100 Respectable Politician of all time

For good or for bad, our leaders can be powerful forces for change in the world. But who are the most impaction people to ever hold prominent positions of power? This is a list of the most important and influential leaders in the history of the world. Who are the most important world leaders? Anyone can vote on this definitive list of the men and women who shaped our civilization – for better or worse – making it a collaborative list of the greatest leaders of all time.

Visionaries, pragmatists, conquerors, and humanitarians all share this list. Rank these famous world leaders in terms of importance and add anyone you see missing. But remember: the most influential leaders (those who changed the face of world politics and forever altered their own countries) weren’t necessarily good leaders. Some famous conquerors changed the world but let destruction in their wake. Others actually worked for the good of their people and became the great leaders in history.

So, who are the historical leaders that left their permanent mark (for good or bad)? Find out below!list ordered byall votersrerankers: 393menwomenageregion rank your versionitem name

111,93811,983

George WashingtonGeorge Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He presided over the …more212,69510,570

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his life was taken in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States and its greatest moral, constitutional …more314,6489,288

Alexander The GreatAlexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a King of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander …more

45,7767,681

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States. He was a spokesman for democracy, and…more

59,5167,732

Augustus Caesar610,3409,067

Napoleon BonaparteNapoléon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814, and …more711,0688,844

Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr., January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for …more810,0047,266

Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise …more

97,1487,453

CharlemagneCharlemagne, also known as Charles the Great or Charles I, was King of the Franks who united most of Western Europe during the Middle Ages and laid the foundations for modern France and Germany. …more107,1046,308

DaleGribble addedOtto von BismarckLead to the unification of Germany in 1871, and first chancellor of the German Empire.Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, known as Otto von Bismarck, was a conservative Prussian statesman who dominated German and European affairs from the 1860s until 1890. …more

1113,4388,733

Mahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the preeminent leader of Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and …more126,6396,330

Polar Bear addedJoan of Arc
Joan of Arc, nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans”, is considered a heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. She was born to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle, a peasant family, at …more136,4505,431

John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, John Kennedy or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. He served from …more1420,9627,823

Mustafa Kemal AtatürkMustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish army officer, reformist statesman, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey. His surname, …more

156,9046,730

Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her passing. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, the childless Elizabeth was the fifth and …more1610,2067,402

Winston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, DL, FRS, RA was a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Widely …more

173,7923,706

Polar Bear addedArminiusArminius, also known as Armin or Irmin, was a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Arminius’s influence held an allied coalition of …more181,6011,035

Martin LutherMartin Luther was a German friar, priest and professor of theology who was a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. Initially an Augustinian friar, Luther came to reject several teachings …more195,3901,997

Andriy Synyshyn addedJesus ChristJesus, also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity, whom the teachings of most Christian denominations hold to be the Son of God. Christianity regards Jesus as …more209,9356,804

Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was South Africa’s first …more

212,0294,541

TammyWakefieldLaughlin addedJames MadisonJames Madison, Jr. was an American statesman, political theorist, and the fourth President of the United States. He is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being instrumental …more225,5415,381

William the ConquerorWilliam I, usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman King of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 1087. The descendant of Viking …more

234,14216,491

thedonnyt addedDonald TrumpDonald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is the 45th and current President of the United States, in office since January 20, 2017. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television …moreSINGERSfrequently voted on nextThe Best New Artists Of 2019, RankedHere are the best new artists of 2019 you should definitely keep your eye on. Including rappers, pop artists, and R&B singers, this list of 2019 new artists includes features p…more244,5963,425

Polar Bear addedPeter the GreatPeter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from 7 May until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother. Through a …more254,4263,421

Constantine the GreatConstantine the Great, also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD of Thracian-Illyrian ancestry. Constantine was the son of Flavius Valerius …moredid you know?

