The history of mankind knows many great people who became the founding fathers of huge states. Thus, Alexander the Great created the greatest empire of antiquity, which, however, did not outlive its creator. Robespierre and Danton were far from Alexander the Great, but today in France there is already the Fifth Republic. Washington and Franklin, of course, were outstanding people, but did this predetermine the fate of the state they created? What is the key to the success of a state: the circumstances of its creation, the personalities of the founding fathers, or something else that is not visible at first glance? By talking about the founding fathers of the greatest powers of ancient, medieval and modern times, we will try to find answers to these questions. The Chinese say that the fate of a country is written on the face of its ruler. Let's not be so categorical, but let's try to understand whether the fate of the state depends on the personality of the one who stood at its origins.