Early in 2014, the UK defence secretary suggested that women be permitted to fight on the front lines. Such proposals have always sparked needless debate. Yet people often overlook the fact that, across the ages, women have excelled as soldiers and spies for their nations.

10Roza Shanina
World War II

Born to a logger family in Russia’s Arkhangelsk Oblast, Roza Shanina showed ambition early. In 1938 she fled home, trekking 200 km (125 mi) to the nearest town to enroll in the best school she could find.

By 1941 she worked in a nursery to fund university studies, but that same year her brother fell in battle, prompting Roza to take his place. Her training revealed exceptional marksmanship; even when offered an instructor post at the Women’s Sniper Academy, she demanded front‑line duty, earning the nickname “Unseen Terror of East Prussia” and becoming the first female sniper awarded the Order of Glory.

During the 1945 East Prussian Offensive her platoon dwindled to six men, and Roza fell protecting the artillery commander. By then her confirmed kills stood at 59. Her diary, still largely classified, was published in 1965 to great acclaim.

9Edith Cavell
World War I

Edith Cavell served as a Red Cross nurse in wartime Brussels. Shocked by the devastation around her, she resolved to help as many soldiers as possible escape the German‑occupied city. Working with colleagues, she smuggled over 200 Allied troops to the neutral Netherlands, sheltering them in her hospital and labeling them as injured patients. Her partner, Prince Reginald De Croy, supplied forged documents and money to guide the men to the Dutch border.

Cavell’s outspoken nature attracted German suspicion. Eventually a French spy named Gaston Quien, acting for the Germans, betrayed her. She was arrested, tried for aiding the enemy, and sentenced to death. The Germans executed her by firing squad.

8Ginnie and Lottie Moon
American Civil War

Ginnie and Lottie Moon were Confederate spies hailing from Ohio. Their striking looks made them popular, and they dreamed of acting careers. Lottie famously jilted Indiana native Ambrose Burnside—later a Union general—at the altar and later married Judge James Clark. Ginnie, after being expelled from school, lived with her older sister and the Clark family, who were deeply involved with the secretive Knights of the Golden Circle.

One night a messenger arrived with a letter destined for General Edmund Kirby Smith. Lottie volunteered, slipping into an old‑woman disguise using her theatrical skills, and successfully delivered the missive. The mission earned her counterfeit British papers and a health‑pass that let her travel to Virginia.

Ginnie relocated to Tennessee to tend to her ailing mother and cared for soldiers before undertaking a courier run for the Knights of the Golden Circle. She was captured, placed under house arrest alongside Lottie, and remained confined for the rest of the war.

7Emily Geiger
American War Of Independence

Emily Geiger, born in 1765 in South Carolina to Swiss‑descended parents, saw her father John fall ill as the Revolution erupted, leaving him unable to fight. Determined to contribute, she volunteered to carry a secret dispatch from General Nathaniel Greene to Thomas Sumter behind enemy lines. Greene not only handed her the letter but also memorized its contents so she could recount it verbally if needed.

The next day Emily set out on horseback, telling anyone she met that she was merely visiting her Uncle Jacob. When British scouts under Lord Rawdon intercepted her, her nervousness betrayed her, and she blushed uncontrollably.

Before being taken prisoner, Emily swallowed the sealed message. After a brief incarceration she was escorted to her uncle’s house, where she recited the contents aloud, successfully delivering Greene’s intelligence.

6Marie Marvingt
World War I

Marie Marvingt grew up in Aurillac, France, and by her thirties had become a world‑class athlete, winning accolades in skiing, skating, swimming, fencing and cycling. In 1910 she turned to mountaineering, becoming the first woman to summit several French and Swiss Alpine peaks, notably racing across the Aiguille des Grands Charmoz and the Grepon Pass in a single day.

Even before the Great War, she claimed victory in an international military shooting contest. Her passion for flight later led her to enlist disguised as a man, first serving as an infantryman and then piloting bomber missions—she was the first woman to do so.

During the conflict she also served as a Red Cross nurse and later pioneered air‑ambulance technology, adding metal skis for operations in Morocco and Algeria. Her innovations earned her medals from both France and Morocco.

5Constance Markievicz
Irish War Of Independence

Countess Constance Markievicz, a trailblazing Irish politician, was among the first women worldwide to hold a cabinet post. Yet it was her role in the Irish War of Independence that cemented her fame. As a Sinn Féin activist she played a pivotal part in the 1916 Easter Rising, even writing an anthem inspired by a Polish folk tune.

On the battlefield she served as second‑in‑command at St. Stephen’s Green, overseeing the construction of the barricades. Her unit proved highly effective, holding out for six days before surrendering. In 1922, during the Irish Civil War, she fought for the Republicans, defending Moran’s Hotel in Dublin.

Markievicz died shortly after taking her seat in the inaugural Dáil Éireann, with thousands lining the streets to honor her legacy.

4Maria Gertrudis Bocanegra
Mexican War Of Independence

Born in 1765 to a prosperous Spanish family in Michoacán, Maria Gertrudis Bocanegra married Lieutenant Pedro Advicula de la Vega. Despite limited educational opportunities for women, she was well‑read in Enlightenment literature. When Mexico’s fight for independence ignited, Maria threw herself behind the cause, supporting her husband’s military efforts.

She began by acting as a messenger for insurgents, a crucial role for guerrilla communications, and also supplied resources and lodging for fighters. Tragically, both her husband and son perished serving under Miguel Costilla. Later, after being dispatched to the fiercely contested town of Pátzcuaro, she was betrayed by informants and captured.

Maria spent most of 1817 imprisoned, enduring torture aimed at extracting information about fellow rebels, yet she never cooperated. In October she was convicted of treason and executed by firing squad, delivering an inspiring speech just before her death.

3Jeanie ‘Jenny’ Cameron
Jacobite Wars

Many women aided the Jacobite risings, but Jeanie ‘Jenny’ Cameron stands out. Hailing from Edinburgh, she fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie and became so celebrated that a biography was published in 1746—though it may blend stories of up to three different women sharing her name.

After a turbulent schooling and inheriting a sizable estate from her father, Jenny raised 250 men from her lands and rode them to join the Prince. She remained with him until their defeat at Stirling Castle, after which she was imprisoned with the captured troops in Edinburgh Castle. She secured bail after nine months.

What happened next remains debated: some claim she became Prince Charles Stuart’s mistress and intelligence source; others suggest she married an Irishman and settled in Ireland, while another theory posits she spent her remaining years as a destitute outcast.

2Agostina Domenech
Peninsular War

Agostina Domenech, also known as Agustina de Aragon, captured the imagination of the era so much that Lord Byron penned a poem about her. Born in 1786, she defended Spain during the Peninsular War against Napoleon’s forces, residing in Zaragoza, a city swamped with refugees and among the last to fall.

In June 1808, as French troops clashed with Spanish defenders outside the city gates, the Spaniards suffered heavy losses. While initially serving only to hand out apples to soldiers, Agostina seized a cannon, fired it herself, and slew a line of French soldiers. Her daring act inspired hundreds of civilians and fleeing soldiers to re‑engage, forcing the French to retreat, though Zaragoza eventually surrendered.

1Flora Sandes
World War I

Flora Sandes holds the unique distinction of being the only woman to serve officially as a soldier in World War I. Born in Yorkshire, England, she grew up riding horses and shooting, later lamenting the “misfortune to be born a woman.” Undeterred, she earned one of the first women’s driver’s licences in 1908. When the war erupted, she trained as a nurse but was rejected by the Red Cross due to her age.

