Most important military or naval victory by country?

[WhatIsAUserName]

China's a bit difficult, given its long history, but...

I think by far the most important battle in Chinese history was the Siege of Xiangyang from 1268 to 1273, but that ended in the Sung Dynasty getting defeated by Mongols so I guess it doesn't count.

Land battle - Changping in 271BC removed the last obstacle to Qin dominance in China and so in a sense fostered the creation of the first Chinese Dynasty.

Naval battle - Poyang in 1363 ensured Zhu Yuanzhang's control over China under the Ming Dynasty, and given the immense changes that Zhu Yuanzhang made to the Chinese government (imho not for the better), this is probably the important.

I would say Changping is the most important battle of Chinese history, because it paves the way for Qin unification. Xiangyang is important too, but I feel that the Mongol victories over the Jurchens are even more significant than it, because blocking the Mongols from conquering North China would likely ensure the survival of Southern Song.

I don't think Lake Poyang is the most important naval victory, though it is certainly significant. I feel that one of the Song victories over the Jurchens (Tangdao or Caishi) would be more important because those kept Southern Song independent. Barring that, the battle at Chibi (Red Cliffs) would also be a contender, for keeping China divided during the Three Kingdoms period.

 

[TFSmith121]

Merci...how about Fontenoy, in the 9th or 18th centuries?

We French seem to remember our defeats more fondly than our victories. Anyway :

19th Century : I'm not a big fan of Austerlitz, even if old Bonapartists groaned here because there was no celebration in 2005. For me it's only a victory in a series of some years that ended in defeat. I would rather say the taking of Algiers, 1830 : colonial expansion starting again.

18th Century : Valmy, yes.

17th Century : I suppose contemporaries would have said Rocroi 1643, mostly by coincidence (the first victory under Louis XIV's reign, and the huge propaganda that followed) but I think the fall of La Rochelle, 1626 had much more political importance (the beginning of the end for French Protestants as a power).

16th Century : Marignano 1515 ? Again, a victory in a brief period that ended in defeat. Rather Ivry 1590 ("Rally to my white panache!"), a decisive step in Henry IV's march to power.

15th Century : Orleans 1429 is a must-be.

14th Century : a victory ? Probably Cocherel 1364. Defeating a rebellious vassal only some kilometers away from Paris was quite a thing.

13th Century : Bouvines 1214, the Kingdom beats the Empire.

Merci...how about Fontenoy, in the 9th or 18th centuries?

Best,

 

[Old Airman]

For Israel the most important battles were, most likely, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Yad_Mordechai and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Latrun_(1948) While both were, technically, defeats for Israelis, they succeeded in breaking Egypt's and Jordan's elan and proved to both sides that Hagana could be a match for a regular army.

For Russia there's a whole string of them...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kulikovo (broke Mongol's rule over Muskovy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_stand_on_the_Ugra_river (not even a battle, it ended Muskovy's status as Tartar subordinate)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poltava (Russia becomes a force to recon with in Europe)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Izmail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maloyaroslavets (denied French rich supply depots of Kaluga, guaranteeing Great Armee's dying out).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tsushima
Stalingrad.

 

[Ditzy Vixen (RossN)]

Sadly there are few victories in Irish history.

As for the most important battle on the other hand, well...

"At the creek of Baginbun, Ireland was lost and won."

 

[ByzantineCaesar]

For Brazil it's got to be the naval Battle of Riachuelo, against the Paraguayans in the War of the Triple Alliance. The land battle nomination is more difficult, but I'd give the first place to the Battle of Monte Caseros, closely followed by the battles of Jenipapo (symbolic victory, mainly), Humaitá & Cerro Cora (both of the Paraguayan War) and the Italian campaign in WW2.

 

[TFSmith121]

Why Caseros, given the "Argentine Civil War" element?

For Brazil it's got to be the naval Battle of Riachuelo, against the Paraguayans in the War of the Triple Alliance. The land battle nomination is more difficult, but I'd give the first place to the Battle of Monte Caseros, closely followed by the battles of Jenipapo (symbolic victory, mainly), Humaitá & Cerro Cora (both of the Paraguayan War) and the Italian campaign in WW2.

Why Caseros, given the "Argentine Civil War" element?

Thanks

 

[usertron2020]

Sadly there are few victories in Irish history.

As for the most important battle on the other hand, well...

"At the creek of Baginbun, Ireland was lost and won."

Sometimes the greatest battle won is the one never fought:

The Roman invasion of Hibernia

With the Romans keeping their hands off the Emerald Isle, Ireland would enjoy a thousand additional years of independence. I'd call that a victory.

 

[ByzantineCaesar]

Why Caseros, given the "Argentine Civil War" element?

Thanks

The Platine War was extremely important for the establishment of a feeling of national unity in Brazil (especially in Rio Grande do Sul, a province which had fought a civil war for ten years over an independent republican state) and won huge amounts of prestige for Dom Pedro II, allowing him to guide the country almost unopposed throughout the 1850's and early 1860's. A defeat in Monte Caseros means the defeat at the Platine War, which could likely spell tragedy for Brazil (see what happened to Pedro I & Cisplatine).

 

[Mefisto]

The most important victory for Poles would be Cedynia (in 972), I think. Forces of Mieszko I met German forces of margrave Hodo and his friends and defeated them in pitched battle. This anchored western borders of Polish state on Oder river for almost three centuries and stopped the German expansion. Later these "Piast borders" were basis for Polish territorial claims after WWII.
I think this victory is more important that Grunwald 1410 as the latter battle only showed the change in military potentials of Teutonic Order and Poland ans Lithuania. In case of Cedynia the inferior forces beat the superior ones and gave enough prestige to Mieszko that he was elevated to the level of at least equal to powerful border margraves of Empire and Mieszko's descendants were eventually acknowledged as kings.

 

[Gerald]

Merci...how about Fontenoy, in the 9th or 18th centuries?

Best,

If we put aside the Revolutionary wars, Fontenoy 1745 is possibly the most dearly remembered victory of the 18th Century ("English Gentlemen, fire first !")
And Fontenoy 841 (not the same place !) was actually a milestone in the founding of Francia Occidentalis.

 

[Fairdowner]

I thought the greatest Victory of all times was the destruction of The Imperial Death Star by the Confederates. Man that must have really got up Emperor Adolfs Nose.

 

[TFSmith121]

Got it - thanks.

The Platine War was extremely important for the establishment of a feeling of national unity in Brazil (especially in Rio Grande do Sul, a province which had fought a civil war for ten years over an independent republican state) and won huge amounts of prestige for Dom Pedro II, allowing him to guide the country almost unopposed throughout the 1850's and early 1860's. A defeat in Monte Caseros means the defeat at the Platine War, which could likely spell tragedy for Brazil (see what happened to Pedro I & Cisplatine).

Ordem e progreso!

 

[TFSmith121]

Thanks - makes sense

If we put aside the Revolutionary wars, Fontenoy 1745 is possibly the most dearly remembered victory of the 18th Century ("English Gentlemen, fire first !")
And Fontenoy 841 (not the same place !) was actually a milestone in the founding of Francia Occidentalis.

All the best,