Favourite Battles

**UnitedIreland** · August 06, 2009, 03:43 PM

What is your favourite battle from throughout history?

My favourite battles are:
1. The Battle Of White Mountain (Thirty Years War)
2. Battle Of Stalingard (WW2)

Tell us your favourite battles and why?

(If thread already exists then could someone point me to it as I couldn't find it)

**Atterdag** · August 06, 2009, 04:47 PM

Interesting that you ask others to explain their choices, whilst failing to do so yourself.

Anyhoo and in no particular order:

Battle of Guadalajara (Spanish Civil War) - The only larger victory for the Spanish Republic during the war and thus (as I am biased on this point) a very interesting thing for me.

Siege of Madrid (Spanish Civil War) - No pasaran - 'nough said.

Battle of Køge Bay (Scanian War/Franco-Dutch War) - A battle of such great immediate and later importance that few can rival it in the history of the Oldenburg State. Had Juel not won this battle, the war very well could have been lost as well and the double monarchy never regained its self respect after the Northern Wars.

And there certainly are many others, which I, however, cannot remember at this moment.

**UnitedIreland** · August 06, 2009, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Atterdag

Interesting that you ask others to explain their choices, whilst failing to do so yourself.

Sorry about that.

Battle of White Mountain - I like this particular battle because of the way the Catholic Army was inspired by a defaced painting of a saint and because of this they charged into battle against an enemy that even though they out numbered, was in a better strategic postion and they defeated the army in 2 hours.

Battle Of Stalingrad - I like this battle due to its signifiance in WW2 and with combined casulties of around 2 million its the bloodiest battle ever.

**Lazy-Hamish** · August 06, 2009, 05:09 PM

Battle of Ain Jalut (mongols versus mamluks, mamluks win) - Because Baibars was a legend who deserves to be featured much more in Kingdoms
battle of Trafalger - most famous naval battle of all time most probably, nelson used some amazing tactics
battle of little big horn - native americans getting their own back
Battle of red cliffs - hard to choose a battle from the three kingdoms, the whole era is amazing to read about

**Babur** · August 06, 2009, 05:19 PM

Battle of Ankara - The only time in history when the Ottoman Sultan was captured after a crushing defeat which delayed the destruction of the Byzantine Empire by 50 years

Battle of Panipat (1526) - Babur showed how effective gunpowder technology can be despite overwhelming odds,his army was 15,000 strong whilst he faced an army 100,000 strong with elephants too.

**Romanos** · August 06, 2009, 06:23 PM

Battle of Cannae 216 B.C - Hannibal Barca perfect victory against overwhelming odds.

Battle of Strasbourg (Argentoratum) 357 A.D - Emperor Julian has always interested me and this battle also demonstrates that he was in fact a pretty good field commander.

**Praetorian Quintus** · August 06, 2009, 06:30 PM

Battle of Cannae

Battle of Gettysburg

Siege of Rhodes

Siege of Alexia

**Salem1** · August 06, 2009, 07:04 PM

The Battle of Narva, 1700, Sweden vs. Russia

If you wonder what anything means in this picture, just ask

Strength:

Sweden - Russia

8 500, 2 000 more men who attacked later from the garrison of Narva - 37-40 000

Casualties:

Sweden - Russia

667 killed, 1200 wounded - Entire army killed or captured, 230 standards, 180 cannons

**Khazrak** · August 06, 2009, 07:32 PM

Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Hastings

**Old_Scratch** · August 06, 2009, 07:54 PM

The battle not fought.

**Rodina38** · August 06, 2009, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Salem1

The Battle of Narva, 1700, Sweden vs. Russia

If you wonder what anything means in this picture, just ask

Strength:

Sweden - Russia

8 500, 2 000 more men who attacked later from the garrison of Narva - 37-40 000

Casualties:

Sweden - Russia

667 killed, 1200 wounded - Entire army killed or captured, 230 standards, 180 cannons

The Russian army branch that fought in Narva was compromised of Balts and Tatars, commanded by French commanders. Although it they were fighting under the Russian banner, little Russians participated in the battle.

And it was actually:

27,000 'Russians' against 11,000 Swedes, with own losses of 10,000 and enemy losses of 800-1500.

**Salem1** · August 06, 2009, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Rodina38

Battle of Poltava - Sweden had numerically and militarily superior numbers to the Russians, but were defeated nonetheless!

