The 10 most important battles in world military history
In a war, a decisive military victory or defeat often occurs at the last moment, that is, in the last battle. These are the 10 most famous final battles in the history of world wars selected by foreign websites. The outcome of the war not only affected both warring parties, but also profoundly changed the course of the world.
No1. Battle of Waterloo, Napoleonic Wars, 1815
Napoleon. Bonaparte became Emperor of France in 1804 and quickly conquered all of Europe. He almost succeeded, but in the winter of 1812 his invasion of Russia stalled and the plan was shelved. The European allies forced the French army to retreat, and Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba in 1814.
The Prussian and British armies in Belgium attempted to unite and then unite against Napoleon's army. Napoleon decided to attack before they could assemble
On June 16, 1815, the French defeated the Prussian army at the Battle of Ligny in Belgium. But most of the Prussian troops fled to the village of Waterloo to join British soldiers stationed near Brussels.
The British army led by the Duke of Wellington was very lucky. Due to rain the night before, Napoleon waited until the afternoon of June 1
to launch the attack, which gave the British and Prussians Time to join forces to prepare for war. In the end, the British and Prussian forces defeated Napoleon's army. The remnants of the French army retreated to France, and Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of St. Helena.
Napoleon's defeat marked the end of France's dominance in Europe and laid the foundation for Britain to become the next superpower. The term "Waterloo" has also entered the lexicon as slang meaning "a particularly daunting challenge." In China, the word "Waterloo" has become synonymous with "unexpected failure".
No.2 Battle of Marathon, First Persian War, 490 BC
The Persian Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the ancient world. In 490 BC, perhaps in order to relieve the threat on its western border, Persia assembled 20,000 troops and suddenly launched an attack on Greece. The Athenians immediately formed an alliance with the Plataeans, and both sides jointly raised about 10,000 soldiers.
The decisive battle between the two sides took place on the plain of Marathon, only 26 miles away from Athens. Before the battle began, the Athenian defenders devised an ingenious military strategy. They placed their strongest soldiers on the flanks of the army. Thus, when the Persians attacked, these strongest Athenian soldiers would face the weaker Persian forces. This coincides with the strategic thinking of Tian Ji's horse racing in ancient China.
The victory had far-reaching consequences. At that time, Athens was developing a nascent democracy, and once Athens was ruled by Persia, this nascent political system was likely to be destroyed. In addition, this battle also gave birth to the modern marathon movement: It is said that after the war, the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran the 26 miles (about 42 kilometers) from Marathon to Athens with the news of victory. After arriving in Athens, He only said one sentence to the people waiting there: "Cheer, we are victorious!" Then he died of exhaustion. In order to commemorate him, people later founded the marathon, a famous sports event.
No.3 Battle of Okinawa, World War II, Year 145
April 1 to June 22, 1945, the United States and Japan fought in World War II The final ground battle began in Okinawa. Nearly 300,000 American troops invaded the island, which was defended by 130,000 Japanese soldiers. American soldiers attempted to capture the air base, which could then be used by the Allies to invade Japan.
The fighting was so fierce that many Okinawans committed suicide under the orders of the Japanese army in order not to be captured by the Americans. In this war, approximately 100,000 Japanese soldiers, 120,000 American soldiers, and 80,000 to 100,000 civilians died on this island and the surrounding waters.
The brutality of the Battle of Okinawa and the serious loss of civilian lives made U.S. President Truman worried that an invasion of Japan would cause intolerable casualties to the United States. This belief was partly responsible for the president's fateful decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war.
No4. Battle of Zama, Second Punic War, 202 BC
The Second Punic War took place between Rome and Carthage. In 218 BC, the Carthaginian general Hannibal led his army, as well as war elephants, across the Alps and invaded Italy. The Romans put up a desperate resistance, and by 206 BC they drove their enemies out of Spain after the Battle of Ilipa. The Roman general Scipio set his sights on Carthage and invaded North Africa in 203 BC, laying the foundation for the Battle of Zama.
At this time, Hannibal was recalled to defend Carthage. The two sides were evenly matched, each with about 40,000 soldiers, but Scipio's advantage was that his cavalry was stronger, so he chose a favorable battlefield.
Despite the war elephants, the Carthaginian general lost. Rome's victory effectively crushed its most powerful rival in the Mediterranean, ended the Second Punic War and marked the birth of the Roman Empire.
No.5 Battle of New Orleans, Anglo-American War of 1812, 1815
The Battle of New Orleans actually took place after the war. On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the Anglo-American War of 1812. Unfortunately, the British troops did not receive word of the armistice before they attacked New Orleans. The purpose of the attack was to capture the port and cut off Louisiana from the rest of the United States.
This battle took place on January 8, 1815. During the battle, 4,500 American soldiers defended the city against an attack by 7,500 British soldiers. In the end, only eight American soldiers were killed in the battle, while the British army reported as many as 2,000 wounded, dead or missing.
In the U.S. military camp, there was a general named Andrew Jackson. Due to his victory in this battle, his military talents were recognized by the people across the country, and his reputation increased day by day, which finally led to his victory in 1828. Paved the way to win the Presidential election in the United States.
No.6 Battle of Hastings, Norman War, 1066
In 1066, Edward the Confessor, King of England, died without an heir. Harold Godwin succeeded to the throne and proclaimed himself King Harold II. But Duke William of Normandy opposed his rule and invaded England from France shortly after his coronation. William arrived in England with an army of
7,000 men. Harold led his army toward the coast, which exhausted his soldiers. As a result, the two sides met at Hastings. After the battle began, Harold's army was completely defeated, and Harold himself was killed in the battle.
It can be said that the Battle of Hastings was a decisive victory for William the Conqueror. This battle is also considered to mark the beginning of the European Middle Ages.
Another result of the war was the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in Britain. It also changed the language: William the Conqueror made French his official language. Eventually, this language merged with Anglo-Saxon to create modern English.
No.7 Battle of Tenochtitlan, Spanish conquest of Mexico, 1521
Spain’s conquest of Mexico began in 1519, when the Spanish conquistador E. Hernán Cortes landed his army in Mexico and quickly burned his ships to prevent his rebel soldiers from leaving. It was not until 1521, with the fall of Tenochtitlan, that the war of conquest came to an end. The city was the capital of the Aztec Empire and one of the most populous cities in the world at the time of the conquest.
When Cortes landed in Mexico, he set his sights on the Aztec capital. He led his army 200 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the interior, defeating all Aztec resistance along the way.
At first, both sides were friendly, but eventually Cortés captured Montezuma and tried to hold him hostage in a bid to conquer the Aztecs.
Montezuma died soon after, and no one knows whether he was killed by his own people or by his kidnappers. What followed was a wave of Aztec revolt, and Cortés and his army were driven from the capital. But the Spaniards did not want to return in vain, and they were prepared to use force to retake Tenochtitlan.
Before the Spanish launched their final attack, smallpox ravaged the Aztecs, killing as many as 2
5% of the population. Cortes and a large Mexican coalition besieged the city for 80 days.
The weakened Aztecs were defeated and the Spanish again entered the city, this time setting fire to the temples and forcing the natives to surrender. This battle overthrew a great empire and resulted in nearly 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico.
No.8 Battle of Tsushima Strait, Russo-Japanese War, 1905
The Russo-Japanese War began in 1904, when Russia and Japan were over how to divide Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula. A conflict occurred. The Japanese navy launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet anchored in Port Arthur, Manchuria. After Japan achieved a series of victories, the two countries conducted a final naval battle in the Tsushima Strait on May 27, 1905. As a result, the Russians were defeated. They suffered heavy losses in the battle, and 35 of their 45 battleships were destroyed. With its victory in the Battle of Tsushima Strait, Japan finally won the Russo-Japanese War.
Looking at Russia, this war triggered social unrest and eventually led to the Russian Revolution in 1905.
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt participated in the negotiation of the peace treaty that ended the war and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first U.S. president to receive this honor. The victory of this war began to expand Japan's influence in the Pacific, which intensified tensions between Japan and the United States and paved the way for the eventual conflict between the two.
No9. Siege of Jerusalem, First Crusade, 1099
In 1095, Pope Urban II ordered the First Crusade to reclaim the Christian Holy Land.
After the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, 13,500 European Christians, led by Raymond of Toulouse and Gregory of Briand, captured the city. After capturing Jerusalem, the Crusaders massacred the Jewish and Muslim residents with particular brutality.
This victory led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem which lasted for nearly 200 years. During that time, the city was used as a colonial center for the Holy Land as Christianity spread to nearby areas. The kingdom was also located on the Silk Road, which brought new ideas and products from the East to Europe.
No.10 Conquest of Granada, Reconquest of Spain, 1492
1492 is thought to be Christopher. The year Columbus discovered America, but it's important for another reason. That year, the combined kingdoms of Aragon and Castile defeated the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. This victory marked the end of 780 years of Moorish control of the region.
The Spanish army was united under King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I. Under their rule, Spain used barbaric means, including through the power of the Spanish Inquisition, to integrate the country's diverse population. From then on, Columbus began similar Spanish conquests in the Americas.