6 Incredible Last Stands in History
- Nicholas Ward
- Jun 5, 2019
- 7 min read
Through history, most people have died, in fact well over half of people will die at some point in their lives. Through the millions of deaths however there are some so bold and epic that they make everyone else ashamed to be alive.
1. Yoshitsune’s Company
Yoshitsune’s Company was a motley group of 20 rebels, who having narrowly escaped an army of Assassins met their end after 4 years on the run. When 200 warrior monks cornered the company it seemed the end, Sato Tadanobu led the 200 away from the company killing two monks in single combat after falling off a cliff, he set fire to their monastery and escaped to Kyoto where he was caught in bed with a lords wife and slain. His was the first death of the Companions, thinking themselves safe they rested in a small fort by the Koromo river, when they were cornered by 500 mounted Samurai, 500 before and a raging river behind, they were trapped. Yoshitsune set to commit seppuku while his surviving companions bought him time. The 500 let fly their arrows and most of Yoshitsune’s Company fell, the archers tumbling off the roofs, as the samurai rushed in three survivors distinguished themselves, the bandit Ise Saburo met and slew 9 samurai receiving mortal wounds and bleeding profusely but still fighting till in exhaustion he fell dead. Washinoo a hunter, surviving the intial arrow barrage pelted the attackers with arrows slaying half a dozen before an arrow pierced his throat and he fell from the roof with the others, and Benkei the monk. Benkei’s friends dead and dying around him, ran inside to say his last words to his friend. Benkei emerged from the fort Naginata in one hand Katana in the other, none were left to defend but Benkei, with a roar Benkei charged the cavalry slashing open the stomachs of horses and till the cavalry fell back. Near 500 samurai stood before Benkei, a handful of samurai on foot charged the giant and were slain. So afraid of this giant 500 trained soldiers refused to go near him. The 500 let loose a volley of arrows, and watched unbelievably as Benkei stood unflinchingly as the arrows pierced his armour. After multiple volleys one mounted samurai galloped past the giant, who fell in the dust, rigor mortis had set in, Benkei had been dead for hours. And so, died the last of Yoshitsunes company.
For four years they were able to evade or fight off Yoritomo’s forces, but one by one they were slain
Benkei stood there defiantly, naginata in hand and so terrible did he look that none dared approach him, until a mounted samurai, galloping by, caught Benkei in his slipstream and he fell over. It was only then that the samurai realized that he had been dead for some time
2. Akro Roshi (47 ronin)
One snowy January night 47 samurai met outside a large fortified mansion, with one goal, to kill Kira, the man who had dishonoured them. The 47 were retainers of Asano a samurai lord who 2 years earlier had been ordered to commit suicide after striking a corrupt official. The 47 goaded their time, disbanding, and taking common jobs waiting 2 years for their revenge. On the 30th of January 1703 the 47 stormed Kira’s compound, archers were positioned on the roof while the rest rushed the doors. Guards on duty fled but the Ronin were stopped by 10 of Kira’s retainers, Kiras men forced them into the court yard, as the fight raged on men from the household ran for help but were picked off by the archers. The battle stalled until the second group poured over the rear gate routing the rest of the guards and slaughtering the 10 samurai. The Ronin pulled Kira into the courtyard beheaded him and took his head to the grave of Asano their lord. By killing Kira their lives were automatically forfeit and 2 months later 46 of the 47 committed suicide as a final act of defiance.
To ease suspicion, they disbanded and two years later they met outside Kira’s heavily guarded mansion. Startled, many guards dropped their swords and ran. Finding Kira hidden in a shed, the ronin killed him and took his head to Asano’s grave before surrendering to the city authorities.
17 April Asano Nabanori attacks Kira Yoshihasa. Asano is arrested and commits suicide
This classic saga – a true story – is the most celebrated example of loyalty and warrior ethics in Japanese history. It dramatically illustrates the finest qualities and the samurai code of honour.
3. Horatius Cocles
509BC, the first year of the Roman Republic, its armies routed, all that stood between the republic and ruin was a wooden bridge and the one eyed, Horatius Cocles. Its armies routed, fleeing soldiers blocked up the bridge to Rome and the Etruscans fell upon them massacring them. Through the massacre Horatius pushed forward and attacked the Etruscans with such ferocity that they were forced back as the dead choked the bridge. Horatius ordered his soldiers to tear up the bridge, the dead piled so high that Horatius found cover behind them as Etruscans hurled javelins at him. Horatius came forward and called out demanding single combat, the Etruscans stood unsure whether to attack then with a roar the van guard threw their javelins which Horatius caught on his shield and charged. The bridge covered in dead prevented the Etruscans attacking en masse, Horatius however was severely injured, bleeding from a large gash in his leg it seemed the end when the bridge crashed behind him and he turned and leapt into the river in full armour and plunged below the surface. There are two accounts as to his fate, Livy the ancient Roman historian says Horatius struggled to the other side and was greeted as a hero but disabled from his injuries, while others say that he drowned or was slain by an errant Javelin thrown after him.
