September 16 - Japanese fleet defeated

Korean "Turtle Boat"

In 1597, Admiral Yi Sun Shin defeats the Japanese fleet of 133 ships with 12 ships in one of the most stunning naval battles in history.

The Imjin war was caused by Japanese ambitions to penetrate into mainland China. In 1592, Hideyoshi the unifyer of Japan sent 160,000 men onto the Korean penninsula, one of the biggest maritime invasions since the Mongol's. This force was eventually defeated by the Chinese and Koreans. During this time, the Korean Admiral Yi Sun sin gained fame for his outstanding tactics in naval warfare. However, the Japanese had a cunning plan to use a spy to infiltrate the Korean chain of command. The agent was able to stir up tension among the Koreans and as a result, Admiral Yi was stripped of his command and tortured by the Korean General.

Meanwhile, in 1597, the Japanese sent another invasion of similar size. Without the legendary admiral, the Korean fleet was defeated. However, Admiral Yi's supporters were able to free him from jain and reinstate his command. Returning to the field, on September 16, he led 12 of his ships against the Japanese fleet of over 300 ships in the Battle of Myeongnyang. Yi Sun Sin was victorious, destroying 31 enemy ships and sending over 18,000 men into the waters. On land, the Japanese force was unable to defeat the combined Chinese and Korean armies.

Ballard wrote in his 
Influence of the Sea on the Political History of Japan:

It is always difficult for Englishmen to admit that Nelson ever 
had an equal in his profession, but if any man is entitled to be 
so regarded, it should surely be this great naval commander of 
Asiatic race who never knew defeat and died in the presence of 
his enemy.... No commander, on the sea at least, ever more 
thoroughly justified Napoleon�s saying that �war is an affair 
not of men, but of a man�....

Other Events:

1829 - End of the Russo-Turkish War



Edited by Imperator Invictus