famous last stands

[nickfawson]

After seeing 300 my friend and I were trying to remember a battle where a small triangular formation of soldiers defeated a much larger force.

 

[bob bobato]

And? Try finishing the paragraph.

 

[Maimonides]

After seeing 300 my friend and I were trying to remember a battle where a small triangular formation of soldiers defeated a much larger force.

Trangular formations aren't very good because the corners are far too exposed. Squares & rectangular formations were used from ancient times until the late 19th century. 300 may be a very entertaining movie, but don't think for a second that it's historically correct in any way.

 

[REDY]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_stand

 

[Evil Tyrant]

Maybe the Battle of Watling Street?

 

[Jerrymander]

If they won, it wasn't a Last Stand.

 

[Mirc]

If they won, it wasn't a Last Stand.

Are you sure? On the wiki link, I saw the [wiki]Battle of Posada[/wiki], where the Wallachians defeated the Hungarians, (which had an army more than three times bigger, etc). And that is (according to wiki) considered a "last stand".
I'm not sure, English is not my first language.

 

[Jerrymander]

I guess they could win and then retire from the military. I guess that would be a last stand.

Also, the topic starter failed to realize that the 300 Spartans did not win.

 

[REDY]

So Jan Zizka battles (he never lost):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sudomer 1:6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_V%C3%ADtkov_Hill 1:9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Německý_Brod 1:6

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Masada, anyone?

 

[Joe Harker]

Spearmen could form a really packed circle.

 

[REDY]

What about spanish-aztec battles?

 

[Che Guava]

Remember the alamo!

 

[CrazyDuck]

I've always been fond of the Battle of Camerone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Camerone

 

[GinandTonic]

The last 45 of the 44th at Gandamak on the retreat from Kabul. Against several thousand they were offered the chance to surrender, replied "Not bloody likely" and the captain tied the colours round him.

The essence of the last stand is the certainty that you will all die and the desire to make the other guy pay a dear as possible for it.

 

[ParkCungHee]

What about this guy?

 

[Esckey]

How about this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Sihang_Warehouse

 

[Pokurcz]

How about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Warsaw_%281920)

Known as the Miracle at the Vistula.

A "Last Stand" makes me think of a situation when one side has its back against the wall with poor odds going for them.

If you look at the list in REDY's link ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_stand ) there are several battles mentioned where the side making the last stand is victorious.

 

[Mirc]

I nominate the battle of Cetatea Neamtului, from 1691 (not sure about year): 20 Romanians in a castle fought an army led by Jan Sobieski, after he had just saved Europe from Turks. The result was a peace treaty clearly in the disfavor of Sobieski. The siege lasted 10 days. Only 12 people were alive at the end. It is said that Sobieski had no idea how little people there were in the castle.

 

[Jerrymander]

I notice none of you mention Colonel Custer. :[