Great Commanders

[Stryker]

Duke William of Normandy, aka William the Bastard, aka William the Conqueror, took the opportunity presented him by the events of history and through his actions created a nation whose history in the following 800 years not only mattered upon the world stage, but helped define the world stage. Did he exhibit tactical brilliance at Hastings? No. But that does not lessen the greatness of his achievements. So am I judging the event and not the man? In my opinion in this case, you can't have one without the other. so if the even is great, so must be the man who mastered it.

Without going into too much more detail than Peter, I have to agree with his points. (Harold was a far greater leader and tactician than William in my opinion from what I know of him).... anyway - that wasn't my point. So much went on in the next 500 years following the conquest that I don't think anybody could argue this event laid any foundation stones for greatness... that honour is lain firmly at the feet of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I - who transformed England from a minor european country, into a feared and respected "player" in european power struggles... and even then, it wasn't until William of Orange took over that we could truly count ourselves as a major power... his taxation and banking reforms allowed England to compete and outstrip her opponents by financing the Army and Navy to levels which could not be matched by our main enemy - France.. a lesson well learnt from the whippings handed out to the English by the Dutch previously.

More food for discussion no doubt! all this is from memory, feel free to check it out and counter.... touche! :P