Undaunted, Sandes traveled to Serbia with a group of women, where she performed surgery and managed a military hospital. Her Serbian comrades soon recognized her talents and enlisted her as a private in the Serbian army. She fought on the front lines, quickly rising to captain and commanding the Serbian “Iron Regiment.”

She displayed conspicuous bravery during a surprise attack in Macedonia, earning Serbia’s highest military honour. Though wounded in that battle, the injury lingered throughout her life. Remarkably, at age 65 she volunteered again to fight for Serbia in World II.

In 1974, a handful of impoverished Shaanxi farmers were digging a well when they stumbled across one of the most incredible archaeological finds in history: thousands of unique terra‑cotta warriors standing guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor. The legendary Qin Shi Huang united the warring states of China and built the magnificent tomb—and the stories of his life are just as fascinating as you’d expect.

10. Amazing Stories From the Terra‑Cotta Warriors

10. Building The Tomb

Most people are familiar with the terra‑cotta warriors, each with their own unique features and armed with a variety of weapons. But the true scale of the tomb is almost impossible to comprehend, especially considering its construction began around 246 B.C.

The entire complex hasn’t even been excavated yet, but archaeologists believe it sprawls over 56 square kilometers (21 mi²) and includes around 600 individual sites. In addition to the terra‑cotta soldiers, with their horses and chariots, there are sections of the tomb dedicated to less militaristic figures. There are terra‑cotta government officials, terra‑cotta musicians with their instruments, acrobats captured in mid‑tumble, and even a section mimicking the emperor’s worldly court—complete with terra‑cotta birds.

Work on the complex began when the future Qin Shi Huang rose to a princely throne at the age of 13. Craftsmen from across China were recruited for the massive project and as many as 720,000 laborers were drafted to build it.

While Qin Shi Huang’s own final resting place hasn’t been found yet, it’s rumored to be even more incredible than the rest of the complex. Legend claims it’s surrounded by deadly rivers of mercury. Worryingly, high levels of mercury have actually been found in the soil around the tomb complex. Not content with rivers of death, Qin Shi Huang’s successor ordered that many of the tomb’s craftsmen be sealed inside it, ensuring that the first emperor’s burial place would be shrouded in secrecy.

9. The Dynasty Only Lasted 15 Years

When the Warring States period ended in 221 B.C., the victorious King Zheng of Qin renamed himself Shi Huangdi. Today, he’s usually referred to as Qin Shi Huang, or “First Qin Emperor.” But in spite of his massive achievement in unifying China, his dynasty only lasted 15 years. In other words, construction work on his tomb lasted longer than the Qin dynasty ruled China.

Qin Shi Huang died suddenly in 210 B.C., leaving almost nothing in place to dictate what should come after him. It was only on his deathbed that he declared his oldest son his heir, a decision that didn’t sit well with his closest advisers. Needing to keep the emperor’s death a secret while they maneuvered to get his second son into power, his advisers subsequently hid his body in a wagon of rotting fish, knowing that the smell would mask the scent of his corpse.

Spurred on by a string of natural disasters and the brutal Qin rule, the people revolted. Civil war ensued, and it wasn’t until 202 B.C. that the Han Dynasty would be established and life truly went on. Ironically, during his short reign Qin Shi Huang had dubbed his dynasty “the Empire of a Thousand Generations.”

8. Rumors Of Illegitimacy

According to the official story, the man who would become Qin Shi Huang was the son of King Zhuangxiang and a concubine known as the Lady Zhao. After the death of the king, Lady Zhao took another lover, giving Qin Shi Huang the headache of two half‑siblings. To make sure that neither ever challenged him, he had them both killed. For good measure, he also killed his mother’s lover and had his mother arrested.

Otherwise, not much is known about his early life or family, which may have helped the claims that he was actually illegitimate. Although the story is now considered doubtful, it comes from one of the definitive works of Chinese history, the Records of the Historian by Sima Qian. The author had inherited the position of court historian, choosing castration rather than death after angering a subsequent emperor.

After his castration, Sima Qian went on to complete his work, including the story of Qin Shi Huang’s true birth. Qin Shi Huang’s father, according to the story, was actually a man named Lu Buwei, who would go on to be one of his advisers. A wealthy merchant, one of Lu Buwei’s concubines had caught the eye of the king. Naturally, the merchant gave up the concubine—but she was already pregnant at the time. Lu Buwei knew this, taking solace in the fact that his son would one day inherit the kingdom.

7. Mount Taishan

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Taishan is one of the most culturally important places in China. The majestic mountain has been a sacred site since Neolithic times, and it was in part because of Qin Shi Huang that it continued to be so even after the unification of China.

Even today, the ruins of a massive rock wall can still be seen on the mountain, the last remnant of fortifications built by the State of Qin. After his victory, Qin Shi Huang himself scaled the mountain in order to pay homage for his victory. His pilgrimage began the practice of emperors climbing the mountain after coming to power, firmly establishing it as the cultural center of China. With its 6,600 stone steps, the mountain is host to centuries of historic artifacts, including 1,800 stone tablets and countless inscriptions.

Mount Taishan, and the four surrounding mountains later became known as the Five Sacred Mountains, representing the original unification of China.

6. The Strange Birth Of Legalism

Qin Shi Huang ruled through the principle of legalism. Simply put, legalism dictates that people must earn what they get and pay the price for doing something wrong. Accomplishments lead to promotions and wealth, while making a mistake or breaking the law leads to punishment. Laws need to be clearly stated and public, and the only way to get ahead in life is by following the rules.

One of the most famous legalist reformers was Shang Yang, who first presented his theories to King Xiao of Qin. According to the story, the philosopher appeared before the king three times to impart his wisdom. On the first two occasions, the king fell asleep midway through the discussion. The third time, Shang Yang tried a different tack and talked about the use of military might to enforce the law. That got the king’s attention, and a fourth meeting for Shang Yang, where the details of legalism were hashed out.

In theory, some of the principles Shang Yang advocated don’t sound that bad. The old aristocracy was abolished, replaced with those loyal to the central government. The government itself was centralized, and merit was rewarded. Less popular was the division of the population into small family groups of 5 or 10, with the understanding that if one member did something wrong, the others needed to report it to the government or receive the designated punishment of being cut in half.

Ironically, Shang Yang ultimately found himself the victim of some aristocratic plotting and was sentenced to be torn apart by five chariots.

5. The Original Great Wall

More than 20,000 kilometers (12,430 mi) long, the Great Wall of China is one of the most famous works of human engineering. But the wall we know today wasn’t the first of China’s great walls.

During the Warring States period, the Qin kingdom began building walls to protect their territory. Although massive, the early walls were a far cry from the modern stone structure. Instead, their builders used a method called earth‑ramming. Soil was hauled to the building site, mixed with a binding agent, and then tightly packed. Once the soil dried, it formed the earliest iteration of the Great Wall of China.

In some places, the wall was up to 4.5 meters (15 ft) tall, making it an incredibly formidable obstacle for the time. Much like the later wall, the earth‑rammed structure followed some pretty inhospitable terrain, meaning that any troops marching against the Qin would have to scale mountains and ridges as well as contending with the wall. Later, when Qin Shi Huang had a unified country to protect, he would begin joining the sections of wall, forming the oldest version of the wall we know today.

