Random Historical Underdogs Who Came Out On Top (16 items)

• (#3) One Korean Admiral Incapacitated The Japanese Navy With About A Dozen Ships

  From Redditor /u/ramsayes:

  Admiral Yi had many notable wins during the Imjin Invasion, wherein Toyotomi Hideyoshi entered into Korea to establish a launching point for a greater Chinese incursion as he had planned. Although the initial Japanese forces practically steamrolled through almost all of Korean territory, Admiral Yi's navy effectively cut all Japanese supply lines and rendered their military useless over time. His naval victories played a pivotal role in the conflict, but he had no experience in naval warfare before the incursion.

  Here's What Happened:

  The Imjin War refers to a series of Japanese incursions into Korea during the 1590s. Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi was able to push his forces numbering in excess of 150,000 men into Korea, capturing Seoul in 1592. The Korean navy, however, managed to hinder continued Japanese efforts. Admiral Yi and his kobukson, or turtle ships, featured covers that left them impervious to flames and incursions.

  The leader of the Korean navy, Admiral Yi Sun-shin, had a storied military career. After serving in both the army and the navy, he was dismissed from service twice due to accusations made against him by jealous rivals. He was imprisoned during the mid-1590s, something Korean officials reevaluated after suffering a major defeat at Chilchonryang in August 1597. The Korean fleet was nearly wiped out at Chilchonryang, but when Admiral Yi was put in charge of their 12 remaining ships, he refused to abandon them, instead insisting, "If we fight to the death, it is not impossible to defend against the enemy; I still have 12 warships under my command; as long as I live, the enemy will never look down on us."

  Admiral Yi took on over 300 Japanese ships at Myeongnyang with his 12 ships, out-strategizing and outmaneuvering the much larger fleet. According to some sources, Admiral Yi brought down more than 30 of the Japanese ships, damaging nearly 100 others. 
• (#5) Twenty-One Sikh Fighters Resisted At Least 10,000 Afghans At Saragarhi In 1897

  From Redditor /u/Roviik:

  The 21 Sikh.

  I have to speak about these ultimate warriors.

  In a short description, 21 Sikh warriors who each chose to stay behind in their fort to defend against 10,000-plus incoming enemy soldiers. They used every bullet and fixed bayonets, and fought till the last breath in their lungs. There is way more to this legendary story and I beg you to look it up, Because of their actions that cost their lives, in September there is a holiday for them.

  Here's What Happened:

  On September 12, 1897, a group of 21 Sikh fighters manned the post at Saragarhi in modern-day Pakistan. Saragarhi, located between forts at Lockhart and Gulistan near the Afghanistan border, was one of several sites occupied by members of the 36th Sikhs Regiment. In the early morning hours, as the 21 Sikh fighters inside Saragarhi remained unaware of what was about to happen, Afghans surrounded the post, even digging under its walls. They set fires to block any signals coming out of Saragarhi, messages that would have brought them much-needed aid. 

  As the siege on Saragarhi continued during the day, Afghan fighters launched a full assault by mid-afternoon. The 21 Sikhs fought valiantly, defending Saragarhi until they were all killed. Newspapers later reported, "All perished. One gallant fellow defended the guard room single-handed, killing 20 of his assailants and was finally burnt at his post.” 

  Suffering hundreds of losses, the Afghan fighters then turned to Fort Gulistan, besieging it for days.
• (#10) The Hussites Repelled The Holy Roman Empire And The Roman Catholic Church In 1420

  From Redditor /u/Vargue:

  [At] Vitkov Hill, Jan Zizka beating the German knighthood with a hundred [militants].

  Exact numbers are unknown when it comes to the number of men Zizka had at his command. Regardless, the half-blind Zizka equipped local militants with agricultural tools and whatever could be found to hold off the exponentially larger... force as they attempted to make their way to Prague. Zizka remained on the battlelines of the Hussite Wars until his passing in 1424 CE. 

