13 Most Consequential Final Battles

Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France in 1804. He quickly aimed to conquer all of Europe. He almost succeeded, but something stopped him.The invasion of Russia stalled during the winter of 1812.Allied European nations forced the French troops back. They exiled Napoleon to Elba in 1814.

The Frenchman did not stop there. In 1815, Napoleon escaped Elba and soon led a...He led a 100,000-man French army against the European countries allied against him.Napoleon's French army fought against European countries allied against him at the Battle of Waterloo.Napoleon sought to strike before the Prussian and British armies in Belgium.The French forces initially succeeded and defeated a Prussian force at the Battle of Ligny in Belgium on June 16, 1815. However, a large portion of the Prussian forces escaped.Those Prussian forces joined British soldiers camped near Brussels in the village of Waterloo.The British forces, led by the Duke of Wellington, gained an advantage. Rain the night before allowed Napoleon to wait until the afternoon for his attack on June 18, giving the Prussians time to join the fight. The combined army defeated Napoleon. The Frenchman retreated to France, where he was captured and exiled to St. Helena.

Napoleon's defeat ended France's European dominance. Britain then became the next superpower.Waterloo" also became slang for a very difficult challenge.

The Persian Empire was an early great imperial power in the ancient world. Persia attacked Greece in 490 BCE for reasons that may have involved subduing threats on its western frontier. The Persians landed 20,000 troops in Greece and marched toward Athens. The Athenians formed an alliance with the Plataeans to gather extra men, but they only raised about 10,000 soldiers.Before the armies clashed on the Plains of Marathon, only 26 miles from Athens, the Athenian defenders planned a smart military strategy. They placed their strongest soldiers on the flanks to face the weaker Persian troops positioned on the outside of the attack. The plan worked; Athens won the battle and the war.The Athenians made an alliance with the Plataeans to gather extra men, but they could only raise about 10,000 soldiers.

This victory had long-lasting effects. Athens began developing new democratic politics that Persian rule likely would have crushed. The battle connects to the modern marathon: Greek courier Pheidippides reportedly ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens with the news of the victory and died upon arrival. Historians usually reject this story as just a legend.This victory had long-lasting effects. Athens began developing democratic politics, which Persian rule likely would have crushed. The battle connects to the modern marathon: Greek courier Pheidippides ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens with news of the victory and died upon arrival. Historians mostly reject this story as a legend.The last ground battles between the United States and Japan in World War II happened on Okinawa between April 1 and June 22, 1945. Nearly 300,000 U.S. troops invaded the island, which 130,000 Japanese soldiers defended. American soldiers aimed to seize airbases that Allied forces would then use to invade Japan. Fighting was fierce andalliance with the Plataeans to drum up extra men, but could only muster around 10,000 soldiers.

Before the armies clashed on the Plains of Marathon - only 26 miles from Athens - the Athenian defenders devised an ingenious military strategy. They placed their strongest soldiers on the flanks, where they would face the weaker troops the Persians positioned on the outside of their attack. The plan worked, and Athens won the battle and the war.

This victory had long-ranging consequences. Athens was developing nascent democratic politics that would have likely been crushed under Persian rule. The battle has ties to the modern-day marathon, too: it was said that Greek courier Pheidippides ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens with word of the victory, and died upon arriving after delivering the news. However, historians widely discredit this story as a mere legend.

The last ground battles between the United States and Japan in World War II were fought on Okinawa between April 1 and June 22, 1945. Nearly 300,000 U.S. troops invaded the island, which was defended by 130,000 Japanese soldiers. American soldiers sought to take airbases, which Allied forces would then use to invade Japan.

Fighting was fierce, and 100,000 Japanese soldiers, 12,520 U.S. troops, and 80,000 to 100,000 civilians died in the Battle of Okinawa.Many Okinawans committed suicide on the island and its surrounding seas.The Japanese military ordered Okinawans to commit suicide so they would not be taken captive by Americans.This action prevented the Americans from taking the Okinawans captive.

The fighting severity on the island and the high civilian death count made President Harry Truman fear invading Japan would inflict unbearable casualties.This fear partly led the President to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war.This belief influenced the President to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war.

The Second Punic War occurred between Rome and Carthage. Hannibal, the Carthaginian General, began this memorable conflict.Hannibal marched his army, which included war elephants, across the Alps.Hannibal invaded Italy in 218 BCE. The Romans resisted, and by 206 BCE, they pushed their enemies out of Spain after the Battle of Ilipa.The Battle of Ilipa occurred.Roman General Publius Scipio then aimed for Carthage itself and invaded North Africa in 203 BCE.Scipio invaded North Africa in 203 BCE.This move set the stage for the Battle of Zama.

Hannibal was recalled to defend Carthage by this time. Opposing forces matched at about 40,000 soldiers each, but Scipio held the advantage of better cavalry and battlefield choice. Even with his war elephants, the Carthaginian general lost the battle. The Roman victory crushed the strongest Mediterranean opponent, ended the Second Punic War, and started the Roman Empire.

The Battle of New Orleans happened after the war ended.The Treaty of Ghent was agreed to on December 24, 1814.This treaty officially ended the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. British troops did not hear the news of peace before attacking New Orleans. The attack aimed to seize the port and cut Louisiana off from the rest of the country.

The battle took place on January 8, 1815. During the conflict, 4,500 U.S. troops defended the city against 7,500 British soldiers. Only eight American soldiers died; the British reported 2,000 men wounded, killed, or missing. A general named Andrew Jackson.Andrew Jackson was involved in the battle.Andrew Jackson gained national recognition for his victory. That fame likely led him to win the presidency in 1828.

In 1066, the King of England, Edward the Confessor, died without an heir. Harold Godwine claimed the throne and named himself King Harold II.William, the Duke of Normandy, disputed his rule.William launched an invasion of England from France shortly after his coronation. William brought 7,000 troops, including calvary. Harold marched his army to the coast, which exhausted his soldiers.Harold's march to the coast exhausted his soldiers.Harold's soldiers were no match for William's troops. The Battle of Hastings was a decisive victory for William, and Harold died during the conflict.

The battle ended Anglo-Saxon rule in England. William the Conqueror made French the official court language. That language later mixed with Anglo-Saxon to form modern English.

The Spanish conquest of Mexico started in 1519. Hernan Cortés landed in Mexico and immediately burned his ships.Cortés burned his ships to stop his mutinous soldiers from leaving.Cortés burned his ships to stop his mutinous soldiers from leaving. The conquest ended in 1521 with the Fall of Tenochtitlán. The city was...Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire.The city was one of the most populated in the world when the conquest began.

Cortés aimed for the Aztec capital. He traveled 200 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico.Cortés won local rivals of the Aztecs on his way to his goal.Cortés sought support for his cause. Aztec Emperor Montezuma let Cortés enter the capital, hoping for peace. Initially, the sides were friendly. Cortés took Montezuma captive and tried to control the Aztec people by holding their ruler hostage. Montezuma died shortly after, though people argue if he died by his own people or his captors. The Aztecs revolted, and Cortés and his men were chased from the city. The Spanish prepared to take Tenochtitlán by force.

Before the Spanish launched their final attack...The smallpox virus destroyed the Aztec people. It killed about 25% of the population.Cortés and his massive Mexican allies killed about 25% of the population at The Battle Of Tenochtitlán, The Spanish Conquest, 1521.Cortés and his allies besieged the city for 80 days.The weakened Aztecs lost. The Spanish entered the city, set fire to the temple, and forced the locals to surrender. This battle toppled a great empire and brought Spanish rule to Mexico for nearly 300 years.

The Russo-Japanese war...The Russo-Japanese war began in 1904.Russia and Japan clashed over dividing Manchuria and Korea. Japan's navy engaged Russia on this issue.Japan's navy launched a surprise attack.The Japanese navy attacked the Russian fleet anchored at Port Arthur in Manchurian China. After Japan won several battles, the two nations fought a final naval clash at the Strait of Tsushima on May 27, 1905. Russia lost and suffered heavy losses in the fight.Russia lost 35 of its 45 ships in the battle.The battle...The battle won the war for Japan..

Back in Russia, the war caused social unrest and eventually...The war helped cause the 1905 Russian Revolution.President Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize.Theodore Roosevelt received the Nobel Peace Prize.He got the award for negotiating the peace treaty that ended the war. He became the first American President to earn this honor.Japanese influence in the Pacific started spreading.This spread raised tension between Japan and the United States, hinting at future conflicts.

The First Crusade...Pope Urban II ordered the First Crusade.The Crusade began in 1095 to claim the Holy Land for Christianity. After besieging Jerusalem in 1099, 13,500 European Christians, led by Raymond of Toulouse and Gregory of Bouillon, took the city.The Crusaders took the city.Upon capturing Jerusalem, the crusaders killed the Jewish and Muslim inhabitants.The crusaders massacred the Jewish and Muslim inhabitants.They killed them in a particularly brutal way.They killed them in a particularly brutal way..

The victory created the The Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted nearly 200 years. During that time, the city served as a center for colonization in the Holy Land, where Christianity spread to nearby regions. The kingdom also sat on the Silk Road, bringing new ideas and products from the East into Europe.The Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted nearly 200 years. During that time, the city served as a center for colonization in the Holy Land, where Christianity spread to nearby regions. The kingdom also sat on the Silk Road, bringing new ideas and products from the East into Europe.Christianity spread to nearby regions.The kingdom was also situated on the Silk Road.The kingdom was also situated on the Silk Road.The Silk Road brought new ideas and products from the East into Europe.

Vietnam declared independence from France.Vietnam declared independence from France in 1945; the country had been a colony before World War II. France rejected the declaration, but both nations agreed Vietnam would stay autonomous within the French Union. France broke the agreement terms, and it tried to reconstitute colonial rule.France tried to reconstitute colonial rule.Vietnam fought back.

In November 1953, the French occupied Dien Bien Phu, which linked Vietnam to its ally China, a key supply depot, and routes into Laos.The French occupied Dien Bien Phu, which linked Vietnam to its ally China, a key supply depot, and routes into Laos.Vietnamese forces, led by Communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, began a siege of the city.

French General Henri Navarre believed his troops had superior tactics, arms, and air support to win the fight.French General Henri Navarre believed his troops had superior tactics, arms, and air support to win the fight.He miscalculated. Vietnamese forces numbered 40,000, surrounding the 13,000 soldiers, and the 57-day siege ended in a French defeat.

France's loss led to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam.France's loss led to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam.U.S. involvement in Vietnam helped spark the Vietnam War.

1492 marks the year Christopher Columbus reached the Americas. That year, the unified monarchies of Aragon and Castile defeated the final Muslim kingdom in Spain. This victory ended 780 years of Moorish control of the region.The unified monarchies of Aragon and Castile defeated the final Muslim kingdom in Spain.The unified monarchies of Aragon and Castile defeated the final Muslim kingdom in Spain. The victory ended 780 years of Moorish control of the region.

The Spanish forces united under King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I.The Spanish forces united under King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I.Under their rule, Spain used savage techniques, including the Spanish Inquisition to integrate the country's diverse population.Under their rule, Spain used savage techniques, including the Spanish Inquisition to integrate the country's diverse population.Columbus integrated the country's diverse population.Columbus began a similar Spanish conquest in the Americas.Columbus began a similar Spanish conquest in the Americas.

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire.Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire until it was sacked in 1453 by the Ottoman Empire.The Ottoman Empire sacked Constantinople in 1453. The two powers fought for a few years after Mehmed II became Ottoman emperor in 1451 and decided to strike the enemy empire's major city.

The battle for the city had several consequences.The battle for the city had several consequences.The battle ended the Byzantine Empire and marked the end of the Middle Ages. Redrawing borders also cut Europe's access to trade routes to India, causing Spain to send Christopher Columbus to find a sea route to the east.

Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan started a rapid modernization program. This transformed the country from a feudal society to a modern industrialized nation in one generation. Samurai lost many privileges through reforms until the samurai were abolished completely in 1876.The Meiji Restoration began in 1868.Japan started rapid modernization in 1868. This changed the country from a feudal society to an industrialized nation in one generation. Reforms removed many samurai privileges. Japan abolished the samurai completely in 1876.

Many samurai joined the Meiji regime, but others resisted quietly. Small revolts against the new regime and its reforms started across the country from 1874 to 1877. The Satsuma rebellion proved the most significant. This rebellion began when students of a prominent former samurai started it.Saigo TakamoriHe seized a munitions depot in Kagoshima.

Takamori took responsibility for their actions. He gathered a group of students and warriors to march on Kyoto. They never knew what they hoped to get from the emperor because they never left Kyushu. The garrison at Kumamoto Castle held them back. Government troops arrived in force and scattered the rebels. By September, only about 500 followers remained. The Japanese army cornered them at Shiroyama.ShiroyamaThis event began just outside Kagoshima.

Takamori was wounded. He chose to die by seppuku, the traditional way. With no ammunition or supplies, the few rebels made a final, suicidal charge into the surrounding forces. None of them survived.

This ended the samurai age, a period lasting over seven hundred years.