Which person(s) in history intrigue you the most?

[Moss]

I'm curious as to which historical person(s) you guys are most intrigued by and why?

Mine would be:

Thomas Jefferson partly for his views and his brilliance but mostly for his personality. Written accounts of him remind me of myself. He loved writing and the study of all types of things, but was rather shy when it came to vocal arguments and speaking. His views intrigue me as well because he seems to be used by all sides as a staple of viewpoints that are as seemingly contradictory as Jefferson was at times himself.

I'm also intrigued by Julius Caesar mostly because I know so little about him. He's a titan on the world stage and has always intrigued me because I know what he did, but I don't really know the man himself, what made him tick and the intricacies of his character. (Adrian Goldsworthy's biography of him is on my reading list).

I have more but those are the two that pop to my head right off of the bat. Yours?

 

[LightSpectra]

Cyrus the Great, for founding an empire whose wealth surpassed even that of Rome; for establishing human rights that weren't recognized in Europe until the Middle Ages; for being a military genius; and other reasons.

People who gave up or shunned enormous amounts of wealth to live an ascetic, philosophical life: including the Buddha, Richard Alpert, Boethius, St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Francis of Assissi, Cato Minor, Mohandas Gandhi, and others.

Abraham Lincoln. His associates saw him as a demigod; his cabinet called him "the Ancient One" by how impressed they were with his political maneuverings, and Stanton (Secretary of War) said at his death, "There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen. Now he belongs to the angels." His enemies, conversely, saw him as a tyrant. Such an interesting and intelligent figure, that went from being an obscure one-term Congressman to being the most excellent President in history.

Shen Kuo, for being the most polymathematical polymath in the history of polymaths.

Johann Sebastian Bach, for composing an incomprehensible amount of music that has a beauty that saddens me to listen to -- knowing that a single one of his concertos is more lovely than anything I'll ever make in my life.

 

[Kafka2]

George Thompson, the subject of the article I wrote here- http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=120047

 

[Agent327]

I'm also intrigued by Julius Caesar mostly because I know so little about him. He's a titan on the world stage and has always intrigued me because I know what he did, but I don't really know the man himself, what made him tick and the intricacies of his character. (Adrian Goldsworthy's biography of him is on my reading list).

That'd be a good starting point. (Have it, read it, great.)

Most intrigueing persons:

Buddha, Jesus, Alexander (in that order).

 

[Sharwood]

I've always found Idi Amin pretty intriguing. Hilariously so.

That Peruvian guy mentioned in the "Nutty" thread is someone I intend to look into when i get the chance, also.

 

[Camikaze]

When I studied Bismarck, it was Bismarck. Now I'm studying Speer, it is Speer. Perhaps it's because I know enough about them to be interested. But, yeah, people like Idi Amin are pretty interesting, too.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

As much as I hate him, Winston Churchill led such a full life that you're always finding out new things about him, what he did, where he went, etc etc and he seems to have had a Forrest Gump-ish knack for being in important places at important times.

I've always found Idi Amin pretty intriguing. Hilariously so.

I just find him funny for a laugh, I don't know how "interesting" I'd call him.

That Peruvian guy mentioned in the "Nutty" thread is someone I intend to look into when i get the chance, also.

Alberto Fujimori?

 

[Dachs]

Theophilos, one of the most overlooked Roman Emperors, was pretty cool. Cultural golden age, exchange of ideas with the Abbasids of Harun al-Rashid, and yet a military failure his entire reign...who in his last two years carried out a reform of the army that allowed the military successes of the next century.

Eumenes of Kardia, the Greek adventurer, military genius, and onetime secretary for some Macedonian dude who went off in the east somewhere is also interesting to try to fathom.

 

[GoodGame]

Jesus Christ----what a cult he accumulated.

 

[Ice_Tyrant]

The only thing about Alberto Fujimori that I know is how crazy it seems to me that a japanese person could become the president of Peru. That totally shocked me. It'd be like if Kazakh become Prime Minister of Canada. Just seems so out there. Don't know much 'bout him honestly.

For some reason James K. Polk and Ashoka the Great of India interest me. William Wilberforce as well. Plenty of folks I'm really interested in, can't really be sure who I'm most interested in I think, but those three folks come to mind.

 

[privatehudson]

I agree that Lincoln was a fascinating character with both intelligence and humour in abundance, although he was still very much a man of his time with views that we would today find racist. I do doubt however that he was viewed with quite the outright reverence that your post suggests Lightspectra. There were many in the North from across the political spectrum who disliked him and thought (for different reasons) that he was ruining the country.

