Wrong but romantic, or right but repulsive?

[Ratafia]

Inspired by the thread about Cromwell, and 1066 and All That. Do you like your historical figures wrong but wromantic, or right but repulsive? I've always had a preference for the ones who were actually effective, as opposed to supposedly romantic figures who messed things up - e.g. I prefer Elizabeth I to Mary Queen of Scots, I prefer Cromwell or Charles II to Charles I, George VI to Edward VIII, etc. Romantic idiots just make me feel uncomfortable.

What do people think?

Hmm. As a specialist in Tudor history whilst not disputing that Mary Queen of Scots was hopeless I would argue that Elizabeth I was a very long way from effective as a ruler. She was dithery and indecisive and drove her ministers mad. She was also dreadful at financial measures. She just had good PR!

Romantic idiots make me feel uncomfortable too. But it's the idiocy really. However, I can't warm to Cromwell, who was utterly joyless. The Puritans were no fun at all!

I quite like the odd quirky or eccentric character I suppose.