Are these the most overrated people in history?

 

Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde have today been named amongst the most overvalued people in history.

The poll, carried out by BBC History Magazine, asked 13 leading historians to name the personalities from the past who, in their opinion, receive more credit than they’re due. Contributors included Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire, who nominated Malcolm X, Peter Jones, author of Vote for Caesar, who put forward Spartacus, and Edward Vallance, author of A Radical History of Britain, whose vote went to William Wilberforce.  

Historian and author Tracy Borman nominated Mary Queen of Scots for being “a pampered princess, whose privileged upbringing at the French court gave her no idea of what was needed to rule effectively”, while Patricia Fara, author of Science: A Four Thousand Year History, put forward Charles Darwin for being a “sloppy collector” who “avoided mentioning how life might have been created in the first place, and did not include human beings in his scheme”.

Writer and broadcaster Christopher Lee meanwhile launched a scathing attack on Churchill, accusing him of being “over zealous in using the military” in his role as home secretary, demonstrating “hopeless judgment” over the Dardanelles campaign, “creating little” as Asquith’s president of the board of trade, and concludes: “if it had not been for the fact that he led Britain to victory in the Second World War, we would have scant memory of Churchill.”

Robert Attar, Deputy Editor of BBC History Magazine, commented: “No figure from history should be immune from criticism, so it’s refreshing that our panel of historians have been prepared to take aim at some of the most cherished people of the past. We realise that many of these choices will prove controversial and hope they will stir up a lively debate.”

The historian’s list of overrated historical figures:

  • ·         Spartacus, chosen by Peter Jones
  • ·         Edward IV, chosen by Nigel Saul
  • ·         Matilda, chosen by Anna Whitelock
  • ·         Henry V, chosen by Tom Holland
  • ·         Mary Queen of Scots – chosen by Tracy Borman
  • ·         John Locke – chosen by Justin Champion
  • ·         William Wilberforce – chosen by Edward Vallance
  • ·         Napoleon Bonaparte – chosen by Saul David
  • ·         Oscar Wilde – chosen by Andrew Roberts
  • ·         Charles Darwin – chosen by Patricia Fara
  • ·         Lord Baden-Powell – chosen by Denis Judd
  • ·         Malcolm X – chosen by Amanda Foreman
  • ·         Winston Churchill – chosen by Christopher Lee

 

Are these the most overrated people in history? is published in the January issue of BBC History Magazine, on sale now, £3.95.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

 

BBC History Magazine is the biggest selling and most authoritative history magazine in the UK. BBC History Magazine has a monthly circulation of 69,394 (ABC Jan-June 2011). www.historyextra.com