The Spanish Road: A Highway to Empire

In the 16th century, Spain controlled a sprawling European empire that required troops, gold, and supplies to move constantly from Italy to the Netherlands. The solution was the Spanish Road — a remarkable logistical corridor stretching over a thousand kilometers from Milan to Brussels. This episode follows the route through Alpine passes, friendly territories, and hostile chokepoints, revealing how Spanish army contractors mapped every inn, every river crossing, and every pasture. We explore the genius of the 'route of the Spanish tercios,' the reliance on Savoy and Franche-Comté, the constant threat of French and Protestant interference, and the enormous sums paid to local guides and officials. This is the story of how a pre-modern supply chain kept the mightiest army in Europe fed, paid, and moving — and how its eventual blockage helped bring down Spanish dominance. #SpanishRoad #Tercios #Logistics #Milan #Brussels #Savoy #FrancheComte #AlpinePass #StGotthard #PhilipII #DukeOfAlba #EightyYearsWar #MilitaryHistory #SupplyChain #Spain #History #FexingoHistory #EuropeanHistory #SpainHistory #Reconquista Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo