| Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces. These began as early as [[1592]], as he defeated Japanese fleets at Okpo, and again at Hansando. Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref> | | Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces. These began as early as [[1592]], as he defeated Japanese fleets at Okpo, and again at Hansando. Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref> |
| In the Battle of Myongyang, in [[1597]]/9, he led some sixteen ships to victory against a fleet of 133 Japanese ships. | | In the Battle of Myongyang, in [[1597]]/9, he led some sixteen ships to victory against a fleet of 133 Japanese ships. |
− | Yi was killed in battle at Noryang on [[1598]]/11/18, but encouraged his men to not let news of his death spread; his death was kept secret for a time, thus keeping Korean morale high. | + | Yi was killed in battle at Noryang on [[1598]]/11/18, struck by a gunshot from an enemy ship, but encouraged his men to not let news of his death spread; his death was kept secret for a time, thus keeping Korean morale high. |