10 Most Satisfying Revenge Stories In History

10 Most Satisfying Revenge Stories in History

Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re looking at some of the most satisfying acts of vengeance throughout history.

Hugh Glass

You may remember seeing the dramatized version of his story in “The Revenant.” The real story behind Hugh Glass’ survival is just as interesting. In 1823, he joined an expedition. Within months, he was viciously attacked by a bear. Soon afterwards, his team left him to die. Two men, John Fitzgerald and “Bridges,” were told to stay until he passed. Both men robbed him and fled, but Hugh persisted. He dragged his mutilated body to safety with just one thought on his mind: revenge. He planned to kill Fitzgerald, but the other man’s enlistment in the army stopped him. Glass ended up warning him that his discharge would also signal his death, ultimately forcing him to spend the rest of his life in fear.

Máel Brigte of Moray

Living amongst Vikings was no picnic, a lesson Máel Brigte learned in the 9th century. Reportedly, he and his army were challenged to a battle by Sigurd the Mighty, only to be blindsided by the latter bringing twice the men. They fought valiantly, but it was all in vain. Eventually, Sigurd took Máel’s head as a trophy. It was then that some near-instantaneous karma struck. He rode off with his conquest’s head attached to his saddle, but the dead man’s teeth ended up scratching him. It quickly became infected, and he died shortly afterward of sepsis. Though Brigte lost his life, he still got the last laugh.

Wyatt Earp

He ran the West with an iron fist even before he was pushed over the edge. Wyatt Earp’s family of officers were in a bitter feud with the Cochise County Cowboys. In 1881, their hate escalated into a violent gunfight that left multiple outlaws dead. The losing side was furious when the lawmen were cleared legally, leading to them shooting both Virgil and Morgan Earp. The latter died, and Wyatt snapped. He and his posse went on a vicious spree, slaying those named as suspects. It was an act riddled with vigilantism. Though calls were made for him to be tried, nothing came to fruition. Decades later, in 1927, he doubled down, saying that if he could, he would do it all over again.

Jeanne de Clisson

Being a nobleman’s wife offered her a life of prosperity. Avenging said husband allowed her to leave a mark on history. Olivier IV and Jeanne de Clisson both sided with the French during the Breton War of Succession. Despite that, Olivier was accused of treason, found guilty, and executed in 1343. Jeanne jumped into action. She sold their land and trained hundreds of men before attacking nearby troops. She then took to the high seas, where she and her crew ambushed trade ships and killed nearly everyone aboard. Even her ship being destroyed couldn’t bring down the Lioness of Brittany. She remained a pirate for over a decade afterward, serving as a constant reminder to the French government of their own misdeeds.

Pistol Pete

Most know him as a mascot for Oklahoma State University, and have no idea of his dark past. During his youth, Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton’s dad was killed by a group of six men known as the Regulators. Frank was told by a family friend that it was up to him to avenge his father, which he took to heart. He began learning how to shoot that same year, and soon began his mission. As a teenager, he slayed five of his father’s murderers, with the one outlier having been shot before Frank could reach him. At the cusp of adulthood, he’d completed his task, able to live a peaceful life afterwards.

Usha Narayane

Akku Yadav was a gang leader in India who carried out countless crimes. Dozens of women fell victim to him in particular. One survivor, Usha Narayane, reported him. Yadav had her home surrounded, threatening to torture and kill her. She scared them away, simultaneously giving her community strength. They burned his house down, and he had himself arrested for his own protection. On August 13th, 2004, hundreds of women gathered at his bail hearing. He mocked one of his victims, and they all descended upon him. He was stabbed by each crowd member at least once, ensuring he died on the spot. Narayane was charged with murder despite not being involved, but a similarly-sized group supported her, leading to her acquittal.

François “Pierre” Picaud

Three Frenchmen— Chaubart, Solari, and Loupian— were so envious of their friend’s engagement to a rich woman that they ruined his life. They lied to authorities, and soon shoemaker Pierre Picaud found himself behind bars. He only found out why after two years there, planting the seeds for his revenge. Following his release, he moved back to Paris before spending a decade planning his vengeance. He killed Chaubart and Solari quickly, but saved the worst for Loupian, who’d married his previous fiancée. Pierre played a role in his daughter’s death, burned down his restaurant, and framed his son for murder, before finally stabbing Loupian. Picaud died soon after, leaving behind a confession so wild that it’s believed to have inspired “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Boudica

When King Prasutagus died and made his daughters his heirs, he could never have guessed what horrors would await his family. The Roman Empire disagreed with his decision, laying siege. Queen Boudica was whipped, and her children assaulted. Afterwards, she was so enraged by what had befallen them that she formed a rebellion against Rome. She and her army burned Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium to the ground. In the process, tens of thousands died. Some historians even recorded that noblewomen in these areas were skewered and displayed, and that Boudica had survivors killed rather than taken prisoner. A final battle waged between the two armies. When it seemed she had lost, the Queen reportedly took her own life before the Romans could do it first.

Forty-Seven Rōnin

In 1701, Lord Asano Naganori made an enemy out of Kira Yoshinaka, a powerful man within the government. After being inspired by him, Asano attacked and mildly injured the latter. As such, he was sentenced to take his own life. This left his samurai without a leader, making all forty-seven of them a band of rōnin. In 1703, they avenged Asano. They attacked Kira’s home in two groups, killing 16 of his men. When they finally found the official, they offered him a chance to end his life the way Asano had. When he refused, they swiftly beheaded him. Most of the rōnin were ordered to commit seppuku honorably as a result. Since then, their burial grounds have become a place of prayer.

Saint Olga of Kiev

They say that Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. That quote perfectly encapsulates Saint Olga of Kiev’s actions after the execution of her husband, Igor. The Drevlian tribe had slain him following a tribute dispute. The offenders arranged a marriage between her and her husband’s killer, to which she agreed. Drevlians that arrived were placed in a deep hole, then buried alive. She invited two more groups of ambassadors, burning one and having her followers attack the other. Her finishing move was securing sparrows from the tribes’ homes. She had sulphur attached to the birds, lighting it before sending them back to their original. The settlement burned. Only then did Olga finally end her reign of vengeance.

Which historical revenge would you love to see adapted for the silver screen? Let us know in the comments below!