People in the Central US are 2x more likely to vote for Alfred the Great

James Monroe is also ranked #10 of 44 on The Greatest U.S. Presidents Of All Time

People in the South are 4x more likely to vote for Charles Martel262,8162,218

sebbzor addedCatherine the GreatYekaterina Alexeevna or Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from 9 July [O.S. 28 June] 1762 until 1796.273,1082,810

Polar Bear addedOtto I the Great, Holy Roman EmperorOtto I, also known as Otto the Great, was German king from 936 and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 962 until his death in 973. The oldest son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda, Otto was “the fir …more

285,1433,952

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin FRS was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor …more291,4313,198

j.aureliazenobia addedThomas PaineThomas Paine was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamph …more

303,1352,836

Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred successfully defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, and by the time of his death had become the dominant ruler in Engl …more31900258

Rache Golden addedFrederick the GreatFrederick II was the third Hohenzollern king, reigning over the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. Frederick’s achievements during his reign included his military victories, his reorganization o …morewinners & losers

#21. Carlo Bergonzi is  falling on The Greatest Opera Singers of All Time

#24. Emma Stone is  falling on The Most Beautiful Women in the World

#63. Elizabeth Banks is  rising on Famous Women You’d Want to Have a Beer With323,5982,914

Florenc addedMother TeresaBlessed Teresa of Calcutta, MC, commonly known as Mother Teresa, was a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary who lived most of her life in India. She was born in today’s Macedonia, with her f…more332,9392,553

Polar Bear addedLeif EricsonLeif Erikson or Leif Ericson was an Icelandic explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. According to the Sagas of Icelanders, he e…more

341,5031,895

James MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States. Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republi…more352,6262,337

MosesMoses was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a former Egyptian prince later turned prophet, religious leader and lawgiver, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed. Also called Mos …more

361,1592,255

hug05612736 addedJohn LockeJohn Locke, was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, and attended Andover Academy and Dartmouth College, eventually graduating from Harvard University…more371,093356

David Tolner addedPlatoPlato was a philosopher, as well as mathematician, in Classical Greece. He is considered an essential figure in the development of philosophy, especially the Western tradition, and he founded the Acad …moredid you know?

Elizabeth I of England is also ranked #79 of 2,861 on The Most Influential People of All Time

People outside of the US are 2xmore likely to vote for Dmitry Donskoy

Alexander the Great is also ranked #77 of 1,458 on The Greatest Minds of All Time382,492953

Gengis KhanGenghis Khan, born Temüjin, was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic…more392,4482,803

Polar Bear addedRichard I. of EnglandRichard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Poitiers, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine …more

401,5821,047

Polar Bear addedCharles MartelCharles Martel was a Frankish statesman and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death. The illegitimate son …more414,2632,765

kismarton0707 addedAttila the HunAttila, frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. Attila was a leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the …more

421,7561,504

Leonidas ILeonidas I, was a Greek warrior king of the Greek city-state of Sparta. He led the Spartan forces during the Second Persian War and is remembered for his death at the Battle of Thermopylae. Leonidas w …more433,7095,046

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin or Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until 1953. Among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who took part in the Russian Revolution of 1917, Stal …more441,8251,788

mikado addedNebuchadnezzar IINebuchadnezzar II was a Chaldean king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned c. 605 BC – 562 BC. Both the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple ar…more455,3283,242

Sultan Mehmed IIMehmed II, also known as Muhammed bin Murad, Mehmed the Conqueror, Grand Turk, Kayser-i Rûm and Turcarum Imperator, and Fatih Sultan Mehmed, was an Ottoman sultan who ruled first for a short time from …more

461,917599

David Tolner addedAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist. Einstein’s work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. He developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pil …more471,6881,514

Polar Bear addedTheoderic the GreatTheoderic the Great, often referred to as Theodoric, was king of the Germanic Ostrogoths, ruler of Italy, regent of the Visigoths, and a patricius of the Eastern Roman Empire. His Gothic name Þiudarei …more

481,444249

David Tolner addedAristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in the Macedonian city of Stagira, Chalkidice, on the northern periphery of Classical Greece. At eighteen, he joined Plato’s Academy in Athens and …more491,6771,588