4. The Dragon Boat Festival

Still held today, the Dragon Boat Festival is an extremely ancient celebration with roots in the Warring States period (although some argue that the true roots of the festival go back even further). According to legend, the festival is held in the memory of a poet and philosopher named Qu Yuan. A high‑ranking member of the court of the Chu State, Qu Yuan spoke out in favor of uniting with rival states in order to oppose the power of Qin. His temerity got him exiled from the court, but he continued to write, becoming one of the most influential poets of the era. It was said that when he heard that Chu had fallen to the Qin, he drowned himself in the Miluo River.

The legend claims that when word spread of the beloved poet’s fate, the people immediately took to the river to search for his body. Hence, a boat race is held every year on the anniversary of his death.

Along with the boat race, the festivities also include a type of dumpling called the zongzi, which also dates back to the poet. At the time, it was believed that only those whose physical bodies were intact would be allowed entrance to the afterlife. It’s said that while some searched for the poet’s body, others threw zongzi into the river in the hope that anything that might seek to devour his corpse would eat the dumplings instead.

3. The Dazexiang Uprising

The rebellion against the Qin Dynasty started almost immediately after the death of Qin Shi Huang and the ascension of his son Hu Hai. While the legalist philosophy certainly had some benefits, like rewarding those who worked hard and putting experienced people in positions of power, it could also be incredibly cruel, with those who failed punished harshly, regardless of the circumstances.

Missing a deadline was considered breaking your word, and under Qin rule that meant being put to death. In 209 B.C. (about a year after Qin Shi Huang’s death), a group of 900 peasant soldiers were on their way from the Huaihe River area to what is now Beijing. Severe rains and floods held them up, and it wasn’t long before they realized that they weren’t going to make their deadline. Knowing that they faced certain execution, the peasants killed their officers and declared their own kingdom.

Two men—Chen Sheng and Wu Gang—took charge, sending their peasant army up against the mighty Qin forces. Naturally, they were soundly defeated and eventually murdered by their own forces. But other rebellions soon broke out, and the short‑lived uprising marked the beginning of the end for the Qin Dynasty.

2. The Burning Of Books And Burying Of Scholars

Aside from his incredible tomb, Qin Shi Huang is perhaps most famous for his burning of religious and historical texts and his order to bury alive 460 Confucian scholars. In 1958, Mao Zedong even referenced the notorious act, stating: “People always condemn Emperor Qin Shi Huang for burning books and burying alive Confucian scholars, and list these as his greatest crimes. I think, however, he killed too few Confucians.”

According to the story, Qin Shi Huang ordered that every work of pre‑Qin Dynasty history be turned over to the authorities for destruction. It’s usually painted as a massive inquisition that resulted in the loss of pretty much all historical and cultural works predating the period. That’s probably something of an exaggeration, but there is some evidence that Qin Shi Huang ordered books to be burned to prevent scholars speaking “of the past in order to criticize the present.”

However, the burying of the scholars doesn’t appear in the historical record until hundreds of years later. Furthermore, it was recorded by Confucians, who had every reason to paint the legalist dynasty in a negative light. For this reason, the event is now viewed skeptically by historians, although it’s impossible to disprove entirely.

1. The Warriors Might Have Been Real People

The thousands of terra‑cotta warriors that have been excavated are all incredibly unique. They have different facial features, distinct details on their armor, and a variety of weapons. For a long time, it was thought that they were simply mass‑produced in pieces, something that’s easy enough to do with terra‑cotta. A handful of craftsmen would have been responsible for eyebrows, while another group would have been responsible for hats, and another group would have assembled all the individual pieces.

That would have been impressive enough on its own, but new research suggests that the statues were actually based on real people. The breakthrough came when University College London researchers realized that, much like our fingerprints, our ears are unique to us. So they looked at the construction of the auricular ridges on each statue.

And they’re all different.

The implications are staggering. As if the massive production line needed to complete the army wasn’t enough, it now appears that every statue was based on a real soldier alive at the time of Qin Shi Huang. So far, the researchers have only compared a relatively small number of ears, but the findings definitely warrant further study. If the ears continue to be unique, we might find we’re looking at the real features of an army that lived, breathed, and fought more than 2,000 years ago.

A continent now thriving with economic powerhouses, Asia is a tapestry woven from centuries of bloodshed and ambition. Nations across this vast land rose from relentless wars of unification, a theme that sets the East apart from the rest of the world.

History has always been enamored with heroes, and Asia has churned out a parade of fearsome combatants whose deeds have been glorified and mythologized through the ages. It’s no surprise that this region birthed individuals dripping with martial prowess and raw badassery during eras of constant conquest.

Why These 10 Certified Badass Warriors Matter

10 Prithviraj Chauhan

Emerging from India’s Chahamana dynasty, Prithviraja III—better known as Prithviraj Chauhan—earned his reputation as a ferocious warlord and monarch. He was crowned king at the startlingly young age of eleven, his ascent justified by a reputation for unrivaled bravery. Adding to his legend, he is reputed to be one of the very few fighters ever to have bested a lion using only his bare hands.

When it came to martial skill, Prithviraj was especially famed for his uncanny ability to strike true without seeing his target. Legend tells that, while blindfolded, he could hit an archery bullseye purely by listening to the sound of the arrow’s flight. Though this tale leans heavily toward folklore, it proved invaluable when he fell captive to his rival, Muhammad of Ghor.

His captors subjected him to a brutal torture—burning his eyes with scorching irons. Yet even blinded, the Indian hero refused to surrender hope. In a display meant to showcase a “honored guest,” Muhammad staged an archery contest, only for Prithviraj to hit the mark dead‑on despite his lack of sight.

According to the story, after hearing Muhammad’s voice, Prithviraj delivered a single, decisive strike that felled his captor. He then escaped the prison with aid from his loyal friend Chand Bardai.

Whether every detail is factual or embellished, none can deny the cascade of conquests and martial triumphs that peppered Prithviraj’s life. He endures as one of India’s most celebrated kings, forever etched in the annals of bravery.

9 Tsutsui no Jomyo Meishu

When most people picture feudal Japan, they envision samurai or ninja as the ultimate combatants. Yet a lesser‑known cadre of warrior monks roamed the land, seeking both enlightenment and, occasionally, a good brawl.

Jomyo Meishu of Tsutsui, a monk‑warrior from the early 1000s, was as unyielding as an overcooked steak—undeniably one of the greatest monastic fighters ever recorded.

Clad in stark black armor, a quiver bristling with arrows, swords at his hips, and a naginata in hand, Jomyo Meishu took a stand on the banks of the Uji River. Behind him loomed the monastery that raised him; ahead, a tide of blood‑thirsty Taira samurai separated only by two slender wooden planks spanned the water.

Surrounded by fellow warrior monks, the bald champion shouted, “I am the worker monk Jomyo Meishu from Tsutsui, a warrior worth a thousand men. If anyone here considers themselves my equal, let them come forward. I shall meet them!” He then let loose an arrow that pierced an enemy’s throat in a single, clean shot.

Undeterred, the samurai retaliated, yet Jomyo Meishu remained composed. With flawless precision, he emptied his quiver, felling twelve samurai instantly and disabling another eleven—none of his arrows missed.

Still hungry for more, he sprinted across the wooden beam like a medieval gymnast, his naginata whirling with reckless abandon. In a heartbeat he cleaved five men, then lodged his spear into a sixth’s belly, before his side‑sword flashed to finish eight more. His sword eventually shattered under a skull‑crushing blow.

When it seemed the battle could end, he drew his final knife and fought on, eventually reduced to bare hands. After being pulled from the fray, he inspected his armor, noting sixty‑three dents, chuckled, brushed himself off, and walked away while praising the Buddha.

