I was after a certain breadth of range. Also a pithy "drawback". Alexander's sex life is less of an issue for me than his drinking is, but it's a hot button on this board. ;)

I don't consider Stalin a "great leader". Large on history's stage, but not great.

There are two marks of "great" in my book: the ability to project higher goals or principles onto the community's group identity, and the ability to make people believe you are hurting them for their own good. You only need one mark to qualify. Saladin, Cromwell, Gandhi, Churchill, MacArthur, Kennedy ("We will put a man on the moon", "Ask not, etc."), and, yes, Peter I, Tsar of All the Russias, all qualify, with scores more. Stalin doesn't, because even his closest associates knew it was all about him, all the time, and the people didn't follow so much as they were dragged.

Lenin and Trotsky would make the cut. They both had vision and charisma. They knew the value of persuasion and negotiation and knew how to use both.

And I forgot about Mao, who was great in his early years. His cult of personality buoyed him along after he exceeded his competence as a leader.

But you're welcome. :)

Regards--
Mary Anne