jackelgull
An aberration of nature
I always feel that any discussion of the best/worst leaders in history is unproductive, because this ignores that every leader has different political climates and crises to face. The political situation in revolutionary America was quite different from lets say revolutionary France. There is no one standard of leadership that can be applied to all times. What worked in ancient Persia isn't necessarily going to work in Iran today. Too much changes.
So instead I am asking which leaders were best able to navigate the political climates of their time due to circumstances they could and couldn't control. Leaders who had so many points in their favor at the time that there was no better person suited for the position.
I am going to throw in Abu Bakr, the first Caliph for this role. There was no one else who could have saved the Muslim umma at the time. He had the close connection to the prophet to provide him with legitimacy. He was well known and well respected among the Arabs. His strict position on the false prophets springing up after Muhammed's death and insistence on adherence to sticking to Islamic principle saved the fledgling Muslim state from fracturing and becoming impotent after the death of its prophet.
He navigated his political climate admirably and I believe that there was no one else who could have taken up this role at the time. Anyone else want to nominate some one else?
So instead I am asking which leaders were best able to navigate the political climates of their time due to circumstances they could and couldn't control. Leaders who had so many points in their favor at the time that there was no better person suited for the position.
I am going to throw in Abu Bakr, the first Caliph for this role. There was no one else who could have saved the Muslim umma at the time. He had the close connection to the prophet to provide him with legitimacy. He was well known and well respected among the Arabs. His strict position on the false prophets springing up after Muhammed's death and insistence on adherence to sticking to Islamic principle saved the fledgling Muslim state from fracturing and becoming impotent after the death of its prophet.
He navigated his political climate admirably and I believe that there was no one else who could have taken up this role at the time. Anyone else want to nominate some one else?