8 Miyamoto Musashi

Another Japanese legend, Miyamoto Musashi, wielded his blade with a flair that redefined swordplay in his homeland. A wandering swordsman from a tender age, he roamed the country dueling opponents armed only with a wooden sword fashioned from a humble tree branch.

His most iconic moment unfolded after a series of duels against the Yoshioka School. Having slain the school’s master and his brother in separate contests, the Yoshioka plotted to eliminate Musashi by arranging a third duel under the cloak of night.

Sensing the odd timing, Musashi arrived hours early, concealing himself in the surrounding fields, awaiting his adversary’s arrival.

When the opponent finally appeared, he came not alone but escorted by an entire army—retainers, swordsmen, riflemen, and archers—ready to ambush the lone swordsman. At the perfect instant, Musashi sprang forth, delivering a lethal stroke that felled his foe, then found himself surrounded on all sides.

Outnumbered but undaunted, he drew both swords, carving a bloody path through the enemy ranks before slipping away into the night. From this experience, he later forged his famed Nito Ryu (dual‑wielding) kenjutsu style, forever reshaping Japanese swordsmanship.

7 Hattori Hanzo

Arguably the most legendary ninja ever to grace the Earth, Hattori Hanzo stands as the archetype for all night‑crawling assassins. His abilities were so extraordinary that contemporaries whispered of supernatural powers.

By the age of twelve, Hanzo had already earned the title of full‑fledged ninja; by sixteen, he was dubbed “Hanzo the Demon,” striking terror into the hearts of his foes.

His feats seemed almost otherworldly, leading many to speculate that he possessed precognition, psychokinesis, or even teleportation. One notable skirmish saw him lead a mere thirty men against the forces of Takeda Shingen, successfully launching a counter‑attack that halted the enemy’s advance.

Beyond battlefield glory, Hanzo’s most memorable achievement was escorting Tokugawa Ieyasu back to Mikawa with the aid of Iga ninja. Tokugawa would later become Japan’s first shogun. Hanzo died at fifty‑five (some sources claim fifty‑four), and his legacy lives on in Tokyo, where “Hanzo’s Gate” proudly guards the Imperial Palace.

6 Yi Sun‑shin

Yi Sun‑shin stands as Korea’s emblem of bravery and martial might. His towering statue in Gwanghwamun Square still watches over tourists and locals alike, a testament to his enduring legacy.

A decorated admiral, Yi’s life reads like an epic film script. After a brief clash with the king over refusing a dubious order, he faced the defining battle of his career, cementing his place in the hearts of Koreans.

During the Battle of Myeongnyang, the daring admiral commanded a paltry fleet of thirteen ships against an invading Japanese armada of three hundred. Defying the king’s command to retreat, Yi declared, “I still have twelve ships under my command. As long as I still draw breath, the enemy will never be safe inside this western sea.”

That bold proclamation set the stage for an astonishing victory. Against overwhelming odds, Yi’s fleet outmaneuvered and decimated the Japanese force, delivering one of the most stunning naval triumphs in military history.

His feat remains a shining example of strategic brilliance, courage, and the indomitable spirit that defines true warriors.

5 Xiahou Dun

Known as the “One‑Eyed Dragon,” Xiahou Dun was a fearsome general whose reputation alone could make opponents think twice before engaging.

During a campaign under the infamous warlord Lu Bu, Xiahou Dun suffered an arrow wound to his left eye. While most would have crumpled, he went a step further than even Prithviraj by extracting the injured eyeball, still pierced by the arrow, and swallowing it on the battlefield.

His gruesome act earned him the lofty title of “Great General,” bolstering his fearsome image. The sheer horror of seeing a warrior consume his own eye left an indelible mark on anyone who witnessed it.

4 Wu Mei (Ng Mui)

The first of two women on this roster, Wu Mei was a martial‑arts prodigy. Said to be one of the legendary Five Elders of Shaolin, she survived the temple’s destruction during the Qing dynasty.

Born to a Ming‑era general, she enjoyed privileged access to elite education and top‑tier martial training—an uncommon circumstance for women of her time.

She mastered Shaolin, Wudang, and Yuejiaquan styles, eventually synthesizing her own creations. Wu Mei is credited with perfecting and originating disciplines such as Wing Chun, Ng Mui style, Dragon style, White Crane, and the Five‑Pattern style, shattering the stereotype that only men could dominate the martial world.

3 Lu Bu

Lu Bu was a massive, supremely skilled fighter whose reputation made him both admired and feared from a safe distance.

His most striking trait, however, was his treacherous nature. Known as “Lu the Defector,” he switched allegiances at least five times, betraying masters on a whim. He even courted the maid of one of his own mentors and coveted the wives of his subordinates.

Ultimately, his relentless back‑stabbing caught up with him. Though his might granted him a prosperous life, Lu Bu met his end when Cao Cao ordered his execution by hanging.

2 Dian Wei

Dian Wei was a towering figure, exactly the kind of war‑hero one expects from legend. Rumored to possess superhuman strength, he wielded twin halberds, each weighing roughly twenty kilograms (45 lb).

Legend claims he could grip ten to twelve spears simultaneously. One vivid account describes him charging head‑first into enemy lines, donning double layers of armor, then stopping ten paces away to thrust a spear at a foe with each weapon.

Serving loyally under Cao Cao, Dian Wei acted as the warlord’s personal bodyguard, brandishing a massive axe with a thirteen‑inch (33 cm) blade. His mere presence terrified opponents, who often dared not even look at him.

His unwavering loyalty ultimately cost him his life. While defending Cao Cao’s retreat after a controversial attempt to claim a governor’s widowed aunt, Dian Wei fought fiercely, even wielding two enemy corpses as makeshift weapons when he ran out of arms. Surrounded and riddled with at least ten wounds, he fell after a brutal encirclement.

1 Khutulun

Rounding out the list, Khutulun was a warrior princess who left male combatants in the dust. A cousin of the infamous Kublai Khan, she was a Mongol princess who defied the expectations of her era.

Marco Polo described her as a superb fighter, and she rode into countless battles alongside her father. While Mongol women commonly wrestled and shot bows, Khutulun’s prowess eclipsed that of any man.

She famously declared she would wed any suitor who could best her in a wrestling match, with each loser owing her a hundred horses. Her skill amassed a herd of ten thousand horses, a testament to her dominance.

In the end, she chose a husband of her own selection—someone she never faced in the ring—highlighting her autonomy in a culture steeped in arranged marriages.

Andrew, a first‑year student in Hong Kong recovering from ME, loves diving into research and is thrilled to have a platform to share his discoveries.

When you think of medieval Europe, the image of shining knights comes to mind, but there are 10 reasons why these famed warriors were actually terrible on the battlefield. The knights of medieval Europe are among the most recognized warriors of human history. They played a key role in the society and warfare of the Middle Ages, and their ideals of chivalry survive to this very day. What many don’t realize, however, is that knights weren’t actually all that great as a fighting force. Below are 10 reasons why knights made absolutely terrible warriors.

10 They Were A Logistical Nightmare

If there was one factor that greatly limited the destructive nature of war in the Middle Ages, it was logistics—the supplying, housing, and movement of armies. Without centralized control, it was difficult for feudal rulers to marshal enough resources and authority to carry out large‑scale military campaigns.

Logistically speaking, knights were a huge burden. For starters, a knight never went to war alone. At the very least, he brought a squire, who would carry his armor and tend to his horse but wouldn’t participate in combat. To make matters worse, knights took at least two horses with them—a riding horse and a warhorse, which was used exclusively for battle. As a result, medieval armies had to feed not only the knight himself, but also his horses and retinue.

