This is a series of portraits of six men whose abilities have earned them a permanent place in the world's historical limelight: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Horatio Nelson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ulysses Grant and Marshal Zhukov. The military prowess of each commander is examined by focusing on one pivotal battle of his illustrious career, and the complex inter-relationship of a number of factors is considered - the overall strategy employed, the role of careful planning and of chance, and the innate value of the commander's personal qualities.