Reflection: what makes a good leader in war? (1:00)
Listening for Leadership
We might ask two questions of a military leader: what are they like (attributes)? and what do they do (actions)? Ancient and modern opinions on both questions are of course varied, but let's consider a few takes on both.What is a military leader like?
Ancient poets were fascinated by the question of how a hero should look, especially when the hero was actually or about to lead warriors in battle. Helen herself spends 63 lines (Iliad 2.181-244) just describing the leaders of the Achaean army. Here are two famous descriptions of a military leader -- one from the Iliad, just before the climactic battle, the other from an archaic poet who often speaks of his experiences in combat:"..and among them Achilles armed himself for battle. His teeth gnashed and his two eyes shone like a flame of fire. In his heart sank unbearable grief. As he raged against the Trojans, he put on the gifts of the god[=his magical armor]...and a burning gleam rose from his well-made shield...and his horse-tailed helmet shone like a star...and [his armor] lifted him, a shepherd of the people." - Iliad 19.364-386
"I don't like a tall general nor one in braids or proud with his curls or part shaved under the chin, but for me he should be short and around his knees bowlegged to behold, standing firm on his feet, full of heart." - Archilochus
What does a military leader do?
In the second world war, two American major generals were often seen along two similar poles: George Patton, a wealthy aristocrat who since childhood had dreamed of commanding warriors in battle; and Omar Bradley, son of a schoolteacher, nicknamed 'The G.I.'s General', who also happened to teach math at West Point.General Maxwell Taylor describes Patton's final meeting with his commanders before the invasion of Sicily:
"He turned the conduct of the discussions of details over to members of his staff...Then he took the floor and gave us a moving address on the theme of the quality of the American soldiers...He described with emotion the bravery of small units and there were tears rolling down his cheeks when he told of one company which had held its position until completely destroyed...In a grand peroration he turned on us with a roar and, waving a menacing swaggerstick under our noses, concluded: 'Now we'll break up, and I never want to see you bastards again unless it's at your post on the shores of Sicily.'" (Taylor, Swords and Plowshares, Da Capo Press 1990, p49)
And here's how Taylor describes Bradley's final meeting with his commanders before the invasion of Normandy (D-Day):
"Here General Bradley, the old school teacher from West Point and the Infantry School, personally conducted the class of generals...When my turn came, I found that Bradley knew as much about what my battalions were supposed to do as I did...General Bradley, although a wonderfully inspiring leader in most ways, is a quiet man of few words and not a fluent speaker. Seeming to sense his rhetorical inadequacies at this critical moment, he folded his hands behind his back, his eyes got a little moist, and in lieu of a speech he simply said, 'Good luck, men.' We left without the smart of Patton's blistering farewell but with the feeling that we had a commander worth all we could give." (Taylor p75)
Nobody quite agrees what makes a good leader in war. Is the best military commander one of the rank and file, or heads and shoulders above the rest? Does the good commander risk his life alongside his men, or is this irresponsible and selfish? But if the commander hangs back from battle, does he really suffer the consequences of his actions?
Throughout this module, keep in mind your own thoughts about what make a good military leader, as you learn how Caesar presents himself. So let's get our current thoughts on the table: what does make a good leader in war? We'll review the thoughts you expressed in this 'Listening for Leadership' assignment and write up a summary picture or two (or three or four..depending on how similar your answers are). This will serve as a snapshot of our initial thoughts about military leadership, before we start digging into Caesar's self-presentation more deeply.