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Quiz about Great Commanders  Can You Guess Them
Quiz about Great Commanders  Can You Guess Them

Great Commanders - Can You Guess Them? Quiz


This quiz will test your knowledge on some of the most famous and skilled military commanders in recorded history. Can you guess them, given a few hints about their lives and careers?

A multiple-choice quiz by MastahCheef117. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
362,602
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
811
Last 3 plays: Guest 220 (10/10), Guest 99 (9/10), Guest 90 (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This ancient ruler is possibly best known as one of the greatest generals of the ancient world. Most notably, he defeated one of the known world's largest empires, and he never endured a single defeat before he died an early death at 32. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Over a millennium and a half later, this highly ambitious young man secured for himself Consul of his home country, and after defeating the Austrian Empire in 1800 he crowned himself Emperor. He later led the "Grand Army" on campaigns across Europe, crushing the Germans in 1805 and 1806 and creating one of the largest empires Europe had seen. Despite this, his infamously disastrous invasion of Russia crippled his once-invincible army, and he was dethroned in 1814. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This man was also known as a great general and politician of the ancient world. After rising to the command of general, he led campaigns against the enemies of his country to the north, defeating the barbarian ruler Vercingetorix at Alesia, annexing their lands into what was soon to become an empire. Hailed as a great hero, he returned home at the head of his fiercely loyal troops, starting a civil war that ended up with his being made a dictator. Before his rule brought about anything of note, however, he was assassinated in 44 BC. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. A general in the period right before China's "Three Kingdoms" period, this man gained fame after securing victory at the Battle of Jiangling against an enemy force superior in number. Following this up, he was one of the principal commanders at the Battle of the Red Cliffs, contributing to the defeat of the famed strategic genius Cao Cao. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This general also happened to be a European king. An "enlightened despot", he inherited a highly trained and regimented army from his father. He used this army to great effect, badly humiliating his fellow German neighbors and the French in several battles during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' war. His victories in these wars, among others, cemented his legacy for being known as one of the greatest tacticians Europe had ever seen. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This 20th century Field Marshal served honorably on the Italian Front of World War I as an infantry officer, being wounded in action. After the war he wrote a treatise on infantry doctrine and warfare, and served as the leader of a paramilitary organization in between wars. By the Second World War he rose to division command, leading armored advances into France, whose quick movements and surprise attacks earned the division the name of "the Ghost Division". Later leading Axis troops in Africa, he was re-deployed to command troops in Normandy prior to D-Day. Though he fought honorably, he was suspected of having been involved in the July 20 plot to overthrow Hitler, and was forced to commit suicide. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A career army soldier his entire life, he joined the rebelling side of a civil war after his home state (Virginia) joined the rebels. Though his first battle was a disaster, he eventually rose to the command of the rebel's principal army, winning key victories and threatening to capture the enemy's capital and win the war. Eventually he was defeated after traveling too deep into enemy territory, becoming overconfident. After surrendering his army two years later - fighting often against the men he had fought alongside in previous wars year before - he retired to a quiet life and died several years later. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This general is also a prime contender for one of the greatest generals before the birth of Christ. Leading an army composed almost entirely of mercenaries and diehard loyal followers, he invaded the enemy in a move that shocked nearly everyone in a feat that most considered impossible. He then went on to defeat the enemy almost flawlessly in three battles (the first, forcing the enemy to cross a river, where he then attacked; the second, ambushing an enemy army on the banks of a lake, and driving them into the water; and the third, encircling and massacring a combined enemy force). He was eventually defeated, however, several years later, and he went into exile in the Levant and then to the Sea of Marmara, where he eventually committed suicide. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A European king by birth, this commander had visions of grandeur for his nation, his people, and himself. His kingdom of the north engaged in a drawn-out war with its eastern neighbor, which itself was led by a legendary European autocrat bent on making his nation one of modern institutions and of undeniable power. The former monarch fought battle after battle in the northern European regions against his enemies, winning them regardless of how badly he was outnumbered. His superior leadership skills, as well as the training and equipment of his men, could not be bested. Despite this, he was defeated following a long march into enemy territory that left his men tired and sick. He died nine years later, never able to retake the supremacy that his nation once had. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This modern-era general is often regarded as one of the greatest generals of the 20th century. Rallying his nation's forces when the enemy was at the gates of the capital, he organized the counterattack that pushed them away, and over the next three and a half years, he, a master of logistics, organized and executed offensive after offensive against the enemy's crumbling resolve. Eventually, when his troops reached the gates of the enemy's capital, there was no one that came to its rescue; the city fell, and he played an absolutely critical part in his nation's contribution to this worldwide victory. Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This ancient ruler is possibly best known as one of the greatest generals of the ancient world. Most notably, he defeated one of the known world's largest empires, and he never endured a single defeat before he died an early death at 32.

Answer: Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is widely regarded as the greatest commander of the ancient world, and is often considered for the spot of "greatest general" of all time. His most famous victories at Gaugamela and Issus crushed the back of Darius III and his empire, securing for him the throne of Persia.

His later victory at Hydapses extended his rule to the banks of the Indus River in what is now Pakistan. Possibly his most remarkable achievement was creating the empire that he did without suffering a single defeat.
2. Over a millennium and a half later, this highly ambitious young man secured for himself Consul of his home country, and after defeating the Austrian Empire in 1800 he crowned himself Emperor. He later led the "Grand Army" on campaigns across Europe, crushing the Germans in 1805 and 1806 and creating one of the largest empires Europe had seen. Despite this, his infamously disastrous invasion of Russia crippled his once-invincible army, and he was dethroned in 1814.

Answer: Napoleon I of France

According to several close associates, colleagues, and friends of the man, Napoleon was apparently a highly ambitious man from a young age, and defiantly said to a schoolmaster, "I bow only to God!" Bonaparte seized the consulship in 1799, and crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804; his succeeding wars against the coalitions that the conservative and reactionary monarchies of Europe formed against him were systematically crushed (except Britain). His victory at Austerlitz in 1805 brought a final end to the Holy Roman Empire, and is often cited as his greatest victory. Further victories at Jena-Auerstedt, Wagram, and Eylau cemented his fame as a tactical genius.

Despite this, his ego got the best of him, and his disastrous invasion of Russia - though he scored a pyyrhic victory at Borodino - resulted in his retreat and the death of thousands of his soldiers. He was dethroned in 1814, and despite coming back the next year, he was defeated at Waterloo by a joint British-Dutch-German army. He was exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821.
3. This man was also known as a great general and politician of the ancient world. After rising to the command of general, he led campaigns against the enemies of his country to the north, defeating the barbarian ruler Vercingetorix at Alesia, annexing their lands into what was soon to become an empire. Hailed as a great hero, he returned home at the head of his fiercely loyal troops, starting a civil war that ended up with his being made a dictator. Before his rule brought about anything of note, however, he was assassinated in 44 BC.

Answer: Gaius Julius Caesar

Caesar was the most celebrated Roman general of his time. His conquest of Gaul was the single greatest victory of any Roman commander since the defeat of Hannibal at Zama by Scipio Africanus, and, with massive popular support, Caesar fought a civil war against the more conservative members of the Roman political elite, led by the general and politician Pompey the Great. Despite often being outnumbered, Caesar won most of the encounters with the legions of the Optimates (the conservative faction opposing him), and when an assassin delivered the head of Pompey to Caesar, it is said that he wept for his old friend.

Caesar's assassination at the hands of dozens of Senators - for fear that he would crown himself King, a concept that most Romans abhorred - sparked a new wave of civil wars, with his own adopted son, Octavian, replacing his father in name as a skilled general. After defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra ten years later, he became the first Roman Emperor.
4. A general in the period right before China's "Three Kingdoms" period, this man gained fame after securing victory at the Battle of Jiangling against an enemy force superior in number. Following this up, he was one of the principal commanders at the Battle of the Red Cliffs, contributing to the defeat of the famed strategic genius Cao Cao.

Answer: Zhou Yu

Zhou Yu's contributions to the allied victories (the warlords that contributed troops to the battle would later form the Eastern Wu and Shu dynasties) in the fighting against Cao Cao ended the latter's attempts at restoring the Han dynasty's territory with himself as Emperor. Though not very well-known outside China, he is very often regarded as one of China's greatest generals in the ancient/Classical period.
5. This general also happened to be a European king. An "enlightened despot", he inherited a highly trained and regimented army from his father. He used this army to great effect, badly humiliating his fellow German neighbors and the French in several battles during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' war. His victories in these wars, among others, cemented his legacy for being known as one of the greatest tacticians Europe had ever seen.

Answer: Frederick the Great of Prussia

Frederick ruled for 46 years, during which he defeated the Austrians, French, and Russians on numerous occasions, often against superior numbers. His most famed battles - Rossbach and Leuthen, one month apart (5 November and 5 December, 1757) - established to the rest of the European Kings and Emperors his superior generalship qualities.

His brave rallying of the Prussians at Zorndorf and the disastrous defeat at Kunersdorf nearly ruined Prussia, but he escaped further defeat. His promotion of the arts and religious toleration further solidified him as one of Europe's great rulers.
6. This 20th century Field Marshal served honorably on the Italian Front of World War I as an infantry officer, being wounded in action. After the war he wrote a treatise on infantry doctrine and warfare, and served as the leader of a paramilitary organization in between wars. By the Second World War he rose to division command, leading armored advances into France, whose quick movements and surprise attacks earned the division the name of "the Ghost Division". Later leading Axis troops in Africa, he was re-deployed to command troops in Normandy prior to D-Day. Though he fought honorably, he was suspected of having been involved in the July 20 plot to overthrow Hitler, and was forced to commit suicide.

Answer: Erwin Rommel

Rommel is often regarded as one of the greatest tank commanders in history, as well as a master of desert warfare. He notoriously refused to carry out direct orders from Hitler to execute Jewish POWs and British commandos, fighting what he called a "war without hate". Respected by nearly all soldiers and war leaders on both sides, he was forced to commit suicide in secret in October 1944, following suspicions from Hitler that he was involved in the attempted July 1944 assassination.

These suspicions have never yet been fully confirmed or refuted.
7. A career army soldier his entire life, he joined the rebelling side of a civil war after his home state (Virginia) joined the rebels. Though his first battle was a disaster, he eventually rose to the command of the rebel's principal army, winning key victories and threatening to capture the enemy's capital and win the war. Eventually he was defeated after traveling too deep into enemy territory, becoming overconfident. After surrendering his army two years later - fighting often against the men he had fought alongside in previous wars year before - he retired to a quiet life and died several years later.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee is often considered one of the great American generals. He joined the Confederate Army after his home state of Virginia seceded from the Union. Initially he was unpopular with his troops, but after defeating General McClellan at the Seven Days' Battles in early 1862 and then defeating John Pope at Second Manassas, he invaded Maryland and threatened Washington D.C.

Despite his major defeat at Gettysburg, he fought on relentlessly and never gave up his war effort, continuing to win several battles throughout the war.

He was often outnumbered on this occasions - especially at his great victory at Chancellorsville - and his men were often under-equipped.
8. This general is also a prime contender for one of the greatest generals before the birth of Christ. Leading an army composed almost entirely of mercenaries and diehard loyal followers, he invaded the enemy in a move that shocked nearly everyone in a feat that most considered impossible. He then went on to defeat the enemy almost flawlessly in three battles (the first, forcing the enemy to cross a river, where he then attacked; the second, ambushing an enemy army on the banks of a lake, and driving them into the water; and the third, encircling and massacring a combined enemy force). He was eventually defeated, however, several years later, and he went into exile in the Levant and then to the Sea of Marmara, where he eventually committed suicide.

Answer: Hannibal Barca of Carthage

Hannibal famously crossed the Alps during his invasion of Rome. With nearly all of his elephants dead and with his ability to reinforce his army essentially nonexistent, he defeated two and a half legions at Trebia in 218 BC; he crushed the legions of Gaius Flaminius the next summer, in one of the greatest and most successful ambushes in military history at Lake Trasimene; and in 216 BC, he succeeded in pulling off one of the greatest victories of the ancient world: at Cannae, he destroyed an army of 80,000 Romans, killing one consul and barely allowing the other to escape.

Despite these great victories, he was unable to gain enough momentum to besiege and capture Rome, and he lingered in Italy for years until he was defeated by Scipio Africanus at Zama in present-day Tunisia.
9. A European king by birth, this commander had visions of grandeur for his nation, his people, and himself. His kingdom of the north engaged in a drawn-out war with its eastern neighbor, which itself was led by a legendary European autocrat bent on making his nation one of modern institutions and of undeniable power. The former monarch fought battle after battle in the northern European regions against his enemies, winning them regardless of how badly he was outnumbered. His superior leadership skills, as well as the training and equipment of his men, could not be bested. Despite this, he was defeated following a long march into enemy territory that left his men tired and sick. He died nine years later, never able to retake the supremacy that his nation once had.

Answer: Karl XII of Sweden

Karl XII is often regarded as a tactical genius, winning against all odds at Narva in 1700 against the forces of Tsar Peter the Great. In virtually every battle he fought he was outnumbered to some degree. Had he not pushed deep into Russia seeking a crushing victory, he easily could have ended the war and secured his demands from Russia for territory and resources; his ambition, however, knew no bounds, and both he and his country had to ultimately pay the price.
10. This modern-era general is often regarded as one of the greatest generals of the 20th century. Rallying his nation's forces when the enemy was at the gates of the capital, he organized the counterattack that pushed them away, and over the next three and a half years, he, a master of logistics, organized and executed offensive after offensive against the enemy's crumbling resolve. Eventually, when his troops reached the gates of the enemy's capital, there was no one that came to its rescue; the city fell, and he played an absolutely critical part in his nation's contribution to this worldwide victory.

Answer: Georgy Zhukov

Zhukov is often credited as "the one that tore down Nazism", and is often ranked as one of the greatest Russian generals of all time, along with being one of the most skilled of the 20th century. He also held the distinction of being the most decorated soldier in the history of both the Soviet Union and Russia.

Zhukov led Soviet forces against the Japanese during the Nomonhan/Khalkin Gol incident in 1939, he organized the early defense of Leningrad during its siege, he commanded forces at Moscow, and he fought brilliantly all the way back through Russia to the gates of Berlin. He clashed often with Stalin, who would not have him "removed" from the spotlight due to his absolutely incomparable popularity, which challenged the popularity of Stalin himself at times.
Source: Author MastahCheef117

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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