Like many who have been assasinated people tend to talk better about them after the assasination than what they did when the person was alive.

 

[Ice_Tyrant]

Didn't Lincoln suspend Haebus Corpus too? I remember readin' that somewhere. He wasn't nearly the saint he's portrayed as now.

I also find El Cid very interesting too. He isn't exactly a Spanish King Arthur like some people seem think of him as, but still interesting to read about none the less.

 

[LightSpectra]

Didn't Lincoln suspend Haebus Corpus too? I remember readin' that somewhere. He wasn't nearly the saint he's portrayed as now.

The Constitution specifically allows for the suspension of habeas corpus in times of rebellion. It was a necessary move, in fact. The border states were on the verge of secession, so he had to suppress Confederate sympathies.

 

[Ice_Tyrant]

The Constitution specifically allows for the suspension of habeas corpus in times of rebellion. It was a necessary move, in fact. The border states were on the verge of secession, so he had to suppress Confederate sympathies.

I honestly have no clue. I'm just sayin' he isn't a saint like some folks seem to think he is. Though You gotta be rough I'd imagine to lead your country through a Civil War.

 

[LightSpectra]

I honestly have no clue. I'm just sayin' he isn't a saint like some folks seem to think he is.

I don't think he's a saint, but I do believe he was a brilliant leader, one of the greatest orators in history, and was instrumental in preserving the United States and abolishing slavery (the best possible outcome of several ways the Civil War could have ended).

 

[Sharwood]

As much as I hate him, Winston Churchill led such a full life that you're always finding out new things about him, what he did, where he went, etc etc and he seems to have had a Forrest Gump-ish knack for being in important places at important times.



I just find him funny for a laugh, I don't know how "interesting" I'd call him.



Alberto Fujimori?

I like Winston solely because he's one of the most quotable men in history. I disagree with many of his actions and beliefs, but there's something awesome about a Prime Minister that smokes cigars, gets drunk and tells society women that they're ugly.

Idi Amin was also a polygamist, and a quite disturbing character. I remember seeing a documentary of him when I was a kid - I believe the first time I'd ever heard of him, actually - where he laughed in Queen Elizabeth II's face for an uncomfortably long time when asked why he was visiting London - he'd shown up without any notice, which is in itself not the usual decorum for a head-of-state - only to respond that he'd come to buy some shoes.

I've always found Fujimori really interesting, now that you mention him, but no, I was thinking about some guy who apparently legalised prostitution so his own daughter could make money, even though he ran the country and could have easily provided for her. I may have the country wrong, I've read a bunch about South America on the boards lately.

 

[LightSpectra]

Idi Amin was also a polygamist, and a quite disturbing character. I remember seeing a documentary of him when I was a kid - I believe the first time I'd ever heard of him, actually - where he laughed in Queen Elizabeth II's face for an uncomfortably long time when asked why he was visiting London - he'd shown up without any notice, which is in itself not the usual decorum for a head-of-state - only to respond that he'd come to buy some shoes.

I wonder how quick, if prompted, the British government could whip up an assassination.

 

[Sharwood]

I wonder how quick, if prompted, the British government could whip up an assassination.

Ask some of the high-ranking members of the IRA.

 

[Plotinus]

I like Winston solely because he's one of the most quotable men in history. I disagree with many of his actions and beliefs, but there's something awesome about a Prime Minister that smokes cigars, gets drunk and tells society women that they're ugly.

Of all the thoroughly unpleasant things that Winston Churchill said and did, his supposedly hilariously witty put-downs were by far the worst, because as a result we've had to endure decades of unimaginative bores repeating them as if they're fresh and original. The Internet has just made this phenomenon even more unescapable.

I'm intrigued by Oswald Mosley. He started off so good - an enlightened left-wing campaigner who was too socialist for the Labour party of his day. Then he went on a tour of Europe and transformed himself into a raving fascist, admirer of Hitler, militant anti-semite, and (later) Holocaust denier. How on earth does that happen to someone? And how was he still thought sufficiently well of in 1968 for his autobiography to be widely read and praised?

 

[Moss]

I'm intrigued by Oswald Mosley. He started off so good - an enlightened left-wing campaigner who was too socialist for the Labour party of his day. Then he went on a tour of Europe and transformed himself into a raving fascist, admirer of Hitler, militant anti-semite, and (later) Holocaust denier. How on earth does that happen to someone? And how was he still thought sufficiently well of in 1968 for his autobiography to be widely read and praised?

Did the biography, or anything else for that matter, shed light on why his views changed?