Famous Left-Handed Leaders
Many lefties rose to become great world leaders and conquerors and we have selected three of our favourites. These left-handed leaders definitely left their mark upon the world and the world today would be a very different place without them.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) is probably the most formidable conqueror and most charismatic warrior statesman the world has ever seen. Between his coronation as King of Macedonia at the age of 20 and his death at age of 32, he acquired control over an unparalleled domain. In his own times, he was king of over half the known world and his army fought for 12 years without losing a single battle.
One of Alexander’s most significant weapons was the original angles produced by his brilliant and ruthless left-handed mind. While bravery and unity were important, the ability to outthink the enemy was perhaps Alexander’s greatest talent. Wherever he went, he left people bewildered to the extent that, throughout the Middle East, he almost ceased being considered a human, becoming a force of nature whose terrifying brilliance is still invoked in bogeyman tales used to frighten children into obedience.
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was the greatest of Romans and his name ‘Caesar’ would later mutate to become czar in Russian and kaiser in German. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.
The handshake, a right-handed custom everywhere, was invented by the Romans. An extended right hand, the hand in which most people held their weapon, meant that you had no intention of harming the person you were meeting. This was only a custom - not mandatory until Julius Caesar made it the law. Why? Caesar was left-handed and wanted to keep his strong weapon hand free while shaking hands. If everyone shook right-handed, this gave a lefty like him the advantage in case he was greeting a secret enemy.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) is the greatest conqueror in modern history with a military record unequalled by anyone except perhaps fellow lefty Alexander the Great. Through his military exploits and his ruthless efficiency, Napoleon rose from obscurity to become Napoleon I, Empereur des Francais (Emperor of the French).
European foot travelers walked on the left side of the road, keeping their right hand, in which they held their sword, closest to the side of oncoming and possibly unfriendly travellers. Soon, everyone travelled on the left. This tradition was ended in France by the armies of Napoleon as he made his armies march on the right. This way, the sword in Napoleon's left hand was always between him and approaching enemies. To this day, countries first colonised by the French, like Canada, follow Napoleon's example and drive on the right-hand side of the road. British countries still drive on the left as they have always done.