The Almogavars: Spain's Fiercest Medieval Mercenaries

Long before the tercios earned their reputation, Spain's most feared warriors were the Almogavars—light infantry who terrorized the Mediterranean in the 13th and 14th centuries. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins of these rough border fighters from Aragon and Catalonia, their brutal tactics, and their legendary expedition to the Byzantine Empire. We follow Roger de Flor, a former Templar who led the Catalan Company into the service of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II, only to betray him and carve out a short-lived duchy in Greece. The story includes the infamous 'Vespers of the Company'—a massacre of Byzantine nobles in 1305—and the subsequent revenge campaign that devastated Thrace. We also touch on the Almogavars' lasting impact on Spanish military tradition and their echoes in the later conquest of the Americas. This episode covers themes of loyalty, savagery, and the blurred lines between mercenary service and empire-building. #Almogavars #CatalanCompany #RogerDeFlor #ByzantineEmpire #Aragon #Mercenaries #MedievalSpain #Thrace #AndronikosII #Templar #Expedition #MilitaryHistory #Greece #Gallipoli #VespersOfTheCompany #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalWarfare #SpainHistory #Reconquista Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo