Innovative, brilliant mind, whose campaigns against his surrounding enemies are close to the stuff of legend.

It can be fairly said that he laid the framework of the modern military, taking it out of the feudal era in which it still languished.

Many people say he is great because he beat the nations that he did. But in fact beating these countries were easier than it sounds. All of these countries were suffering from lots and lots of rebillions expecially Austria. He's early life is not very comendable either. Tried hard to keep his country strong, and usually ended up in the right place at the right time.

One of the Great Captains of all time, how he is rated below Grant, Eisenhower, and Patton is beyond me. Created inovations and tactics that were copied by others and some that are still in use today.

Objectively speaking - who could you actually rate as better? I mean - surrounded by the 3 of the 4 biggest nations and empires of the time whom were all hostile to him? And he WON! That is not to even mention his domestic reforms.

Gotta love the Prussian military mind.