9 Worst Generals in History

Overview

• Military greatness is often defined by comparison to failures in battle, which serve as a stark contrast.

Key Figures

Quintus Servilius Caepio

• Roman Commander with notable failures.
• Disobeyed superior, Consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus, during negotiations with the Cimbri tribe.
• Rashly attacked the Cimbri, resulting in massive Roman losses.
• Lost 80,000 infantry and 40,000 auxiliaries and cavalry at the Battle of Arausio.
• Stripped of Roman citizenship and exiled after this disaster.
• Never recovered the 15,000 talents of gold, suspected of theft.

Gideon Pillow

• Confederate General during American Civil War.
• Praised for ineptitude, notably at Battle of Belmont.
• Reputation suffered due to poor performance during the Mexican-American War.
• Charged with a court-martial for theft, but cleared by President James K. Polk.
• Failed defense at Fort Donelson led to Union victory opening the path into the South.

Francisco Solano López

• Paraguayan Dictator responsible for the War of the Triple Alliance.
• War against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay devastated Paraguay.
• Over 90% of Paraguayan fighting-age men perished.
• Executed many, including family, in fits of madness.
• Died in combat in 1870.

Douglas Haig

• British Commander in World War I.
• Notably dismissed the impact of machine guns.
• First Battle of the Somme led to massive British casualties.
• Attrition strategy resulted in futile losses.
• Lions led by donkeys phrase emerges post-war, criticizing leadership.

Erich Ludendorff

• German General in World War I.
• Tactical victories not integrated into broader strategy.
• Pushed for unrestricted submarine warfare, provoking U.S. entry.
• Sabotaged the Weimar Republic post-war.

George McClellan

• Union General in the American Civil War.
• Known for overestimating enemy strength and reluctance to fight.
• Peninsular Campaign and Battle of Antietam marked by missed opportunities.

Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve

• French Admiral during Napoleonic Wars.
• Lost Battle of Trafalgar, solidifying British naval supremacy.
• Committed suicide rather than face Napoleon's wrath.

Antonio López de Santa Anna

• Mexican Dictator and General.
• Notorious for vacillation and self-serving actions.
• Lost Texas Revolution at the Battle of San Jacinto.
• Betrayed allies repeatedly throughout his career.

William Hull

• American General in the War of 1812.
• Only general sentenced to death for cowardice and dereliction of duty.
• Surrendered Fort Detroit without a fight, losing Michigan Territory.