  Here's What Happened:

  Underequipped and severely outnumbered, the Hussites in Bohemia fought to resist the Holy Roman Empire during the Hussite Wars of the early 15th century. Followers of religious reformer Jan Hus, the Hussites were considered heretical and needed to be brought into the Catholic Church, not to mention a threat to the political authority of Emperor Sigismund (r. 1410-1437).

  Jan Zizka was an avid follower of Hus, taking the lead among the Taborites, or militant peasant contingents within the faith. When the Holy Roman Empire and Sigismund attempted to take Prague in 1420, Zizka and a group of as many as 9,000 Hussites - men and women alike - set up a defense at Vitkov Hill, east of the city. From 70,000 to 150,000 Holy Roman Empire fighters, depending on the source, besieged Vitkov Hill as the Hussites held onto the strategic upper ground. The Hussites used rudimentary axes and pitchforks, repelling the Germanic forces. 
• (#7) Hannibal Didn't Give Up, And The Romans Paid The Ultimate Price

  From Redditor /u/KnowanUKnow:

  Hannibal was almost always outnumbered at least 2-1 by the Romans, yet he continued to rampage across Italy for 14 years, winning battle after battle and defeating Roman legion after legion.

  Here's What Happened:

  During the Second Punic War, Hannibal brought thousands of troops from Carthage to Europe, famously crossing the Pyrenees and the Alps with elephants as well. The Carthaginians were at a constant disadvantage, however, on foreign soil with vulnerable supply lines. Although Hannibal hoped to recruit from tribes seeking to rid themselves of Rome's dominance, he was never able to gather enough support to match the Roman military. 

  Hannibal's campaign lasted from 219 BCE to 203 BCE, during which time he defeated large numbers of Romans during entanglements at the River Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae. At Cannae in 216 BCE, there were roughly 50,000 Carthaginian infantry and cavalry fighters, while the Romans had 80,000 to 90,000 troops. According to Greek historian Polybius, as many as 70,000 Roman soldiers perished at Cannae, "a lesson to posterity that in actual war it is better to have half the number of infantry, and the superiority in cavalry, than to engage your enemy with an equality in both."
• (#1) A Single Rifleman Fought Off Hundreds Of Japanese Soldiers And Survived

  From Redditor /u/:khoonirobo:

  Lachhiman Gurung, who singlehandedly fought off an estimated 200 Japanese soldiers during WW2. He survived.

  Here's What Happened:

  Records indicate Lachhiman Gurung, a member of the Indian Army, during WW2 held off a group of 200 Japanese soldiers attacking his position in Burma. In the early morning hours of May 13, 1945, the injured Lachhiman stood his ground for four hours. When daylight broke, the bodies of 31 Japanese soldiers were on the ground before him.

  Later awarded the Victoria Cross, Lachhiman said, "I was not brave. I saw all of my friends wounded and then I looked at my hand and I was very, very angry."
• (#11) Sam Houston And The Texas Militia Changed The Course Of History In Under 20 Minutes

  From Redditor /u/:KyleKalambo:

  Bit of Texas history:

  Battle of San Jacinto, April 1836: Sam Houston led 800 Texans against a larger force of 1,500 Mexicans under General and President Santa Anna. The Texans had been... fighting and losing... and then retreating. In a surprise... the Texans charged the sleeping Mexicans, yelling, "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!"... This would be the turning point... and give Texas its independence.

  Here's What Happened:

  In the aftermath of the Alamo, Sam Houston essentially brought the Texas Revolution to an end on April 21, 1836. Houston received word three days earlier about the location of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and about 750 of his men. With information about where Santa Anna was camped and his next move, Houston took roughly 820 men to intercept the Mexican forces.

  By the time Houston and Santa Anna met, the latter had received reinforcements, but Houston had the element of surprise on his side. He acted first, and 18 minutes later, the Mexican army surrendered. While Mexico had over 600 casualties, Houston lost fewer than 10 men.  

  According to Houston's own account, his men did sing "'Remember the Alamo,' received the [e]nemy's fire, and advanced within point blank shot before a piece was discharged from our lines."

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