8. Aztecs
The life of Aztec warriors was one of constant battle. Young Aztec men became warriors at the age of 17. Thepriests, too, engaged in warfare, as the overall purpose of the Aztec warriors was to serve and pay respect to thegods. The pride the Aztecs felt in warfare was even made evident by their system of government, which required new rulers to prove themselves first on the battlefield. Those Aztec warriors who demonstrated the most bravery and who fought well became either jaguar or eagle warriors.
7. Vikings
Yes, those burly and bearded guys were one of the most potent warriors. Moving from Norway and Denmark, they became the frightening force which ruled the oceans. History remembers them as a cruel and fierce warriors. They were also the elite of their time and as such found their place guarding important people. That earned them a place on our list. On the other hand, they were skilled craftsmen and sailors.
6. The Huns
The Huns were nomads from the Central Asian Steppes, but their exact origins remain a mystery. Like other steppe people, Hun warriors fought exclusively as cavalry, and their warriors relied on the mobility of their horses and the penetration power of their composite bows. Like other steppe people, the Huns were natural warriors, having shot a bow and ridden on a horse for his entire life. On the battlefield, the Huns would fire a shower of arrows, inflicting casualties in long range.
5. Gallic Berserker
They were one of the main reasons it took Caesar so long to conquer Gaul. These mighty warriors fall intomurderous rage that only ends with defeat of their enemies or their own deaths. Their belief in power of frenzy is so strong they don`t wear any armor, and they are mostly in first line of the battle, wielding their brutal weaponry. They were also famous for their ability to ignore almost fatal wounds and bloodlust.
4. Teutonic Knights
They were members of “The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem”. It was formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals. Its members have commonly been known as the Teutonic Knights, since they also served as a crusading military order in the Middle Ages. In short, they were fierce, zealous, heavily armored and armed warriors of the Church and that placed them here, on our list.
3. The Roman Legionary
Legionaries were one of the most disciplined soldiers in history, and that made them so great. For most of the Roman Imperial period, the legions were a part of the Imperial army and formed its elite heavy infantry, recruited exclusively from Roman citizens. The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign. The last five years were on veteran lighter duties. Joining the army was both a duty and a distinguishing mark of Roman citizenship.
2. Samurai
The samurai (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword. Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido (“the way of the warrior”). According to this code, it`s a great shame not to give your life for salvation of you leader, so it wasn’t unusual for them to suicide after their leader fall in battle. Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one’s master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism.
1. Spartans
Greatest warriors of all time, without any doubt. Strong, fast, perfectly trained, Spartans were the pinnacle of warfare. History: Sparta was unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which completely focused on military training and excellence. “With this, or upon this” was common saying when Spartan went to war, meaning that true Spartan will either die in battle (and would be carried back home on his shield) or would win and come home triumphantly with the shield in his hand. Renown for their last stand at Thermopylae, where they, led by kind Leonidas I, held their ground against 300.000 Persians, they were recorded in history as the greatest warriors who ever lived!
