Conquistadors: Soldiers of Fortune and God (Part I)

In this episode of Dead Warrior Society, we begin a new series examining the Conquistadors and the Spanish Conquest of Mexico—starting where most narratives don’t.The first half of the episode challenges traditional scholarship by linking the Reconquista directly to the Conquest of the Americas. Rather than treating these as separate historical eras, we explore how centuries of warfare in Iberia shaped the mindset, institutions, and practices that the Spanish later carried across the Atlantic. We discuss key themes, events, and cultural traditions forged during the Reconquista, and how these were adapted for conquest in Mexico—including religious ideology, military organization, legal structures, and concepts of authority.In the second half, we turn to the Conquistadors themselves—who they were, who they were not, and how they actually operated on the ground. We break down how they fought in the Americas, the weapons and arms they used, and the governing systems they leveraged to secure power, wealth, and long-term prominence in the New World.This episode sets the foundation for understanding the Conquest not as an improvised adventure, but as the continuation of a deeply rooted warrior culture refined over generations.