# Greatest Warriors of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098 "2010-04-23T13:45:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deadindays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@deadindays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadindays)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/1 "2010-04-23T13:45:56Z")
Who are the greatest warriors of all time? I’m not looking for groups of people like knights, the samurai or Vikings nor great generals or strategists who never actually fought in combat. I need fighters like that Spartan at Thermopylae (don’t remember his name right now) or famous swordsmen like Musashi. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/2 "2010-04-23T14:00:19Z")
Re-read OP-never mind! hh ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/3 "2010-04-23T14:02:11Z")
> [@deadindays](#): > > famous swordsmen like Musashi. Fun fact, Musashi’s side actually lost almost all of the battles he was in (with the exception of the siege of Fushimi Castle). That’s not necessarily a reflection on him, but I just found it interesting. ETA: Musashi was apparently also part of the force that put down the Shimibara Rebellion, but he was knocked out by a rock before the battle started and didn’t actually participate in the actual fighting. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/4 "2010-04-23T14:07:44Z")
How about the Byzantine Emperor’s Varangian Guard? Specially selected Viking warriors employed by the Byzantine Emperor for their legendary axe-wielding ferocity and absolute loyalty as his personal guard … ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/5 "2010-04-23T14:10:36Z")
[This guy perhaps?](http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/) ---
**Author:** ![deadindays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@deadindays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadindays)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/6 "2010-04-23T14:13:29Z")
That’s amazing, Captain. Did not know that. Malthus, thanks but I need specific names like King Leonidas. Or maybe a specific knight who became famous because of his skills in actual battle. Something like that. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/7 "2010-04-23T14:14:55Z")
[Lü Bu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu_Bu). ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/8 "2010-04-23T14:19:55Z")
> [@deadindays](#): > > That’s amazing, Captain. Did not know that. Malthus, thanks but I need specific names like King Leonidas. Or maybe a specific knight who became famous because of his skills in actual battle. Something like that. How about the most famous Varangian of them all - Harold Hardrada? > **[Harald Hardrada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Hardrada)** > > Harald Sigurdsson (Old Norse: Haraldr Sigurðarson; c. 1015 – 25 September 1066), also known as Harald III of Norway and given the epithet Hardrada in the sagas, was King of Norway from 1046 to 1066. He unsuccessfully claimed the Danish throne until 1064 and the English throne in 1066. Before becoming king, Harald spent 15 years in exile as a mercenary and military commander in Kievan Rus' and chief of the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire. In his chronicle, Adam of Bremen called him the ... ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/9 "2010-04-23T14:23:31Z")
Is a “warrior” someone who is necessarily good with a weapon? Wouldn’t they also have to be able to do a bit with the old unarmed combat aspect? I’d say anyone who was totally reliant on a weapon, was more of a wuss than a warrior. Also, I’d say most elite MMA fighters are closer to being “warriors” than a modern soldier. ---
**Author:** ![deadindays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@deadindays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadindays)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/10 "2010-04-23T14:25:52Z")
Thanks, Malthus. First time I’ve heard of the Varangian Guards and King Harold. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/11 "2010-04-23T14:30:54Z")
[Simo Hayha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4), Finnish sniper during the Winter War with the Soviet Union. Limited light and -20 to -40ºC. At least 500 confirmed kills, possibly over 800, and all in less than 100 days. ---
**Author:** ![deadindays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@deadindays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadindays)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/12 "2010-04-23T14:46:54Z")
Thanks, jk1245. Holy crap, 500 kills. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/13 "2010-04-23T15:24:55Z")
“Audie Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks in addition to killing over 240 German soldiers and wounding and capturing many others.[5] His principal U.S. decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Valor device, and three Purple Hearts (all for genuine combat wounds). Murphy participated in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany, as denoted by his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver battle star (denoting five campaigns), four bronze battle stars, plus a bronze arrowhead representing his two amphibious assault landings at Sicily and southern France. During the French Campaign, Murphy was awarded two Presidential Citations, one from the 3rd Inf, Division, and one from the 15th Inf. Regiment during the Holtzwihr action.” > **[Audie Murphy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy)** > > Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France... It is also going to be hard to top modern special forces groups like the Navy SEALS and the British SAS because they have so many elite people to choose from as well as the technology, money, and training techniques to push them to the limits of human capability. Historical fighting forces wouldn’t stand a chance against them in equal numbers. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/14 "2010-04-23T15:28:03Z")
[This Book](http://www.amazon.com/Badass-Relentless-Onslaught-Gunfighters-Commanders/dp/0061749443) has a lot of examples of what you’re looking for, and is pretty hilarious to boot. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/15 "2010-04-23T15:36:07Z")
> [@jk1245](#): > > [Simo Hayha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4), Finnish sniper during the Winter War with the Soviet Union. > > Limited light and -20 to -40ºC. At least 500 confirmed kills, possibly over 800, and all in less than 100 days. I think we need to define what a warrior is. I’d have thought the above was no more a warrior’s feat than casting a fishing rod, unless he was under fire during every kill. Even then, he’d just be a lucky man, who was good with a rifle, unless he could also handle himself in CQC. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/16 "2010-04-23T15:39:07Z")
[Five Real Life Soldiers Who Make Rambo Look Like a Pussy](http://www.cracked.com/article_17019_5-real-life-soldiers-who-make-rambo-look-like-bitch.html) ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/17 "2010-04-23T16:10:54Z")
Wasn’t there a single axe-wielding Viking warrior, at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, that killed a ridiculous number of Saxon opponents attempting to cross the bridge before a surprise spear-thrust ended his life? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/18 "2010-04-23T16:45:44Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > I think we need to define what a warrior is. I’d have thought the above was no more a warrior’s feat than casting a fishing rod, unless he was under fire during every kill. Even then, he’d just be a lucky man, who was good with a rifle, unless he could also handle himself in CQC. Like the **Cracked** article says of Hayha: the Russians sent a task force specifically to find “The White Death”, and he killed them all. They followed that up with a team of counter-snipers, marksmen specifically trained to kill snipers. Hayha killed them all, too. He may not have been in “the thick of battle” for every kill, but he was pretty damn bad-ass. Audie Murphy is #1 on that list. They note that he was so awesome, they actually had to tone down some of his incredible feats when making **To Hell And Back** , because audiences wouldn’t find them believable. Another good **Cracked** list on warriors with balls of brass: [The 7 Most Badass Last Stands in the History of Battle](http://www.cracked.com/article/197_the-7-most-badass-last-stands-in-history-battle_p1). **gytalf2000** ’s Viking is #4 on that list. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/19 "2010-04-23T17:06:20Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Is a “warrior” someone who is necessarily good with a weapon? Wouldn’t they also have to be able to do a bit with the old unarmed combat aspect? > > I’d say anyone who was totally reliant on a weapon, was more of a wuss than a warrior. > > Also, I’d say most elite MMA fighters are closer to being “warriors” than a modern soldier. I don’t know about that, I think many of the techniques used for MMA fighting are designed _specificially_ for unarmed combat _under a strict rules structure_. Remove the ruleset (allow eye-gouging, headbutting, throat grabbing, groin shots, etc.), or add something like knives to the mix, and I imagine many of the “elite” MMA fighters would suddenly be woefully un-prepared. Any “warrior” should be well-versed in _all_ forms of combat, _especially those designed to severely incapacitate or kill_. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098/20 "2010-04-23T17:20:07Z")
To add to the above, MMA fighting is also designed for 1v1 fights only. Hardly a guarantee under real-life scenarios. I think something as simple as a 1v2 fight would cause about 90% of an elite MMA grappler’s skills to become useless. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-warriors-of-all-time/537098.md?page=2)