Historic battles against the odds

[Kharille]

I am really impressed by some of these historic battles that seem to go against any presumed outcome.  One notable one which comes to mind is Oda Nobunaga's 2000 vs 25,000.  Don't have the wiki link but its not hard to find.  Then theres others, like this one which has a film made up about it.  Really inspiring stuff, and more so since its based on historical fact and documented to a realistic degree.  Memorable ones.  Are there others that impress you from different eras?  Got the wiki links?  Maybe even if it ended in defeat, it would be notable and worth reading up on.  300 and all....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Myeongryang

 

[Horcerer]

Zachary Taylor's - Old Rough and Ready's - victory against Mexico at Buena Vista despite being outnumbered 3 to 1

Sources for you barbarians who think I would dare lie about the most glorious country.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Buena_Vista
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_buena_1.html

Not as extreme a difference as what you posted, however in an era where anybody can kill anybody else in a second regardless of skill, that's pretty good.

 

[matmohair1]

One notable one which comes to mind is Oda Nobunaga's 2000 vs 25,000.

Truth be told it started as an Imagawa victory. Nobunaga took the advantage of their celebrations, and left a decoy army of banners at Zenshō-ji temple,
while the main force was approaching the Imagawa rear though the cover of thick forest. No one expected an attack in the heat of the afternoon,
while a sudden thunderstorm gave the perfect opportunity for a swift attack. With most of the defenders drunk, celebrating and out of their posts,
Imagawa emerged ready for the head viewing ceremony only to lose his own, just a few moments later when it was all too late!

Spoiler

Hattori Kazutada, an Oda pikeman, was the first of Nobunaga’s men to mount a personal attack on Imagawa Yoshimoto,
but received a sword cut across the legs and was about to be killed before Mōri Yoshikatsu came to his rescue and killed Yoshimoto.
He was rewarded for his role in the victory and had later risen up the ranks as a Samurai, during the reign of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the Battle of Odawara in 1591, he was awarded with Matsuzaka Castle in Ise Province, then appointed to assist Hideyoshi’s proclaimed successor, Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He also successfully took part in the taking of Seoul during the Korean campaigns. However in 1595, he was forced to commit seppuku alongside other supporters of Hidetsugu, who at the time was accused of plotting a coup. He was also known as Hattori Koheita and Hattori Unemenokami.

These events may have inspired Tokugawa Ieyasu's most celebrated quote...

勝って兜の緒を締めよ - "In victory, tighten your helmet!"

 

[Dystopian]

The First Siege of Rome (537-53 during the Gothic War. If no one has noticed I am a big Belisarius fan after reading several books on his campaigns, even if the only contemporary source personally disliked him (mostly his older wife though.)

Spoiler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Rome_(537%E2%80%933

From the sources I've read Belisarius invaded Sicily with more or less 7,500 men. He would eventually reconquer the Italian peninsula with this small force (with some minor additions and subtractions along the way). Since sources always vary wildly about "barbarians" its impossible to truly estimate the size of the Ostrogoth army but a size between 45,000 as mentioned on wikipedia and 100,000 is feasible. The Ostrogoth Kingdom had just experienced a generation of prosperity and population growth following King Theodoric's long reign. It is a very interesting read and insight into what siege warfare was actually like, and what options the defenders actually had. If you are interested in military strategy from this period I would suggest reading The Gothic War by Torsten Cumberland Jacobsen which I have recommended before. This is an era of barbarian foederati armies, Belisarius fielded an army of Herulians, Ostrogoths, Huns, Sarmatians, Vandals, Armenians and Persians etc. Before battle officers from both sides would many times fight in single combat to prove to their men their heroism and inspire them for the coming battle. The wiki leaves out important information like here:

Spoiler

"The Ostrogoth army marched on Rome, and gained passage over the river Anio at the Salarian Bridge, where the defending Romans abandoned their fortifications and fled. The next day, the Romans were barely saved from disaster when Belisarius, unaware of his forces' flight, proceeded towards the bridge with a detachment of his bucellarii. Finding the Goths already in possession of the fortified bridge, Belisarius and his escort became engaged in a fierce fight, and suffered great casualties before extricating themselves

Belisarius himself would lead charges into battle many times, and during this encounter it was recorded that many Goths attempted to pierce his armor with their spears but none ever could. His bucellarii were his heavy cavalry bodyguard which he himself raised from loyal troops and paid for their equipment. From this encounter with the Gothic army he retreated the a gate of Rome. In the darkness his men couldn't recognize him or hear his voice over the terrified soldiers trying to push through the gate. The Ostrogoth force was quick on his heels though still a fair distance away pursuing. Being the smart leader he was, he organized his cavalry and the remaining infantry who had deserted the fort in the first place for a counter charge which the Goths did not expect. They were slaughtered and Belisarius entered the city with his men. It is said that he was covered in blood but was not wounded once.

