Three characters in history - Essay Example

Three Characters in History Introduction Historical leadership in the long-term has been termed as an essential ingredient of conflict. Historical headship is the process of influencing followers to accomplish a goal by providing direction, purpose, and motivation. This incident is an attribute of huge people personality, which is divine that motivates thousands of people with certain ideas. The historical times of 360 BC to 1865 AD had numerous powerful historical leaders. Below is a discussion of three main characters in history from the period of 360 BC to 1865 AD and their leadership; Hannibal of Carthage during the Second Punic War, General George Washington, and Alexander the Great.

Hannibal of Carthage Hannibal Barca was Carthaginian forces’ historical leaders, which fought besides Rome in the time of Second Punic War. People considered Hannibal as being the greatest Rome’s enemy. After his early successes in Spain, he led his military forces across the Alps, and entered Italy where they achieved several military victories (Fronda, 2010). Perhaps, Hannibal’s greatest success happened at the Cannae battle in 216 BC. Lastly, remembered in North Africa because of defending the Rome city, he lost the fight of Zama during 202 BC.

After the completion of the Second Punic War, Hannibal migrated from North Africa to Asia when he sustained his lifelong battle against Rome by being the leader of the eastern armies. However, the Roman people pursued him persistently, and rather than being arrested alive, he committed suicide by drinking poison (Fronda, 2010).General George Washington Washington’s leadership can be accredited considering the way in which he ensured three essential responsibilities during the establishment and historical years of the United States.

First, he was the Continental army commander, secondly, as the Constitutional Convention’s president, and lastly as the former president of his country (Greenstein, 2011). On June 1775, people unanimously elected Washington to be the commander of all forces to the Continental Congress. Washington established the Continental Force; his administrative and organizational skills, accompanied by his solders’ trusty, assisted George to train them into a battling force, which was able to win against the British (Greenstein, 2011).

Without Washington, a large number of soldiers would have resigned from the military army as it was during the Trenton Battle. As a Constitutional Convention president, Washington applied similar leadership skills he used during the battle times. It is with no doubt that, Washington’s ideas- a strong union, written constitution, executive with the ability to enforce law, and the national laws supremacy became essential to the development of the United States. Therefore, Washington was elected unanimously as the first United States president and after four years, he won the presidency candidacy again (Greenstein, 2011).

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great would definitely grow to become a prominent military leader. Born during the time ‘of brutality and petty tyrants, he used his little education from Aristotle to marshal his powers in impossible fights (Kurke, 2004). He became victorious during the period of 13 years of fights, which was one of the largest world empires ever seen. He was born in 356 BC and after the assassination of his father King Philip II; he succeeded him as the Macedon King at the age of twenty.

Alexander killed all his rivals to take the throne. This ruthless character enabled Alexander to conquer the most known world empire that stretched 10,000 miles. Alexander was prone to savage tempers’ fits and in his later life, he surrendered to Megalomania (Kurke, 2004).Conclusion In U.S, these prominent historical leaders played an important role in their military wars, which resulted in the abandonment of slavery and ensured declaration of human rights. The three leaders applied their leadership skills to ensure success of their battles.

They did many things, which people believed were impossible. Their leadership characters made them to be termed the most prominent leaders in their countries hence remaining in leaders for a long duration like General George Washington.ReferencesFronda, M. P. (2010). Between Rome and Carthage: Southern Italy during the Second Punic War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Greenstein, F. I. (2011). Inventing the Job of President: Leadership Style from George Washington to Andrew Jackson. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Kurke, L. B. (2004). The wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring leadership lessons from the man who created an empire.

New York: American Management Association.