Polar Bear addedDmitry DonskoyDefeated the Tatars at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. First step of the liberation of the Russian people from the Mongolic suppressors.Saint Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, or Dmitry of the Don, sometimes referred to simply as Dmitry, son of Ivan II the Meek of Moscow, reigned as the Prince of Moscow from 1359 and Grand Prince of Vladimir …more504,3792,804

ozgursuer addedSuleyman The MagnificentSuleiman I, known as “the Magnificent” in the West and “Kanuni” in the East, was the Caliph of Islam and the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. Su …more511,0151,654

StacyWolfe addedRobert F. KennedyRobert Francis “Bobby” Kennedy, commonly known by his initials RFK, was an American politician from Massachusetts. He served as a Senator for New York from 1965 to 1968. He was previously the 64th U.S…more522,1111,918

Polar Bear addedWilliam I., German EmperorWilliam I, also known as Wilhelm I, of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor, as well as the first Head of State of a united Germany. Under the leadership of W …more

531,4521,422

mikado addedTitusTitus was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own b…more542,0041,733

Polar Bear addedGustavus Adolphus of SwedenGustav II Adolf; widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus or as Gustav II Adolph, or as Gustavus Adolphus the Great; was the King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632 and is credited as …more

552,1022,159

CleopatraCleopatra VII Philopator, known to history simply as “Cleopatra”, was the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, only shortly survived by her son, Caesarion as pharaoh. Cleopatra was a member of the Pt …more562,2851,858

HammurabiHammurabi was the sixth Amorite king of Babylon from 1792 BC to 1750 BC middle chronology. He became the first king of the Babylonian Empire following the abdication of his father, Sin-Muballit, who h…more573,6252,307

MuhammadAsad addedHazrat MuhammadMuhammad, full name Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim, from Mecca, unified Arabia into a single religious polity under Islam. Believed by Muslims and Bahá’ís to be a…more583,8653,132

Salah al-Din

591,4911,221

Polar Bear addedCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I as H …more602,2562,023

Queen VictoriaVictoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her passing. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria was the daughter…more

616741,276

hug05612736 addedPatrick HenryPatrick Henry was an American attorney, planter and politician who became known as an orator during the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first an …more621,7711,203

Polar Bear addedMarcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus’ death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of…more631,3891,269

Polar Bear addedMaximilian I, Holy Roman EmperorMaximilian I, the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death, though he was never in fact crow…more647181,196

hug05612736 addedJohn HancockJohn Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonw…more653,3972,903

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the 32nd President of the United Stat …more661,8441,599

Sun Tzu67721331

Independence addedFriedrich Wilhelm von SteubenFriedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Steuben, also referred to as the Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born American military officer. He served as inspector general and Major General of the C …more682,0932,034

PericlesPericles was arguably the most prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during the Golden Age— specifically the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. He was d…more693,1673,840

Peckerwar addedVladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich Putin has been the President of Russia since 7 May 2012. Putin previously served as President from 2000 to 2008, and as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from…more7010,98720,829

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party. He was chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and Führer of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. As effective dict …more71670439

pentos pensum addedFlavius AetiusFlavius Aetius, dux et patricius, commonly called simply Aetius or Aëtius, was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. He was an able military commander and the most influen…more721,140823

mikado addedCnut the GreatCnut the Great, more commonly known as Canute, was a king of Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden, together often referred to as the Anglo-Scandinavian or North Sea Empire. After his death, t…more731,1761,001

Polar Bear addedFrederick BarbarossaFrederick I, also known as Frederick Barbarossa, was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 until his death. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March 1152…morePOLITICSIsaac Newtonrising to #2 onThe Greatest Minds of All TimeList of the Greatest Minds of All Time, throughout history. This list represents the most influential thinkers across various disciplines, ranked in a way that represents the power…more741,3031,028

doremifasola addedHannibal BarcaHannibal Barca, son of Hamilcar Barca, was a Punic Carthaginian military commander, generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was the leading…more752,8052,686

Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. Before his presidency he served as the 33rd Governor of California and was also an actor from 1937–1964. Born and raised in small town …more76934800

