Ok. My votes in the poll go for the strongest Leader & his/her Civ.Just your favourite leaders for any reason at all. Ones you like to play as or just enjoy in overall. Best beards if you like
1, Barbarossa. One bonus district allows me to pursuit every victory type and still have amenities, culture, science, whatever I need. Hansa is frosting on the cake, because production is king, and bonus district providing it is great.
2, Qin Shi Huang. His ability to spam every early game wonder is incredible. 60% Eureka and Inspiration is decent. With faster techs and policies and with bonuses of early game wonders, you'll get mid game wonders sooner, so you can build them before anyone else. And with the help of Eurekas, Inspirations, mid and early game wonders, you'll get late game wonders sooner. China is incredible snowballing Civ.
3, Peter the Great. More lands = saved money and culture. And luxuries and strategic resources almost immediately. Faith and production from tundra tiles means there isn't place where you wouldn't want to settle. Bonus science and culture from trade routes to more advanced civs is good.
But here are some other lists...
Best real world rulers:
1, Pedro II
2, Cyrus the Great
3, Peter the Great
Best leader depiction:
1, Cyrus the Great
2, Saladin
3, Gorgo
Best beards (you proposed that, so I couldn't resist ):
(The real winner of any beard list is Pedro II's mighty beard from Civ V. That means the first place in the following list is second, second place is third and third place is fourth.)
1, Pedro II
2, Pericles
3, Gilgamesh
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