The horses’ need to graze further restricted the speed of an army’s movement and made warfare a difficult proposition in winter or in arid climates. A great example of these logistical burdens comes from the Crusades, where one of the leading causes of death for knights was actually lack of fodder and water for their horses, rather than combat.

9 Limited Service

While the specifics varied from country to country and over time, the feudal obligation of knights only required them to provide military service for about 40 days per year. This was a major limiting factor for both how long, and to what geographical extent, war could be conducted. Worse yet, knights could refuse service altogether and instead pay a fee called scutage. In 13th‑century England, for example, it is estimated that 80 percent of the country’s 5,000 knights chose to pay scutage instead of going to war.

These limitations were a major reason for the rapid development of infantry tactics in the 14th century as well as the increased use of mercenaries, particularly in England. By the Hundred Years’ War, the English army was composed almost entirely of paid men.

In particular, the practice of hiring men‑at‑arms—mercenaries who had all of the equipment of a knight but were not necessarily nobles—became increasingly widespread. These men could serve as long as they were paid and were also more experienced and disciplined than knights. By the time of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, knights constituted only about 8 percent of English heavy cavalry.

8 They Were Expensive

Because of their elaborate armor, weapons, and powerful horses, knights were incredibly expensive. The equipment of an English knight, by one figure, was worth about 32 Anglo‑Saxon pounds by the mid‑13th century, about 10 years’ worth of wages for an archer. By contrast, an archer could be fully equipped for about 4 percent of that cost.

The knight’s most prized possession was the warhorse, which could cost as much as £300. (An average craftsman at the time would only make a few pounds a year.) Furthermore, if a medieval ruler wanted to maintain a group of knights for longer than their feudal obligation, he usually had to pay them money. Knights didn’t come cheap; they cost roughly twice as much as a man‑at‑arms of commoner background.

The bottom line is that for the cost of a single knight, it was much more pragmatic to equip a dozen infantrymen or archers or to hire other men‑at‑arms for half the cost. Based on the rapidly falling numbers of knights in English armies from the 14th century forward, this lesson was not lost on medieval rulers.

7 Adherence To Chivalric Ideals

In war you kill or get killed, so it’s crucial to use whatever you can to your advantage. Knights, however, held an idealized view of the battlefield. While some of these ideals, like courage, were useful in combat, others were detrimental. For example, there was the expectation that knights should battle other knights on fair terms, and if they were defeated and withdrew, they should not be pursued. There was also a widespread practice of taking defeated knights as hostages and ransoming them back, rather than killing them outright.

One famous example of knightly ideals backfiring on the battlefield was the Battle of Kutná Hora in 1421, where forces of the Holy Roman Empire led by King Sigismund fought a group of Bohemian rebels known as the Hussites. The rebels were surrounded but managed to break through and make a last‑minute escape. Sigismund chose to courteously allow Jan Žižka, the Hussite leader, to withdraw without being pursued, presuming him to be utterly defeated. This, however, was a grave mistake. After spending the next month gathering reinforcements, Žižka returned and caught Sigismund completely unaware, ultimately driving his armies out of Bohemia.

Meanwhile, England’s King Henry famously broke the rule of taking knights hostage at the Battle of Agincourt. Fearing that the French were mounting a counterattack, he ordered the execution of roughly 2,000 surrendered French knights to prevent them from taking up arms. The English knights disobeyed the order, but from a practical standpoint, Henry made the right move.

6 Poor Leadership

If there is one area in which we can excuse the knights themselves, it’s leadership. By and large, the men who commanded feudal armies were little more than glory‑seeking nobility with no actual military training. Some armies did luck out with having effective generals such as King Edward III of England, but they were the exception, not the rule. The French in particular were notorious for using their knights without any regard for terrain, strategy, and previous defeats.

Another problem was command structure. Since feudal kings had to rely on powerful nobles, who in turn brought their own hosts of knights, it was not always possible to exercise direct control over the whole army. Individual nobles could very well act on their own, and disagreements were common. The quarrels between the earls Gilbert de Clare and Humphrey de Bohun, for instance, played a major role in the English defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Meanwhile, one of the most ridiculous examples of poor leadership occurred at the Battle of Crécy, where John, the blind king of Bohemia, insisted on being led into battle by his knights so that he could strike an enemy. This went about as well as you’d expect; John and all of the knights were killed.

5 Lack Of Standardized Training

For hundreds of years, knights were the closest thing to professional soldiers in medieval Europe. They had years of training on how to ride horses, fight in armor, and use a variety of weapons, and medieval tournaments gave them a chance to keep their skills sharp in peacetime.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that outside of training in their youth as pages and squires, there was no formal, standard system for training knights. Once an individual attained the rank of knight, it was fully up to him how to continue to hone his skills. As a result, when knights came together under one army, they had different capabilities and styles of fighting.

This put knights at an obvious disadvantage when faced with professional forces that followed a systematic training regimen. Soldiers such as the Swiss pikemen underwent a sophisticated system of battle drills, where they learned how to use their weapons, march together, and function as a unit. Such practices were important not only for developing military skills, but also because they gave everyone the same training, ensuring that soldiers were able to keep up with their peers and work together.

4 Poor Teamwork

Discipline and organization are some of the most important aspects of warfare. This is a major reason why the Romans were so good at war. Knights, however, had a tendency to fight as individuals. The nature of feudal warfare was such that armies were assembled as they were needed. This meant that groups of knights from different parts of a country never had the chance to train together and learn how to function as a single unit.

There were some exceptions to this rule; knights who fought together in several campaigns were certainly more capable of working together. Orders such as the Knights Templar in particular developed an effective system which ensured that they operated as a disciplined and united force on the battlefield.

However, by and large, knights were individual fighters in search of personal fame and honor. The best that you could hope for is that they charged together once or several times. This also explains why cavalry charges were not always performed in an organized manner, with some knights riding ahead of the group.

3 Reliance On Favorable Terrain

Given that knights rode horses, they required solid, flat, and open ground to be effective. If forced into a clash in mountainous or muddy terrain, they lost their mobility and shock value. The Scots, for example, famously defeated the English in the Battle of Bannockburn by utilizing the boggy terrain and by digging pits to break up any potential cavalry charge.

Another prominent example of using terrain against knights was Courtrai, also known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs, where, in 1302, a group of Flemish militia delivered a crushing defeat to French cavalry. The Flemish carefully chose a position with marshy ground that was surrounded by streams and moats. The resulting cavalry charge was slow and uneven, and some knights never made it to the enemy. Unable to break the Flemish lines, the noble men‑at‑arms were equally unable to retreat in the muddy ground. The French ended up losing over 1,000 knights, and the battle received its name from the golden spurs collected off their corpses.

The English were equally innovative in the Hundred Years’ War with France. In the Battle of Agincourt, they chose a position with soft ground and also built a line of stakes in front of their archers. The French cavalry charge was easily repulsed, and the English emerged victorious despite being outnumbered four to one.

2 Archers Ruined Their Day

This may come as a surprise, but knights were actually quite vulnerable to archers. Mail armor could be pierced by bows from distances of 180 meters (600 ft), meaning that knights could get killed long before they got close. Better yet, experienced bowmen could fire a rate of 12 arrows per minute.

While the introduction of full plate armor in the 15th century was a big help, it didn’t make knights invulnerable to missile attacks. Crossbows were still capable of piercing plate, and even if bowmen were unable to kill a knight outright, they could target his horse instead. The arrows that didn’t hit still had a profound psychological impact on both the horse and its rider.