Polar Bear addedRurikRurik or Riurik was a legendary Varangian chieftain who gained control of Ladoga in 862, built the Holmgard settlement near Novgorod, and founded the Rurik Dynasty, which ruled Kievan Rus until the 17…more77829489

German African Brotherhood addedFrederick William I of PrussiaFrederick William I, known as the ‘Soldier King,’ was the King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 until his death. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neu …more781,9092,461

sacsmartdeal addedVladimir LeninVladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, alias Lenin was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He served as head of government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from …more79659419

David Tolner addedGautama BuddhaGautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is believed to have lived and taught mostly in eastern India…more801,0241,191

mikado addedMaria TheresaMaria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only Queen regnant of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua,…more81695322

Charles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh, nicknamed Slim, Lucky Lindy, and The Lone Eagle, was an American aviator, author, inventor, military officer, explorer, and social activist. As a 25-year-old U.S. Air Mail …more82737314

liriodendron addedFrederick II, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick II, was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through It…more831,5651,383

Polar Bear addedEric the RedErik Thorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red, is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was…moreHISTORICAL FIGURESWilliam Shakespearerising to #11 onThe Most Influential People of All TimeThis is a list of the most influential people of all of human history. This means that the individuals on this list have had a significant effect on how regular people live their l…more842,0653,761

Mao ZedongMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese Communist revolutionary and the founding father of the People’s Republic of China, which he gove …more85845474

mikado addedCharles XII of SwedenCharles XII, also Carl, latinized to Carolus Rex, was the King of Sweden from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line of the House of Wittelsbach. Charles was t …more863,0252,403

Selim I871,7541,497

Polar Bear addedT. E. Lawrence of ArabiaThomas Edward Lawrence CB DSO was an archaeologist and British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkis…more881,036726

Den Buunk addedWilliam of OrangeWilliam III was sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from 1672, and King of England, Ireland, and Scotland …more89865824

mikado addedGustav VasaGustav I, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known as Gustav Vasa, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his 1560 death, previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm from 1521,…more90785526

Confucius918091,236

sebbzor addedOliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader and later Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Born into the middle gentry, albeit to a family descended fr …more921,5171,421

mikado addedRobert E. LeeRobert Edward Lee was an American soldier best known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. The son of Revolutionary…more931,3361,180

Polar Bear addedPhilip II of MacedonThe revision #0 of the page named “Philip II of Macedon” does not exist. This is usually caused by following an outdated history link to a page that has been deleted.Details can be found in the deleti …morePOPULAR OPINIONGrace Kellyrising to #2 onThe Most Beautiful Women of All TimeList of the most beautiful women of all time: ranked not on talent or accomplishments, but on looks alone. This is a test to see if the so-called “wisdom of the crowd&quo…more942,3942,375

Margaret ThatcherMargaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the longe …more951,3891,452

Ramses II969521,176

John AdamsJohn Adams was the second president of the United States, having earlier served as the first vice president of the United States. An American Founding Father, Adams was a statesman, diplomat, and a le…more97785750

mikado addedHelmuth von Moltke the ElderGreat Prussian general, crucial military leader in the victorious Prussian wars against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870/71).Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke was a German Field Marshal. The chief of staff of the Prussian Army for thirty years, he is regarded as the creator of a new, more modern method of directing armi…more98405330

pentos pensum addedTheodoric ITheodoric I, called in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian Teodorico, was the Germanic King of the Visigoths from 418 to 451 AD. An illegitimate son of Alaric, Theodoric is famous for defeating Attila at …more99720566

Hartung addedOtto Von KotzebueOtto von Kotzebue was a Baltic German navigator in Russian service. The second son of writer and diplomat August von Kotzebue, he was born in Reval, then part of the Russian Empire. After attending th…more100491316

German African Brotherhood addedHenry Vi, Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI, a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was King of Germany from 1190 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 until his death. From 1194 he was also King of Sicily. He was the second son of Emperor F …more