The selection and appointment of Supreme-Commanders in 17th Century in Austria and why Zrínyi Miklós was not chosen
Abstract
Little to nothing is known from scientific research about the selection methods of Supreme Commanders in the mid-17th Century. This essay, drawing on available literature on the history of personnel recruitment, attempts to shed more light on this aspect. Based on his knowledge of leadership selection, the author develops an evaluation-matrix for a Supreme-Commander in the 17th century assuming that the experts involved in an assessment-process at that time also possessed a high level of knowledge and the necessary intuition to make correct decisions. Particular focus is placed on the hypothetical question of how the history of Austria and Hungary would have developed if Miklós Zrinyi had been appointed Supreme-Commander of the Imperial Forces of Austria.
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