantinople and overthrew the incompetent and cruel Emperor Phocas. After taking the throne himself, he decided slowly rebuilt the strength of the Roman armies even while much of Roman territory was occupied by enemies. Then, he left an adequate force to defend Constantinople itself and took his main army on a series of campaigns in Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria, and Mesopotamia that reversed the tide of the war and defeated the Persians again and again. Along the way he negotiated a successful alliance with the turkish Khazars, who distracted the Persians with an attack of their own. The army and naval forces that he left behind in Constantinople were able to defend the capital against Avar and Persian attack while Heraclius boldly invaded Persian territory. After suffering a number of setbacks, Persian noblemen overthrew and killed their own King who wanted to continue the war, and agreed to a peace that withdrew all remaining Persian forces from Roman territory. Sadly for the Roman Empire, Heraclius failed in attempts to reconcile the divisions between Orthodox and Monophysite Christians, and within a few years after his great victory over the Persians Arab Muslim forces were invading Roman territory. Heraclius was, in contrast to his earlier years, now worn out and demoralized, and his subordinates were defeated again and again by their new Islamic foes. When Heraclius died, the Empire was crumbling again, and this time there was no great leader to step forward and lead a counterattack.
A few of my suggestions, not in any particular order -
Subedei (Mongols, 13th century) - Everyone has heard of Genghis Khan, but relatively few people know about Subedei, a common warrior from a tribe defeated by Genghis Khan who rose to become the most powerful general in the Mongol forces who was not actually related to Genghis Khan. He was active in campaigns against that conquered northern China, the Khitai of what is now western China, and the Islamic Khwarizm empire. He was the mastermind behind an extraordinary "reconnaissance in force" in the 1220s where a detachment of Mongols moved from the recently conquered provinces of central Asia through much of modern day Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia. Along the way they defeated Georgian, Alan, Kipchak, and Russian armies that were equal in size or larger than their own, while moving across a parts of Asia that the Mongols had not traveled through before.
Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus" (Roman Republic, 3rd century BC) - Served as an officer in several of the terrible Roman defeats by Hannibal's army in the first years of the second Punic War. Was later put in charge of the Roman forces in Hispania, where he brilliantly outmaneuvered and defeated the Carthaginian forces while convincing many of the native peoples to switch their loyalty from Carthage to Rome. Later he commanded the Roman force that invaded Carthage's home territory in North Africa. He showed his diplomatic skills again by convincing Massinissa, the most influential leader among the native Numidian peoples, to join the side of Rome. At the battle of Zama, his army met Hannibal's head on and achieved the first and only Roman victory over the brilliant Carthaginian commander.
Heraclius (Roman/Byzantine Empire, 7th century) - When the eastern Roman Empire was crumbling away under attacks by the Persians and Avars, he led a force to Constantinople and overthrew the incompetent and cruel Emperor Phocas. After taking the throne himself, he decided slowly rebuilt the strength of the Roman armies even while much of Roman territory was occupied by enemies. Then, he left an adequate force to defend Constantinople itself and took his main army on a series of campaigns in Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria, and Mesopotamia that reversed the tide of the war and defeated the Persians again and again. Along the way he negotiated a successful alliance with the turkish Khazars, who distracted the Persians with an attack of their own. The army and naval forces that he left behind in Constantinople were able to defend the capital against Avar and Persian attack while Heraclius boldly invaded Persian territory. After suffering a number of setbacks, Persian noblemen overthrew and killed their own King who wanted to continue the war, and agreed to a peace that withdrew all remaining Persian forces from Roman territory. Sadly for the Roman Empire, Heraclius failed in attempts to reconcile the divisions between Orthodox and Monophysite Christians, and within a few years after his great victory over the Persians Arab Muslim forces were invading Roman territory. Heraclius was, in contrast to his earlier years, now worn out and demoralized, and his subordinates were defeated again and again by their new Islamic foes. When Heraclius died, the Empire was crumbling again, and this time there was no great leader to step forward and lead a counterattack.
