Sweden / Denmark as wellWould you say more important than Sweden / Russia ?
Japan / China
It was only in the late 19th century/early 20th century, Japan became powerful enough to be "rivals" with China ( China got rekt in WW2!!!)Yeah true.
As many would say, UK vs France/Spain imo was the most important rivalry.
That rivalry ended at first world war as alliance.
Austria / Ottomans
We're into William Wallace/Edward Longshanks territory before we know it.
Skirmishes and battles never really stopped until the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the last major battle fought on British soil.
That's one hell of a history of battle and border defense. And good news fellas, they want their freedom again :twisted:
UK has had a few rivalries but most important hmmm hard to say. UK vs France/Spain rivalry was arguably one of the most important in history for how it shaped the modern age.
For non country rivalries then its defiantly the battle between Islam and Christianity
Lol u just waited to throw that 1 in lulz.Germany - France ?
Also. Germany - France,
Japan - ChinaIt has been already said, and even fixed :
Japan / China
It was only in the late 19th century/early 20th century, Japan became powerful enough to be "rivals" with China ( China got rekt in WW2!!!)
As many would say, UK vs France/Spain imo was the most important rivalry.
Germany - France ?
As rivalry ???
Only since 1870 to 1947.
It's quite short.
For sure it's not the longest/ most important rivalry since X century...
It has been already said, and even fixed :
It was only in the late 19th century/early 20th century, Japan became powerful enough to be "rivals" with China ( China got rekt in WW2!!!)
As many would say, UK vs France/Spain imo was the most important rivalry.
Germany - France ?
As rivalry ???
Only since 1870 to 1947.
It's quite short.
For sure it's not the longest/ most important rivalry since X century...
Berenger is right (wut?), the fact that a unified German state only existed from 1871 on does not mean there wasn't a century-long rivalry. The first climax was reached in the XVIIth century with Louis's XIV interference on the 30-years war, followed by his constant expansion eastwards annexing Alsace, Lorraine et al. plus the devastation of the Palatinate. After the War of the Spanish Succession things calmed down a bit in the course of the XVIIIth century when France and Austria (which was a "German" power back then) even allied during the Seven-Years-War, but with the outbreak of the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars heated up again.
After Napoleon was defeated, peace ruled in Europe but there were still tensions. Many people in Germany (that was not yet unified although more and more people already felt like belonging to one common nation that just needed to be politically unified) felt threatened by France's wish to extend to its "natural borders", which would have included to possession of the left bank of the river Rhine.
In German media, the term Erbfeindschaft ("hereditary enmitiy") is often used when describing the difficult relations between France and Germany prior to 1963.
For France as a classical colonial power, who had many rivals in the struggle for overseas territories, the Franco-German rivalry might not be something special, for the Germans, however, it surely is/was.
Berenger is right (wut?), the fact that a unified German state only existed from 1871 on does not mean there wasn't a century-long rivalry. The first climax was reached in the XVIIth century with Louis's XIV interference on the 30-years war, followed by his constant expansion eastwards annexing Alsace, Lorraine et al. plus the devastation of the Palatinate. After the War of the Spanish Succession things calmed down a bit in the course of the XVIIIth century when France and Austria (which was a "German" power back then) even allied during the Seven-Years-War, but with the outbreak of the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars heated up again.Germany isn't Prussia, (The late Prussia can be consider as Germany, but we arrive in late time period)
After Napoleon was defeated, peace ruled in Europe but there were still tensions. Many people in Germany (that was not yet unified although more and more people already felt like belonging to one common nation that just needed to be politically unified) felt threatened by France's wish to extend to its "natural borders", which would have included to possession of the left bank of the river Rhine.
In German media, the term Erbfeindschaft ("hereditary enmitiy") is often used when describing the difficult relations between France and Germany prior to 1963.
For France as a classical colonial power, who had many rivals in the struggle for overseas territories, the Franco-German rivalry might not be something special, for the Germans, however, it surely is/was.
The Netherlands / Neverland
Damn wannabes
In all past 20th century conflicts, the first thing France looked at was the participants. If Britain is on one side, choose the other.
Here's one for panos: Sparta and Athens.
Greece was always split in half because of this rivalry.Split in half ???
Sadly people are led to believe that the Spartans were glorious, honourable and mighty warriorsHmmm, the Spartans were zealots, fanatic warriors and raised in violence.
[...]but the truth is that the Athenians were always above the Spartans at everything, military, trade, culture, wealth, and that always annoyed the Spartans, made them envy the Athenians.Where the spartans were excellent in only one thing : Hoplite melee fight,
Apart from the glorious hold at the Hotgates, Spartans have done nothing else that actually justifies their huge reputation.Yes, when Xerses surrounded the "greek-coaliltion" at the battle of the thermophiles, Sparta succesfully used this defeat as an act of sacrifice from their soldiers.
They always sided with the enemy for gold and weapons, they would always cause problems at time of peace for no apparent reason.As i just wrote it above, it's not always the truth.
Do yourself a favour and dont believe the crap that you read about spartans (no walls at sparta, the "If" reply to Phillip) all are lies.Yes, occidentals are still using propaganda, even if it's much more incidious, less retarded than the East, etc... But yes, we still have our own kind of propaganda, and USA is very good at it.
The split in half of the Greek world at the time is not entirely wrong, but it was mostly cultural, between Dorian and Ionian. Sparta and Athens were just the two most powerful cities of both ethnicities.
Oh and then you have Greece, which most don't care about, but don't want to gift them money either.
Contador winning Tour de France
Well, i guess Spain has some troubles with north african countries.
If i'm correct, Spain has very small lands in North Africa. Which means, those lands are in the EU, and so there is a high pressure on the border.
From Prehistoric times, when legends tell of great battles between Danes and Swedes, through the centuries to our days of soccermatches and political crisis, the relationship between the two Nordic nations has been a very special one..few nations have engaged in so many wars against each other.
^ Nothing beats an honourable street fight.visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Real men fight with fists, god I wish I could be there and give or receive some hooks :mrgreen:
This^
But also everytime that Athens was in conflict with Sparta, the other City States had to pick sides, thats why I used the split in half term.
Sheesh no one cares about Contador the doper :P
Bulgaria - Byzantine
roflrealy Panos
Bulgarians were never a real threat for the Byzantine empire.
Never forget this mean son of a bitch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_II