There's too much to say but I'd highly suggest checking that wiki out. 

 

[Captured Joe]

Hernán Cortés' conquest of Mexico; with about 500 Spanish soldiers against armies of tens of thousands of native American warriors.

Spoiler

"The Ostrogoth army marched on Rome, and gained passage over the river Anio at the Salarian Bridge, where the defending Romans abandoned their fortifications and fled. The next day, the Romans were barely saved from disaster when Belisarius, unaware of his forces' flight, proceeded towards the bridge with a detachment of his bucellarii. Finding the Goths already in possession of the fortified bridge, Belisarius and his escort became engaged in a fierce fight, and suffered great casualties before extricating themselves

Belisarius himself would lead charges into battle many times, and during this encounter it was recorded that many Goths attempted to pierce his armor with their spears but none ever could. His bucellarii were his heavy cavalry bodyguard which he himself raised from loyal troops and paid for their equipment. From this encounter with the Gothic army he retreated the a gate of Rome. In the darkness his men couldn't recognize him or hear his voice over the terrified soldiers trying to push through the gate. The Ostrogoth force was quick on his heels though still a fair distance away pursuing. Being the smart leader he was, he organized his cavalry and the remaining infantry who had deserted the fort in the first place for a counter charge which the Goths did not expect. They were slaughtered and Belisarius entered the city with his men. It is said that he was covered in blood but was not wounded once.

I read a version of that story in which Belisarius' men in that action were Moorish light cavalry instead of Bucellarii.

 

[Dystopian]

There could have been both, or neither perhaps. Love history. Not sure exactly how well a charge by light Moorish cavalry would go though.

EDIT: Apparently this is one translation of Procopius' history:

Belisarius, who had not … learned what had happened to the garrison, was bringing up 1,000 horsemen to the bridge over the river, in order to look over the ground and decide where it would be best for his forces to make camp. But when they had come rather close, they met the enemy already across the river, and not at all willingly they engaged with some of them...

And the battle was carried on byhorsemen on both sides. … the Romans turned the enemy to flight, … the Gothic infantry…forced them back… cavalry reinforced the Goths… the Romans fled at top speed until theyreached a certain hill, which they climbed, and there held their position. The enemy's horsemen were upon them directly, and a second cavalry battle took place... the Romans escaped, and arrived at the fortifications of Rome, … the barbarians in pursuit… (to) the Salarian Gate.

Those inside the fortifications… were without a general… and the battle which had begun early in the morning did not end until night...

I'm assuming what he means here by without a general is that they were indecisive, but that really doesn't add up. Belisarius had plenty of capable subordinate commanders who would have had the authority to make a decision. Maybe his point is just that they were indecisive regardless of that fact.

 

[Almalexia]

Hernán Cortés' conquest of Mexico; with about 500 Spanish soldiers against armies of tens of thousands of native American warriors.

Well, he also had the help of tens of thousands of native American warriors on his side as well. It should be pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the Aztecs that they weren't exactly the most liked kids on the block. 

 

[fish123]

Didgori in 1121 might qualify

 

[Bluehawk]

Although the strength of Ottoman armies are always exaggerated, the battle of Rymnik in 1789 qualifies. Grand Vizier Cenaze Hasan Pasha (or his predecessor Koca Yusuf Pasha, depending on the source) with approximately 100,000 attempted to attack Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld's 17,000-strong Austrian detachment in detail and then turn to the Russians, but Alexander Suvorov was able to cross about 80km in 70 hours to combine his 7000 with Coburg, bringing the ratio up to 4:1 in favour of the Vizier. The Ottoman position was arrayed in three field fortifications on the heights between the Ramna and Ramnicul Sarat (Rymnik) rivers, withe vizier's camp in the rear at the town of Markinesti. Suvorov assumed overall command and led the Russo-Austrians in attack columns beginning their march at 10pm the day before and completely took the Turks off guard in the morning when they marched up the heights to knock out their artillery batteries and forward infantry positions before they could effect much fire, then they evolved into squares and scattered the enemy's cavalry, who failed to exploit the open ground ahead of the heights and were trapped in the ravines. Once the first two positions were taken, the allies formed a massive combined line and pushed up to the third. As the Ottomans retreated to their camp at Markinesti, the Austro-Russians followed them and wrecked havok among the streets, tents and baggage. The Ottoman army was shattered and the way to Ismail was left open.