Archers were so deadly that knights developed a huge disdain for them, calling both the bow and the crossbow dishonorable, cowardly weapons. As noble‑born warriors who saw themselves as superior in every way to common rabble, they were naturally disturbed by the possibility of an anonymous, low‑born miscreant ending their life from a safe distance. The nobility even tried to get crossbows banned in the 11th and 12th centuries, because unlike bows, they required literally no expertise outside of aiming and pulling the trigger.

Numerous groups successfully deployed archers against knights in the Middle Ages, but none were more famous than the English during their Hundred Years’ War with France. Using the power of the Welsh longbow, numerically inferior English forces decisively defeated the heavily knight‑reliant French armies in the Battles of Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt.

1 They Were Easily Defeated By Professional Infantry

While well‑trained archers were already a deadly force to contend with, professional infantry was the Achilles heel of the knight. Disciplined infantry soldiers deployed in phalanx formation and armed with pole‑arm weapons such as pikes rendered heavy cavalry all but useless. Horses naturally refused to impale themselves by charging into a thicket of spears, and even if they did, all the infantrymen had to do was hold their ground.

So why did knights trump infantry for hundreds of years? The answer is simple: They rarely fought professionals. For most of the medieval period, knights faced peasants and freemen who made up the bulk of feudal armies. Neither of these groups had the proper training or equipment to stand up to a cavalry charge and would typically break ranks in fear of a charging mass of horse and man.

When knights did face professional infantry, it was a totally different story, and no group was better at demonstrating this than the Swiss. While largely overlooked by history in favor of their world‑famous watches and cheese, the Swiss actually played a decisive role in exposing the weaknesses of knights and revolutionizing medieval warfare.

Encroached upon by feudal kingdoms on all sides, the Swiss city‑states developed a professional militia force armed with halberds and pikes. These infantrymen were drilled constantly and were able to execute very complex maneuvers. Beginning in the 14th century, the Swiss delivered crushing defeats to the knight‑centric forces of Burgundy and Austria, most famously in the Battles of Morgarten (1315), Laupen (1339), Sempach (1386), and Nancy (1477). The Swiss were so successful that the rest of Europe began to copy their tactics, making knights all but obsolete.

Gleb Oleinik is a freelance writer and web developer. He likes to recite meaningless historical facts and ponder the big questions of life. You can contact him by email.

Welcome to a deep dive into the 10 insane ways Spartan boys were forged into some of the fiercest warriors the ancient world ever saw. From the moment they entered the world, these youngsters faced a gauntlet of cruelty, discipline, and blood‑soaked tradition that would make even modern boot‑camps look like a playground.

10 Insane Ways Spartan Youth Were Forged Into Warriors

10 Half Of All Spartan Babies Were Left To Die

In Sparta, a newborn’s fate hinged on a ruthless health check. Any child who appeared weak, ill, or malformed was deemed unworthy of the state’s investment and was abandoned to perish.

The father would carry the infant to the council of elders, who inspected the child for any sign of frailty. If a flaw was spotted, the father was instructed to leave the baby alone in a pit called the Apothetae, where it would inevitably starve.

Even those who survived the elders’ scrutiny faced a second test: mothers washed the infant in wine to provoke an epileptic seizure. Should the child convulse, the mother interpreted it as a divine sign that the infant was not fit for Spartan life.

Only the strongest few earned a promise of land ownership, but the odds were grim—roughly half of all Spartan infants died from neglect or outright murder.

9 Boys Lived In Military Barracks From Age Seven

At the tender age of seven, boys were whisked away from their mothers and thrust into the agoge, a state‑run military school overseen by a strict warden.

The agoge was a pressure cooker of constant rivalry. Children were encouraged—indeed, ordered—to provoke each other, spar, and settle disputes with fists rather than words, fostering a brutal camaraderie.

The warden carried a whip at all times. Any misstep earned a harsh flogging, and if the boy’s father learned of the punishment, he was compelled to administer a second beating, ensuring that no one was ever “coddled.”

8 They Had To Steal Food To Eat

During their grueling training, boys subsisted on the bare minimum: no shoes, a thin cloak, and a meager ration that barely kept hunger at bay.

To supplement this pitiful fare, trainees were urged to stealthily pilfer food. The catch? Getting caught meant a brutal beating and a loss of rations, while a successful raid earned the warden’s approval and an extra serving.

7 Starved Trainees Were Ordered To Fight Over Cheese

Spartan festivals featured a grotesque spectacle: a platter of cheese placed on an altar to Artemis, while starving trainees were released to scramble for it.

Older men beat the boys with whips—sometimes to the point of death—while the youths fought ferociously for every morsel, forced to grin through pain and blood.

The crowd roared with amusement, awarding the victor the title of “Bomonike” for securing the most cheese, turning cruelty into public entertainment.

6 Spartan Food Was Terrible

When Spartans dined, the fare was anything but gourmet. A foreign visitor famously quipped, “Now I understand why Spartans do not fear death,” after tasting the infamous black broth.

This dish combined meat, blood, salt, and vinegar into a thick, iron‑rich soup that was the sole source of meat for the entire army, shared communally under a single tent.

Hunting provided a rare chance for a larger portion: a successful hunter could keep a small cut of venison for a second course at home, the only time a Spartan ate privately.

5 If Trainees Failed Oral Quizzes, They Were Bitten

Even academic exercises were brutal. After dinner, an under‑master would pose essay‑style prompts—such as “Who is the greatest man in the city?”—requiring clever, well‑structured answers.

A weak reply earned a painful bite on the thumb, while the under‑master himself faced scrutiny; if his superiors deemed his discipline too harsh or too lenient, he too received a beating.

4 All Other Forms Of Education Were Banned

Spartan youth were stripped of any civilian education. Their curriculum centered exclusively on warfare, physical endurance, and, at a minimum, basic literacy for battlefield commands.

Subjects like arithmetic, philosophy, or the arts were forbidden, deemed luxuries that could soften a soldier’s resolve. Even extracurricular study was punishable, as the state feared it would dilute the singular focus on combat.

3 Boys Were Publically Whipped For An Annual Festival

The Diamastigosis was an annual event where boys were paraded before a cheering crowd and whipped until they could no longer stand.

Far from being a humiliation, the spectacle was an honor; participants proudly volunteered, seeking to outlast their peers and prove their mettle to the entire city.

Romans, fascinated by the brutality, traveled to Sparta to watch the event, and by the third century AD, the Spartans even built a theater and sold tickets, turning the ritual into a macabre tourist attraction.

2 They Murdered Slaves For Sport

The Helots—Sparta’s subjugated population—were subjected to the Crypteia, a secret rite where young Spartans were armed with daggers and scant rations.

Under cover of night, the boys tracked down Helot laborers, ambushed them, and killed them. This gruesome exercise served both as a terrifying reminder to the Helots and a gruesome training ground for the future warriors.

1 Spartans Only Got Tombstones If They Died In Combat

A Spartan who reached old age without dying in battle received no memorial—only an unmarked grave, a silent rebuke for a life not ended on the battlefield.

Only those who fell in combat were granted a tombstone engraved with their name and the words “in war.” Even women could earn this honor, but only if they died in childbirth, symbolically fighting a battle that produced the next generation of soldiers.

