Honoring a Fallen Enemy.

[Patron]

Well it seems there were lots of people who threw their lives away when faced with certain defeat, but most of these people threw them away for despotism, because they thought they would be greeted with paradise or for religions which used torture rather than persuasion so they literally threw them away. Nikola Šubić Zrinski was an interesting character, but no one can say whether he trusted the Turks or not and made that honourable decision to never surrender to save Croatia from Turkish rule or because he thought they would execute him on the spot. However he certainly sent a clear message to Sultan Magnificent.

[Loucipher]

Indeed... the history of many a nation knows such cases of heroism. Polish history in particular knows quite a handful of these...
I have always wondered what higher ideal commands these people to do such great deeds in the face of certain death. Is it some oath of loyalty? Is it honour? Is it recklessness? Or is it just a plain vengeful "die-hard" attitude shown by the men who had realized that they were to die anyway?
I cannot resist admiring such acts, though. On the battlefield, there have always been too many people who had abandoned their honour prior to abandoning their lives... Those fighing to the death, dying with weapons drawn, taking as many foes with them as they could, truly deserve to be admired and remembered as heroes, for their deeds become the very essence of the legends.
A great to m52nickerson for writing this story It proves our national skill at noticing and commemorating these acts of bravery

[Banquo's Ghost]

Marvellous, evocative story!

Though it was the right thing to do, perhaps it would have been more sitting for such a brave man to die to a sword thrust rather than a hail of bolts. But of course, the glory of war can only be written by the winner - had he managed to rout your troops in a glorious last charge because you were chivalrous, the bards would have sung something else than a fond lament..