What? an exhausted Swedish army which only had gunpowder for one more battle, with cannons that were out of commission and the vast majority of losses throughout the campaign sustained from non-combat causes faced a prepared, fortified, fresh Russian army with vastly superior numbers at Poltava, put up a battle as it was the only alternative, lost it and thus the Russian campaign as a whole was also lost, leading to the Swedish main army ceasing to exist, which led to the downfall of Sweden. That's the truth, what are you talking about?

Originally Posted by Rodina38

The Russian army branch that fought in Narva was compromised of Balts and Tatars, commanded by French commanders. Although it they were fighting under the Russian banner, little Russians participated in the battle.

And it was actually:

27,000 'Russians' against 11,000 Swedes, with own losses of 10,000 and enemy losses of 800-1500.

Balts? what balts, you mean to tell me that thousands of Balts were impressed into the Russian army from Swedish territory? as for Tatars, I don't know but I'm skeptical, I would like to see where you've read this. I find it very strange that you'd suggest that the army at Narva contained little 'Russians', so I'm skeptical to that.

No. There were 37 000 Russians against 8 500 Swedes, that were later joined by the 2 000-strong Swedish garrison of Narva. Russia's entire army was killed or captured, lost 230 standards and 180 cannons while Sweden lost 1800 killed and wounded. That's fact and nothing else.

**hindov** · August 07, 2009, 02:37 AM

Cannae - a tactical masterpiece
Montgisard (25 nov. 1177 Kingdom of Jerusalem vs Saladin) - a marvelous illustration of the efficiency of heavy cavalry if discipline and cohesion are respected.
Caldiran (23 august 1514 Ottoman Empire vs Safavid Persia) - an almost defeat transformed in a great victory
Austerlitz - a perfect combination between ingeniosity and skill; the entire campaign was a strategic masterpiece.

**Tiberios** · August 07, 2009, 02:58 AM

Battle of Gettysburg 1863 - I have been fascinated by the ACW for a long time and especially this battle.

Battle of Isted 1850 - Again interest in Danish military history (and yes national pride too

)

Originally Posted by Rodina38

The Russian army branch that fought in Narva was compromised of Balts and Tatars, commanded by French commanders. Although it they were fighting under the Russian banner, little Russians participated in the battle.

And it was actually:

27,000 'Russians' against 11,000 Swedes, with own losses of 10,000 and enemy losses of 800-1500.

Does it really matter

Seriously, it really doesn't matter that much since Salem1 just posted what he thought was his favourite battle. No reason to start one of those "you only won because" kind of discussions.
Of course you can disagree, but I doubt it would it less of a favourite battle for Salem1.

**Rodina38** · August 06, 2009, 08:19 PM

Battle of Poltava - Sweden had numerically and militarily superior numbers to the Russians, but were defeated nonetheless!

**Carl von Döbeln** · August 07, 2009, 05:04 AM

27,000 'Russians' against 11,000 Swedes, with own losses of 10,000 and enemy losses of 800-1500

Battle of Breitenfeldt 1631
Extremly facinating battle that completely revolutionized warfare.

Battle of Poltava 1709
Very interesting battle where an exhausted Swedish army faced a vastly superior russian force.

Battle of Narva 1700
For obvious reasons

Siege of Rhodes 1522
The herioic last stand of the knights of Rhodes. 500 knights ( with 6000 local troops/militia) defended the island against an ottoman invasion force of over 100.000 men. The knights were forced to surrender after a 6 month siege. The ottomans lost at least 45.000 men during the siege.

The battle of Herrevadsbro 1251
" the battle that united Sweden"

**Orko** · August 07, 2009, 05:17 AM

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa - decisive reconquista battle, few against many, and I like medieval Spain.
Battle of Marathon - Just seems really cool.
Battle of Cannae - Hannibal's geniusy revealed at it's greatest.
Battle of Australitz - Again, because of the geniusy.

**tonymurphy1888** · August 07, 2009, 10:35 AM

Stirling bridge good to see English arrogance fail for once lol

**Theseus1234** · August 07, 2009, 11:25 AM

Battle of Stalingrad
-I've always liked the idea of fighting for a city, ruined rubble that remains significant only by name and location. Stalingrad is arguably the turning point for the Eastern front of WWII
Battle of Cannae
-Hannibal and 'tactical genius' go well together don't they?
Battle of Zama
-All great things must fall, and old tricks of the trade will be rendered obsolete. Scipio was not only extremely clever in his avoidance of elephants, but very very lucky when his cavalry returned and delivered the final blow.
Siege of Tobruk
-I'm not sure why exactly it's one this list but my brain was telling me to write it down
EDIT: Siege of Tobruk, not battle. Sorry