HISTORY
The Last Words of Military and Revolutionary Leaders
Even death couldn’t stop them
Accused of espionage and subversion, Policarpa ‘La Pola’ Salavarrieta turned to face the Spanish firing squad. There was to be no fatal shot in the back, as was customary for traitors of the crown. Instead, La Pola, with her dying words, inspired her fellow Colombians to break free from Spanish oppression and rise up in revolution. She shouted:
“Although I am a woman and young, I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more!”
The dying are rarely as brave as La Pola of Colombia. It’s not often they get an opportunity to speak their final words. Here are five of my favorite quotes attributed to the fatally wounded or the soon-to-be-executed.
Sanada Yukimura aka Sanada Nobushige
A Japanese samurai warrior of the Sengoku period and one of Japan’s most famous warriors. He had a great many nicknames which included the ‘Crimson Demon of War’ and ‘The Last Sengoku Hero’. His final battle was at the siege of Osaka. Mortally wounded, he stumbled onto the field removing his helmet. As he finally collapsed onto the ground he is reported to have said:
