Genghis Khan
From fatherless nomad to leader of the largest empire in HISTORY.
He was married at 9(pre-arranged), if that isn't struggle enough
His father (The tribal cheif of his clan) was poisoned by the neighboring 'Tartars", bad sauce I guess. When he was 9 or 10 he attempted to claim his Father's throne. The clan told him to go 'F' himself and they abondoned his family into the roughest terrain. Destitute and pissed of....The rest is history.
A great story backed by balls of steel.