Fun Fact #410 Battle Cry

 Fun Fact #410

Ayo Gorkhali! – The Gurkas are upon you! 

Through-out history people have heard or yelled phrases before heading into battle, known as “The Battle Cry” Interjection. 

Battle cries are words or short phrases to gather attention, and to remind people why they fight. Battle Cries have shown over the years to be effective on the small scale of boosting morale, and coordinating groups while helping maintain unity of purpose on the large scale. The Universal battle cry is the Roman “Barritus” or guttural yell, but the most famous is “Liberty or Death” marking “The Age of Revolutions” lasting from 1776-1914 covering North, Central, and South America, Europe, North Africa and even parts of Indonesia. These can also be nonverbal such as with the Maori “Haka”  which is still performed at international soccer games.

Here are a few other famous war cries if you’re curious

• Remember The Alamo!

• Texas Revolution –rallying cry of the revolutionaries to remember those who have already given their lives for the cause.

• Banzi! 

• Japan –Short for the Phrase “Tenno Heika Banzai” or “Long Live the Emperor

• There is no land for us beyond the Volga!

• Russia – Troops during the battle of Stalingrad reminding each other to fight the Germans because they’d be shot for treason if they retreated over the Volga River. 

• “Alala!” or “Elelu!”

• Greek Hoplite warcry, said to sound like an army of screeching birds when shouted by an army scaring chariot horses.