Then shame made them attack, and with a shout they cast their javelins from every side against their solitary foe. But he caught them all upon his shield, and, resolute as ever, bestrode the bridge and held his ground; and now they were trying to dislodge him by a charge
Cocles took command… ordering the defenders behind him to destroy the bridge
4. 30 April 1863 Battle of Camaron
At 8am on the 30th of April 1863, 62 French Foreign Legionaries sat in the open breakfasting when 650 Mexican Cavalry came into view. The legionaries leapt to their feet knocking over their coffee pots, and narrowly repelled the attack, as they hastily retreated for a nearby hacienda, they repelled a second attack by the cavalry. The Legionaries barricaded themselves in the hacienda in time to see 3000 Mexican soldiers surround them, offered the chance to surrender the 62 legionaries refused. For 6 hours the Legionaries kept the fort till 20 remained. Offered a chance to once again surrender, they again refused. The next wave of attack breached the walls, running low on ammunition the 20 barricaded themselves in a room somehow holding out another 4 hours. The Mexicans broke into the room the legionaries fought back with nothing but bayonets, when the attack halted. The Mexicans called out offering the 5 remaining legionaries another chance to surrender. The Mexicans waited, when suddenly the 5 emerged from the room bayonets fixed and charged the thousands of waiting Mexicans, 2 were shot dead the other 3 were captured. The siege lasted 10 hours and the Mexicans suffered 500 causalities.
There, for ten hours the Legion withstands repeated assaults from a Mexican force that grew to more than 2,000 men. Finally, the surviving officer and four men of the 3d charge into the midst of the massed juaristas
While Breakfasting at 8am Danjous Legionaries were surprised by 650 Mexican cavalry
5. Battle of Saragarhi 12 September 1897
At dawn on September 12th 1897, 21 Sikh Gurkhas were besieged by 10’000 Afghan Pashtuns. The Sikhs repelled the attacks on the fort for 6 hours before the walls were overrun. The Pashtuns later admitted to suffering 160 causalities while a British body count put the number at 600. The 10’000 attacked around 9am, they charged again and again but were repelled by just 20 men, 1 of whom was communicating the battle to a nearby Fort using a helioscope. After 6 hours the Pashtuns breached the walls, the Sikhs rushed the gap futilely attempting to block the breach. Desperately the commander ordered his men to seal themselves inside the Barracks, throwing himself upon the enemy to buy time. The commander fell and the Barracks did not hold, the Pashtuns forced their way inside, as they breached the building a Sepoy lying injured shot 4 before perishing with all hands. Finally all who remained was the signal officer Gurmukh Singh, sealed in the signalling tower, surrounded by thousands of enemies, he picked up his rifle and began to fire at the massed enemies, who unable to kill him set fire to the tower, as he burned he shot ‘no less than’ 20 Pashtuns while reportedly yelling a Sikh battle cry
A wounded Sepoy lying on a bed shot four of the enemy before he was killed himself.
10’000 Orakzai… attacked Saragarhi on September 12, 1897 at daybreak
Gurmukh Singh, who communicated the battle to fort Gulistan, was the last Sikh defender. He is said to have killed 20 Afghans before he died.
6. Gjergj Kastriot (Skanderbeg)
Skanderbeg was an Albanian nobleman taken as a captive as a young boy, he distinguished himself in Ottoman military service and in 1443 defected from an Ottoman force with 300 soldiers and raised a rebellion in Albania. Between 1443 and 1468 Skanderbeg won nearly every major battle fought against the Ottomans. In 1450 at the head of an army of just 10’000 he was cornered by 100’000, seemingly the end of the rebellion he routed the entire army attacking while they slept. Through his rule he rarely commanded more than 15’000 soldiers, yet for near 3 decades he evaded certain defeat, every last stand was thwarted, every defeat turned a victory, always outnumbered never out thought. In 1451 a nobleman’s revolt deprived him of all but one city the entirety of his kingdom swept up by ottoman gold, by 1452 he had regained all his lands and defeated another Ottoman Army double his armies’ size. During his reign he was also betrayed by numerous relatives, imprisoning one uncle and beheading a nephew. Skanderbeg lead a desperate last stand of just 300 men before leading a desperate last stand with just 10’000 before leading a desperate last stand with just the support of one city, yet on his death bed all of Albania was still fighting a desperate last stand. Though vastly outnumbered and outgunned Albania was still under his control. And with his death so died independent Albania, the country becoming part of Venice before falling to the Ottomans.
With the death of Skanderbeg, the defence of Albania became the burdensome legacy of the republic of Venice. Soon the country was in a state of complete chaos
Skanderbeg organised the feudal lords in opposition to the ottomans and, under his leadership they fended off incursions for 25 years.
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