When it came to war, there was a time where the opposing side threw in the towel because they knew it was pointless to continue. There were many wars fought for money, power, territory, and more. However, each one came to an end due to a decisive victory. Here are 5 final battles in history.
The Battle of Waterloo (1815)
During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte was dominating at first. However, winter stalled his invasion of Russia in 1812. Allied European nations gained momentum and forced the French troops out. Bonaparte was exiled in Elba but escaped a year later in 1815. He led a 100,000 man front against his foes and started gaining success. However, this was short-lived when Prussian troops were able to join with British troops to overpower Bonaparte’s forces.
The Battle of Okinawa (1945)
Everyone knows how brutal this was between April 1 and June 22, 1945. The death toll rose quite a bit. Also, Japanese troops were committing kamikaze (running suicide attacks) and other tactics to keep them from being captured by American forces. President Harry Truman knew that the heavy death toll would continue going up unless he used the Atomic Bomb as the final nail in the coffin to end the war.
The Reconquest of Spain (1492)
Of course, that was the year that Christopher Columbus set out for the New World. However, this was also the time where Aragon and Castile defeated the final kingdom Muslim Kingdom in Spain. This ended the 780 years of Moorish control. Spanish forces united under King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I.
Battle of Shiroyama (1877)
Here’s a battle that basically put the modern world on top. The Samurai class really came to an end with this last battle. While some Samurai transitioned into the Meiji regime, others wanted to keep their traditions. Long story short, Saigo Takamori and his crew of students and warriors wanted to march upon Kyoto. However, they never made it. They were stopped by the garrison at Kumamoto Castle, which ate through Takamori’s group. Takamori got injured and decided to commit seppuku. The few remaining rebels led a suicidal charge that ended in their death. It was at that moment that the modern age reigned supreme in Japan.
The Battle of New Orleans (1815)
In the War of 1812, there was a big trade dispute between America, England, and France. On January 8, 1815, Britain made a big mistake going against the U.S. forces. Their plan was to take control of New Orleans and block the port from the rest of the country. 4,500 U.S. troops defended the city from 7,500 British troops. 2,000 troops from Britain were wounded, killed, or lost. The U.S. only lost 8. This is by far one of the most decisive victories. General Andrew Jackson gained national recognition for this battle, and it’s probably one of the deciding factors of him winning the presidential election in 1828.
