Define "greatest".
As in annihilation of neighbors?
Greatest expansionist?
Most powerful?

Or greatest more as in a positive effect on their nation/world?

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

Greatest political leader: George Washington. For turning down bein crowned "king" of the Republic and for serving only two terms, essentilly ceding power, setting the stage for peacful trasition for democratic governments.

You read my mind.
I was thinking the exact same thing.

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

Alexander Hamilton, who does not have stone monument in Washington, like Washington or Jefferson, but a living monument, in the form of the federal government.
It was Hamilton, who successfully argued that the new government should not only honor the debts of the Continental Congress, but should also take on the debts of the 13 states. This strategy allowed the new government to survive, by creating a group of wealthy powerful people (mostly in England) who had a vested interest in seeing the new government succeed, as they held the majority of the debt of the 13 states.
It was Hamilton that promoted a government that should become involved in the economy, by promoting expansion, roads and public works financed by debt.
Of all the founding fathers, Hamilton's vision has been the closest to what we have today. Today's United States, and it's government are the "Hamilton Monument".

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“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address

The thread is open ended. Use whatever definition you like.

I'm inclined to the latter definition.

I aggree with Rabbit that the latter is preferable to the former. But I think my nomination (if it can be called that) represents the best of both worlds (as it were).

Cyrus the Great

First emperor of the Achaemenid Dynasty of the Persian Empire Cyrus consolidated rule over one of the largest empires ever known and then ruled in a magnanimous and benificent manner.

Cyrus was the author of the first known "Charter" on human rights (see: Cyrus Cylinder - though the practical use as the "charter" as an official legal policy is disputed), and his rule has served as an example to many of the other great rulers throughout history.

His legacy, in the form of Xenophon's Cyropaedia, is known to have been referenced, and cherished, by Thomas Jefferson and other of the founding fathers of the United States.

The Jews of Babylon considered Cyrus to be "messiah". The adoration of a conqured minority is pretty strong evidence of a leader's benevolence.

There's a good deal more that can be considered about Cyrus to bolster his claim to greatness, from his method of governance, to the might of his empire, to the economic success it enjoyed.

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...Old Europe, a once-dominant region now reduced to sucking at the geopolitical teat of America... they spent the better part of the last millennium conquering the world and taking the good stuff home with them... And what do they get for their troubles? Ungrateful colonies demanding their independence. And after you taught them how to play cricket!...

-Jon Stewart

I'm only posting here to remind myself to post later, I don't have much time, but what about some of the better of the Mughal emperors?

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Nothing to see here.

uhm excuse me but the republic was dead, Sulla helped bury it, his "retirement" didn't fool anyone as he had already let the cat out of the bag regards his taking control of Rome etc. ....JC inherited it so to speak.

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

We really need to define “great”.

Hitler was a great leader in that he was able to get, pretty much, and entire nation to subscribe to his ideas and ideals.

Likewise would a leader be great if he or she was able to lead their country through years of peace and prosperity for its’ citizens.

Both are valid without an understanding of how the word is used. As it’s worded: “greatest political leader”, that suggests to me someone with the ability, for good or for bad, to promote their politics and implement their ideals almost at will...

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Science flies you to the moon.

Religion flies you into buildings.

I can see that, Ghenghis...agreed and Ogedei... after 2 strong rulers, Ogedei and Batu, it became unstable...dynastic divisions etc..but naming one, Ghenghis gets the nod.

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

how about fredrick the great?

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

Well, some historians identify the victory of Julius Caesar at Munda as the end of the Republic. So he at least contributed.

I agree. I'm tempted to say Alexander the Great, or Charlemagne.

Charlemagne was the first one I thought of...

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Science flies you to the moon.

Religion flies you into buildings.

I would have to say Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, otherwise known as the Great Elector (Großer Kurfürst), would have to be up there.

He was able to rebuild Brandenburg after it was raveged during the Thirty Years War. He did this by inviting fleeing French and Walloon Huguenots to his lands, thereby building a very effective, and skilled, technical and industrial base for his country.

Though, I think one of the most important things he did was reform the army of Brandenburg-Prussia. Before this Brandenburg-Prussia, like most European powers, employed massive amounts of mercs to fight its wars. This was all well and good, until they ran out of money. The mercs, having no loyalty or connection to the country, simply turned on the local populace and began taking what they liked. To correct this, Frederick William created a professional army, manned by subjects of Brandenburg-Prussia and not foreigners. He also created the General War Commissariat, which was basically the first General Staff in the modern sense, to oversee the army and levy taxes to support its operation. This was the model that the Prussian military, which would eventually become a military force on par with (if not better than) France and Great Britian, would then follow.

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I am a liberal, a classical liberal. Classical liberalism is liberalism, but the current collectivists have captured that designation in the United States. In Europe they are glad enough to call themselves socialists. But no one in America wants to be called socialist and admit what they are.

Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, Perseverance