Gran Capitán: The Untold Story of Spain's Military Genius

Most people know the Spanish tercio as the unstoppable infantry formation that dominated European battlefields for 150 years. But few know the man who invented it: Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, better known as El Gran Capitán. In the late 15th century, this visionary commander fought in the Granada War against the last Moorish kingdom, then crossed to Italy to face the French. There, he tore up the medieval rulebook. He blended sword-and-buckler men with arquebusiers, built field fortifications on the fly, and transformed supply lines — all against a French army that outnumbered him. This episode follows his campaigns from the rocky passes of the Sierra Nevada to the decisive field of Cerignola in 1503, where the tercio was born. We also explore his later betrayal by a jealous king, his dignified retirement, and the legacy that made the Spanish empire possible. If you think you know how Spain rose to power, this episode will change your mind. #GranCapitán #GonzaloFernándezdeCórdoba #Cerignola #SpanishTercio #GranadaWar #ItalianWars #Napoli #BattleofCerignola1503 #MilitaryHistory #RenaissanceWarfare #Arquebus #SpainHistory #FexingoHistory #EuropeHistory #15thCentury #16thCentury #Córdoba #TercioViejo Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo