One did not have to lead from the front line to expand territory. But I will grant you that many a ruler certainly wished to be perceived as having an iron will

One did not have to lead from the front line to expand territory. But I will grant you that many a ruler certainly wished to be perceived as having an iron will. These people would have had monikers such as "the Great" or "the Terrible" rather than the contrasting "the Wise" and the like.