Further Reading

Let’s face it—you can never read too much about the ancient world. Below are a few more lists from our archives to satisfy your cravings:

10 Amazing Facts About Ancient Sparta
10 Common Misconceptions About the Ancient Greeks
Top 10 Greatest Historical Warriors
Top 10 Badass Female Warriors

Ancient warfare was largely a male‑dominated arena, but the annals of history also hide a handful of fierce women who turned the tide of battles and left their male rivals choking on their own hubris. These 10 forgotten female champions proved that courage, strategy, and sheer will could outshine any sword‑handed legionary. In this roundup we bring their stories back to the front lines.

10 Forgotten Female Warriors: A Quick Overview

10 Cynane

Cynane, born to Philip of Macedon and his Illyrian consort, grew up with a sword in one hand and a bow in the other. Her mother, hailing from a culture that celebrated women warriors, taught her to ride, fight, and shoot, and legend claims that as a teenager she accompanied a Macedonian raid into Illyria and slew the local queen in single combat.

Whether that duel ever happened or not, Cynane’s reputation as a political player was undeniable. Alexander the Great tried to sideline her by arranging a marriage to a distant chieftain, only for the prospective groom to die under mysterious circumstances before the wedding could take place—rumors of poison spread like wildfire, ensuring no one would attempt to force her into an unwanted union.

When Alexander fell in 323 BC, his half‑brother Philip III, who was mentally incapacitated, ascended the throne, sparking a scramble for real power. Cynane raised her own army and marched on Babylon, intent on marrying her daughter to the new king. This alarmed regent Perdiccas, who dispatched Antipater to stop her. Cynane, however, defeated Antipater at Strymon and pressed onward toward the capital.

Desperate, Perdiccas sent Cynane’s old friend Alcetus to assassinate her at a council meeting. The plot backfired spectacularly—Greek soldiers, horrified by the murder of Alexander’s sister, demanded that Cynane’s daughter still be wed to Philip. Even in death, Cynane secured the political marriage she had envisioned.

9 Mavia

During Emperor Valens’ reign, a coalition of semi‑nomadic Arab tribes surged across the frontier into Roman‑controlled Palestine, led by a formidable woman named Mavia. The Romans initially dismissed the threat as a joke, even chastising the regional commander for needing reinforcements to fight a woman.

Mavia quickly turned the tables, crushing the Roman forces in a decisive battle. According to the chronicler Sozomen, the dismissed commander later redeemed himself by charging into the fray and rescuing the general who had removed him from command.

The Romans, now realizing they were dealing with a serious opponent, sent envoys to negotiate. Mavia’s chief demand was the appointment of a monk named Moses as the new Arab bishop, indicating that her campaign was driven by religious motives as much as by power.

8 Lu’s Mother

Lu’s mother remains nameless to history, yet her influence on ancient China was anything but anonymous. Around AD 14, a minor official named Lu was executed by a local magistrate for a petty crime, leaving his grieving mother determined to exact vengeance.

Coming from a wealthy wine‑trading family, she leveraged her resources to win the loyalty of local peasants, offering gifts and credit to secure their support. By her sixties, she had cultivated a devoted network of several hundred youths, further bolstering her ranks with outlaws who had taken refuge on a nearby island.

When her forces were strong enough, she launched an outright rebellion, seizing control of the entire district. The magistrate who ordered her son’s execution begged for clemency, but she replied that since her son had died for a trivial offense, the magistrate deserved the death penalty as retribution.

After her own death, her followers merged with the Red Eyebrows—a rebel faction famed for painting their faces—who played a pivotal role in overthrowing Emperor Wang Mang.

7 Rhodogune

Rhodogune, a Parthian princess of the second century BC, was reputedly taking a leisurely bath when news arrived of a local tribe’s revolt. She leapt from the water and vowed not to bathe or wash her hair until the insurgents were defeated.

The ensuing war proved tedious, but Rhodogune ultimately led her forces to victory. True to her word, she returned to her bath and washed her hair, yet statues and seals thereafter depicted her with unkempt locks, commemorating the gritty perseverance that secured her triumph.

6 The Trung Sisters

The Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, are venerated as Vietnamese heroines who spearheaded resistance against the invading Han dynasty of China. The movement began when Trung Trac’s husband, Thi Sach, a nobleman, plotted a revolt but was assassinated by the Han; Trac then assumed leadership.

Together the sisters amassed an army that drove the Chinese forces into retreat. In AD 39 they declared themselves joint queens of an independent Vietnamese state. The Han Empire soon responded with a massive counter‑offensive, overwhelming their forces. Refusing capture, the sisters chose to drown themselves in a river around AD 43.

5 Lady Trieu

When queried about her refusal to wed, Lady Trieu famously proclaimed, “I wish to ride a strong wind and tame fierce waves, kill sharks in the Eastern sea, force back the Chinese armies, and cast off the chains of slavery. How could I ever become a man’s servant?”

Like the Trung sisters, Trieu led a Vietnamese rebel army against Chinese domination, though her uprising was smaller and more localized. Over time, mythologized accounts embellished her with extraordinary traits, such as yard‑long breasts that she tossed over her shoulders to avoid hindrance in battle.

Historical fragments suggest she was eventually defeated and took her own life around AD 248, joining the pantheon of courageous women whose stories faded from mainstream histories.

4 Amanirenas

Amanirenas, the warrior queen of Nubia, found herself thrust into power after her husband, King Teriteqas, foolishly attacked Roman Egypt and then died of disease. Left as regent for their young son, she faced Rome’s retaliatory siege of Napata.

Roman accounts describe her as a towering woman, blind in one eye, and as tough as the desert stone. She escaped the siege, rallied an army, and marched on the fortress of Premnis. Rather than a full‑scale battle, both sides opted for diplomacy; Amanirenas sent ambassadors to Emperor Augustus, who consented to her terms and forged a lasting peace treaty.

3 Princess Pingyang

Princess Pingyang, daughter of Li Yuan—the founder of the Tang dynasty—was initially sent to a family estate for safety when her father launched his rebellion. Instead of staying hidden, she organized a peasant militia that later became known as the “Woman’s Army,” though later legends mistakenly claimed it was an all‑female force.

With her army, Pingyang seized Huxian County, routed a Sui dynasty detachment, and then marched north with roughly 10,000 men, crushing Sui forces in Shaanxi. In AD 617 she joined her father in capturing the Sui capital, becoming the first woman to earn the title of Marshal before her untimely death at age 23.

2 Hydna

Hydna of Scione, daughter of a professional Greek diver, grew up mastering the sea. After the Persians defeated the Spartans at Thermopylae and sailed toward Athens, a violent storm battered their fleet. Hydna and her father volunteered to sabotage the enemy by cutting their anchors.

They swam roughly 16 km across the tempest‑tossed bay, then dived to saw through the massive Persian cables, all while evading detection. Their daring act wrecked the Persian fleet. In gratitude, the Greeks erected a statue honoring the heroic duo, which was later looted by Emperor Nero.

1 Fu Hao

Fu Hao may be the earliest and most accomplished female general in recorded history. Married to Wu Ding, ruler of the Shang dynasty (c. 1250‑1190 BC), she appears on numerous oracle‑bone inscriptions that pose questions about her military campaigns, confirming her role as a commander.

Her tomb, unearthed by archaeologists, yielded an impressive cache of weapons and martial artifacts, underscoring her status as the king’s chief general. Fu Hao’s most celebrated victory came against the Tu‑Fang, a perennial Shang adversary, whom she defeated so decisively that they never threatened the kingdom again.

She also led three other confirmed campaigns, each ending in triumph. Notably, she orchestrated a cunning ambush that annihilated the Bafang army, demonstrating her strategic brilliance.

After a grueling series of battles, Fu Hao succumbed to exhaustion and was interred with great honor, cementing her legacy as a formidable warleader whose name endured through millennia.

