What is the most amazing military victory in the history of the world?

[Vesayen]

Im thinking the Greek-Persian war.....every battle in it was 40:1 Persians to Greeks, with a massive Greek victory, anyone have a better one?

[Boris Godunov]

You want single battles or for entire wars?

[Arrian]

In terms of a whole war or campaign, I think you could argue for the Greeks vs. Persians or the Macedonians vs. Persians. Keep in mind, though, that the sources for the numbers of troops involved in those battles are pretty much all Greek, and therefore probably overstate (perhaps by a LOT) the numerical disadvantage of the Greeks. No doubt they whipped a bigger and supposedly more powerful enemy, though.

You could probably also argue for the Mongols. They gobbled up a lot of territory, and everyone that fought them feared them.

For battles there are a lot of contenders.

-Arrian

[Vesayen]

Either....every battle in the Greek-Persian war was amazing, so I clumped them together.

[Felch]

Every battle in the Greek-Persian war was documented by the Greeks. See any post by paiktis if you want to know why that's not a reliable source.

I'd say the battle of Cannae.

[Arrian]

Well, does a battle like Thermopolye count? It was technically a Greek defeat, because the 300 Spartans were eventually betrayed and wiped out, but anytime 300 guys hold off an army of many thousands for days and beat back repeated attacks by the enemy's crack troops, it's impressive.

Marathon was an actual victory for Athens, so perhaps that's a better example.

I'm sure there are some good examples involving the Romans, too, but I'm having trouble thinking of them.

Personally, though, I am always amazed that Alexander the Great (having already conquered a huge empire) marched all the way to India - and would probably have kept going if not for what was essentially a mutiny. The man was nothing if not ambitious. Oh, and he had some pretty good soldiers, too

-Arrian

[Aeson]

I was playing Delta Force 2 the other day... (lots of stuff about how badly I suck at that game, game settings)... In a complete suicide run I made it into the compound, dropped some satchels next to the last 2 remaining buildings, and blew them (and myself) up with only 4 seconds remaining...

[Saint Marcus]

Well, does a battle like Thermopolye count? It was technically a Greek defeat, because the 300 Spartans were eventually betrayed and wiped out, but anytime 300 guys hold off an army of many thousands for days and beat back repeated attacks by the enemy's crack troops, it's impressive.

Same goes for the Siege of Constantinopel

[Ethelred]

Roarks Drift was pretty amazing. 4000 impi to 100 Brits. Even with a technology advantage the British achievment was impressive considering the way things happened at Isandalwana just a short while before with 30,000 impi easily beating about 1,000 Brits which shows the tech advantage was not as overwheming as Roarks Drift might imply.

[Provost Harrison]

Agincourt

[Dauphin]

Battle of France was pretty impressive. If not for that event the French would not be seen as yellow.

[Faeelin]

Originally posted by Ethelred
Roarks Drift was pretty amazing. 4000 impi to 100 Brits. Even with a technology advantage the British achievment was impressive considering the way things happened at Isandalwana just a short while before with 30,000 impi easily beating about 1,000 Brits which shows the tech advantage was not as overwheming as Roarks Drift might imply.

You do realize that 1 in 8 of the impis at isandalwana DIED, dont' you?

And that the Bits lost at insandalwana for using tactics which were almost necer used by the British army...

For best campaigners: I'd vote the Mongols.

Best Battle: Cannae. Thousands of lightly armored mercenaries from various countries defeat the Roman legions, who OUTNUMBER them.

Unfortunately, the romans proceeded to raise several more legions, and throughout the war never used more than a quarter (worst estimate; best states a tenth) of potential manpower reserves.

[Ethelred]

Originally posted by Arrian
Well, does a battle like Thermopolye count? It was technically a Greek defeat, because the 300 Spartans were eventually betrayed and wiped out, but anytime 300 guys hold off an army of many thousands for days and beat back repeated attacks by the enemy's crack troops, it's impressive.

There were more than 300 troops. Thats just the Spartans that stayed with Leonidas after the Persians got behind them. It ignores others that stayed and it ignores those that fought the previous days but retreated when they knew the Persians were coming through the pass.

This site gives the Greek forces as 10,000

http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/sinq/greekciv2/war/perwar2/thermop.htm

This page mentions others that stayed behind. For some reason the Thespians and Thebans get ignored.

http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/persian/18.htm

This site give 7,000 to 8,000 for the Greeks and only mentions the Thebans as staying.

http://www.greyhawkes.com/blacksword/Spartan%20Combat%20Arts%202001/1-Pages/History/Thermopylae.htm

[Shi Huangdi]

Thermopylae wasn't THAT amazing.... Thermoplyae was a really small chokepoint which did alot to nullyify the Numerical advantage of the Persian army. Then consider the far superior equippment and training of the Spartans and it isn't too suprising they won.

"
Same goes for the Siege of Constantinopel"

Down downplay Mehmet's accomplishment. Constantinople was the greatest defensive fortress in the entire world and had beat back countless attacks against it. In the Hundreds of years since all the fortifications, the city was only taken once(by the Crusaders) and IIRC that was by sea. Credit Mehmet with good skill in applying the newest military technology available to crack the awesome fortress that was Constantinople.

[Provost Harrison]

Well I still stick by Agincourt, perhaps a few hundred English killed to many, many thousands of French soldiers killed...and plus...it was the French