Who deserves the title of best admiral of the Anglo-Dutch Wars?
Short answerMichiel de Ruyter comes first, followed by Prince Rupert and Maarten Tromp, although Tromp could rank higher.
NotesThe ranking puts de Ruyter first among the admirals of the Anglo-Dutch Wars, followed by Prince Rupert and Tromp. Tromp might deserve to exchange places with de Ruyter, so the lower ordering remains qualified. This is best read as a comparative prompt instead of a settled league table because the commanders served different states and faced different operational problems. Their placement offers a concise starting point for comparing Dutch and English naval leadership in the seventeenth century.