When you think of Japan, the image of the stoic, sword‑wielding samurai instantly springs to mind. These elite warriors, bound by an ironclad code of honor, shaped the nation’s destiny through ferocious battles, shrewd politics, and timeless philosophy. Below you’ll meet the 10 most famous samurai who defined Japan forever, each a legend in his own right.

Why These 10 Most Famous Samurai Matter

Each of these warriors left an indelible mark on Japanese history, whether by unifying provinces, inventing battlefield tactics, or penning treatises that still inspire martial artists today. Their stories blend raw bravery with strategic brilliance, giving us a vivid portrait of an era when honor was everything.

10 Shimazu Yoshihisa

Emerging from the rugged lands of Satsuma Province during the tumultuous Sengoku period, Shimazu Yoshihisa quickly earned a reputation as a master strategist and charismatic leader. In a bold move that shocked his rivals, he entered into a brief, politically motivated marriage with his own aunt—a union that underscored the complex alliances of the time. Determined to bring Kyushu under his banner, Yoshihisa launched a relentless campaign of conquest, winning battle after battle and expanding his clan’s influence dramatically. Though his forces eventually met the unstoppable tide of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s unification drive, resulting in a decisive defeat, the Shimazu legacy endured. After surrendering, Yoshihisa is believed to have turned his back on the battlefield, donning the robes of a Buddhist monk and living out his days in tranquil contemplation, passing away peacefully far from the clang of swords.

9 Date Masamune

Often called the “One‑Eyed Dragon,” Date Masamune’s legend is steeped in ferocity and relentless ambition. Stricken by smallpox in his youth, he lost sight in his right eye, a setback that only fueled his drive to prove himself on the battlefield. Early defeats only hardened his resolve, and he methodically built a reputation as a ruthless, efficient commander. In a dramatic episode that highlighted his brutal resolve, Masamune’s father was abducted by rival forces; Masamune retaliated with a savage counter‑attack that culminated in the grim killing of his own father—a grim testament to the era’s harsh codes of vengeance and loyalty. Later, his martial prowess caught the attention of both Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and he served them loyally as the head of the Date clan, cementing his place among Japan’s most feared and respected warriors.

8 Uesugi Kenshin

Known throughout the lands as the Dragon of Echigo, Uesugi Kenshin combined battlefield brilliance with a reputation for piety and fairness. As the leader of the Nagao clan, his strategic genius shone brightest in his legendary rivalry with Takeda Shingen; the two clashed repeatedly, each encounter a masterclass in samurai warfare. Their duels, especially the famed battles of Kawanakajima, featured moments where the two commanders faced each other directly, exchanging blows that would become the stuff of legend. Beyond his martial exploits, Kenshin proved a capable administrator, governing his territories with a keen eye for justice. The circumstances of his death remain shrouded in mystery—some say illness, others whisper of assassination—adding an enigmatic final chapter to an already storied life.

7 Tokugawa Ieyasu

While many remember Tokugawa Ieyasu for his battlefield victories, his true genius lay in political acumen. Initially aligning himself with Oda Nobunaga and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ieyasu patiently bided his time, studying the shifting allegiances of the era. Following Hideyoshi’s death, he seized the moment, rallying opposition to the Toyotomi regime and delivering a crushing blow at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. This triumph paved the way for his appointment as the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, inaugurating a period of unprecedented peace and stability known as the Edo period, which endured for over two and a half centuries until 1868. His legacy is not merely martial; it is the foundation of modern Japan’s political and cultural landscape.

See Also: 10 Truly Bizarre Services from Japan.

6 Hattori Hanzo

Hattori Hanzo stands out as a rare fusion of samurai discipline and ninja stealth. As the head of the Iga clan, he mastered the art of covert warfare while maintaining the honor-bound duties of a traditional samurai. His loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu was legendary; on multiple occasions, Hanzo’s daring interventions saved his master from certain death, showcasing both his strategic brilliance and his unflinching devotion. Though primarily famed for his expertise with the spear, his later years saw a profound transformation—he embraced Buddhism, retiring from the battlefield to seek inner peace. Today, Hanzo’s name reverberates through popular culture, inspiring countless fictional heroes and cementing his status as one of Japan’s most iconic warriors.

5 Takeda Shingen

Dubbed the Tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen blended ferocious combat skill with poetic sensitivity, a combination that made him both feared and admired. He commanded countless battles across central Japan, most famously clashing with his arch‑rival Uesugi Kenshin during the four bloody engagements at Kawanakajima. In the fourth encounter, Shingen and Kenshin even faced each other in a direct duel, a testament to their mutual respect and rivalry. Unlike many contemporaries, Shingen managed to secure notable victories against the formidable Oda Nobunaga, briefly halting the latter’s expansion. His untimely death in 1573 remains a mystery—some attribute it to illness, others to foul play—yet his legacy endured, influencing the strategies of later warlords and cementing his place among Japan’s greatest generals.

4 Honda Tadakatsu

Celebrated as “The Warrior Who Surpassed Death,” Honda Tadakatsu earned his fearsome reputation through sheer battlefield invincibility. As one of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Four Heavenly Kings, he participated in over a hundred engagements without ever tasting defeat—a record that earned him legendary status. His signature weapon, the Dragonfly Cutter spear, was as lethal as it was iconic, striking terror into the hearts of his foes. Tadakatsu’s most decisive contribution came during the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara, where his relentless assaults helped secure Tokugawa’s ultimate victory and ushered in a new era of Japanese stability. His unbroken record of triumphs remains a benchmark for samurai excellence.

3 Miyamoto Musashi

Perhaps the most celebrated swordsman in Japanese history, Miyamoto Musashi epitomized the lone wanderer who mastered the way of the sword. He entered his first duel at the tender age of thirteen, and over his lifetime he amassed a staggering record of victories, most famously defeating the renowned Sasaki Kojiro in a 1612 showdown that cemented his reputation. Though he initially fought on the losing side of the Toyotomi‑Tokugawa conflict, Musashi’s relentless pursuit of perfection led him across the country, challenging and besting countless opponents. In his later years, he turned his keen mind to philosophy, authoring “The Book of Five Rings,” a timeless treatise on strategy, tactics, and the deeper principles of combat that continues to influence martial artists and business leaders alike.

See Also: 10 Interesting Creatures from Japanese Folklore.

2 Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Rising from humble peasant roots, Toyotomi Hideyoshi exemplified the ultimate self‑made ruler. After serving the great Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi leveraged his keen administrative skill and battlefield savvy to ascend the ranks, eventually controlling a vast swath of Japan from 1585 until his death in 1598. Though never assuming the title of shogun, he wielded power comparable to one, commissioning the massive Osaka Castle and launching ambitious, though ultimately unsuccessful, campaigns against Korea and China. His death precipitated the rapid collapse of his clan, yet his reforms and architectural feats left an indelible imprint on Japan’s cultural and political landscape.

1 Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga stands as a charismatic visionary whose bold tactics reshaped Japan’s feudal order. In 1560, he achieved a decisive victory over Yoshimoto Imagawa, thwarting an attempt to seize Kyoto and laying the groundwork for national unification. A pioneer of modern warfare, Nobunaga introduced firearms on a massive scale, dramatically altering battlefield dynamics. His reign, however, ended in betrayal; his trusted general Akechi Mitsuhide set fire to the temple where Nobunaga was resting, forcing him into a forced suicide—a starkly honorable end in line with samurai code. Nobunaga’s daring reforms and relentless ambition paved the way for the eventual unification achieved by his successors.