Some people just will not put up with all the nonsense that life throws at them, even if it costs them their life. And that’s precisely how you make it to the history books. Go against the regime, against the grain, inspiring others to be brave and reckless. They are the rebellious spirits, who devoted their lives to making the lives of their peers easier.
1. Joan of Arc
The mere fact that we still remember who Joan of Arc is and what she did after 600 years is more than enough reason to place her on this list. She was only 19 when the inquisition burned her at the stake for heresy. She’s won countless battles, proving that women can also fight and more importantly, lead the charge. Today she’s a saint and an unwavering icon.
2. Malala Yousafzai
At the young age of 15, Malala has proven to the entire world that no one will keep her from visiting the school to the point that she was shot at for her activism. You know you’re doing something right when the Taliban come after you. The bullet hit Malala in the head, but she survived. She was even given the Nobel Prize when she was 17 and is currently getting her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
Who doesn’t know the story of Spartacus? And even if you don’t, you probably remember the iconic scene from an old movie, appropriately titled “Spartacus”, where all the slaves stand up one by one saying “I’m Spartacus! No, I’m Spartacus”. He was the OG rebel. Not only did Spartacus escape from the slavers, but he also became the leader of the rebellion that kicked the Roman Empire’s butt.
4. William Wallace
As you may have already gathered, rebels don’t usually live very long. William Wallace was not an exception. After leading a severely outnumbered army of Scotts to victory, and inspiring the entire nation, he was finally captured. “They may take away our lives, but they will never take away our freedom!” In 1298, the King of England accused Wallace of high treason, which meant death by hanging, drowning, and quartering. The literal overkill. That’s how much the English men were scared of him.
5. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King was one of the most influential figures in the fight for the civil rights of all Americans. His oratory skills were supreme, and his speeches inspired millions to do the right thing. MLK is one of those rebels who does not need an introduction. For 14 long years, he was doing everything possible to propagate equality among people. Until his assassination in 1968. Martin Luther King was against using guns and violence in general, because he believed in peace, love, and understanding.
6. Galileo Galilei
How tough was it for a genius to live among this vast sea of uneducated religious zealots? You did some science? Blasphemy! Tried to tell people that the Sun does not revolve around Earth or that the Earth isn’t flat? Burn at the stake! Galileo’s views and experiments in astronomy, physics, and engineering gave the world a much needed swift kick in the butt. Religion is cool and all, but we needed science to progress! Of course, as all “naughty rebels”, Galileo got the short end of the stick for his controversial worldviews.