Surorov reported 10,000 enemy kills, half in the battle and half drowned or tramped trying to cross the Rymnik; while his own men only lost 45 + 133 wounded with equal numbers for the Austrians. Countless banners, artillery pieces, wagons and beasts of burden were captured.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Suvorov was awarded the victory title "Count of Rymnik" by his Empress Catherine the Great, while the Grand Vizier retired in disgrace.

 

[matmohair1]

Hernán Cortés' conquest of Mexico; with about 500 Spanish soldiers against armies of tens of thousands of native American warriors.

Actually, neither guns, armor or blades won Cortez any victories. Rather,  it was his alliance with the Tlaxcallans,
who provided him with most of his manpower, which may have included about 80,000 to 200,000 natives!

Spoiler

Much like the suicidal stand at Thermopylae, where only the 300 Spartans are celebrated,
and rarely does anyone recalls or mentions the heroic last stand of the 700 Thespians...

Spoiler

 

[Captured Joe]

Hernán Cortés' conquest of Mexico; with about 500 Spanish soldiers against armies of tens of thousands of native American warriors.

Actually, neither guns, armor or blades won Cortez any victories. Rather,  it was his alliance with the Tlaxcallans,
who provided him with most of his manpower, which may have included about 80,000 to 200,000 natives!

Spoiler

Yes, but before he allied with the Tlaxcallans he had to fight their tens of thousands strong army with just his Spaniards.
Also when retreating out of Tenochtitlan he had to fight the Aztec armies without the help of native American allies.

These victories were won by armor, blades and Spanish disregard for ridiculously stacked odds in their disadvantage.

 

[Almalexia]

If I recall from Bernal Diaz del Castillo's account (though it has been a while since I last read it), they gained the support of the native peoples quite early into the expedition, including Tlaxcala, even before organized hostilities between the Aztecs and the Spaniards had even began, and on La Noche Triste they fought their way out of Tenochtitlan with the help of 20,000 native allies.

 

[Areze]

Cortes fought a few skirmishes with Tlaxcala initially before allying with them against the Aztecs. Also worth pointing out that the region was being devastated by disease at the time (IIRC).

 

[DanAngleland]

Saying the Spaniard's weaponry didn't help them goes against the account of Diaz, and logic- why did the natives join with the Spaniards if their superiority on the battlefield was not proven to the natives, and if the Spaniards had no major advantage due to their weaponry why did it take their arrival to convince the natives that they could successfully rebel against their Aztec overlords? The belief in the Spaniards as gods/Teules would not have helped if the Spaniards didn't awe all the natives with their superior effectiveness in battle.

 

[Almalexia]

Oh no doubt. But to cast the narrative as if 500 Spaniards managed to defeat tens of thousands on their own is a bit misleading, though it is one that has been pitched for a fair amount of time, as a means of "legitimizing" their conquest. Though nor were the natives or their descendants quick to jump up to claim their role in it either in its aftermath, as it ultimately led to their own destruction in turn. The Spanish are the ones that set the events in motion, but they weren't the sole actor and they were not always in control of the course they undertook.

All that said it is a fascinating story, if ultimately one with a sad ending, which is why Bernal's account is still in print today after 500 years.

 

[Úlfheðinn]

Isn't it just a more genocide based version of the "300 Spartans at Thermopylae", where conveniently people tend to forget it was something like 7,000-20,000 Greeks?

That doesn't mean the odds weren't stacked against the Spanish or Spartans, but people love casting exaggerating how bad the odds were (which is funny because they were plenty **** as they were).

 

[Kharille]

What about Julius Caesar at Alesia?  I suppose he had great engineers and could hold off the french with his fortifications.  He would've been outnumbered if he was caught in the open.

 

[Dystopian]

What about Julius Caesar at Alesia?  I suppose he had great engineers and could hold off the french with his fortifications.  He would've been outnumbered if he was caught in the open.

Egads, I am now sad.

 

[DanAngleland]

Oh no doubt. But to cast the narrative as if 500 Spaniards managed to defeat tens of thousands on their own is a bit misleading, though it is one that has been pitched for a fair amount of time, as a means of "legitimizing" their conquest. Though nor were the natives or their descendants quick to jump up to claim their role in it either in its aftermath, as it ultimately led to their own destruction in turn. The Spanish are the ones that set the events in motion, but they weren't the sole actor and they were not always in control of the course they undertook.

Ah, I see. Very true.

 

[Kentucky 『 ＨＥＩＧＵＩ 』 James]

and if the Spaniards had no major advantage due to their weaponry why did it take their arrival to convince the natives that they could successfully rebel against their Aztec overlords?

Many of the Mexican natives did rebel against the Aztecs before the spanish arrived, and the theory that these rebellions were instigated solely by the Aztecs to fuel their sacrifices sounds ludicrous.