EPISODE · Jun 23, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Spanish Tercio at Pavia: Arquebusiers Break the Knight
from The Story of Spain: Empire, Gold, and Global Power — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1525, on a foggy February morning outside the Italian city of Pavia, the old order of European warfare was shattered. Lucas and Luna explore how the Spanish tercio, under the command of Charles de Lannoy and the Marquess of Pescara, used massed arquebus fire and innovative combined arms tactics to defeat the French army and capture King Francis I. They discuss the role of artillery, the deployment of landsknechts, the fatal charge of the French gendarmes, and the aftermath that reshaped the balance of power in Europe. Specific figures include Francis I, Charles V, the Constable of Bourbon, and the Swiss mercenaries. The episode covers the battle's context within the Italian Wars and its legacy for Spanish military dominance in the 16th century. #BattleOfPavia #SpanishTercio #ItalianWars #CharlesV #FrancisI #Arquebus #Landsknechts #Gendarmes #CharlesDeLannoy #Pescara #HabsburgValois #MilitaryHistory #EarlyModernWarfare #1525 #SiegeOfPavia #SwissMercenaries #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1525, on a foggy February morning outside the Italian city of Pavia, the old order of European warfare was shattered. Lucas and Luna explore how the Spanish tercio, under the command of Charles de Lannoy and the Marquess of Pescara, used massed arquebus fire and innovative combined arms tactics to defeat the French army and capture King Francis I. They discuss the role of artillery, the deployment of landsknechts, the fatal charge of the French gendarmes, and the aftermath that reshaped the balance of power in Europe. Specific figures include Francis I, Charles V, the Constable of Bourbon, and the Swiss mercenaries. The episode covers the battle's context within the Italian Wars and its legacy for Spanish military dominance in the 16th century. #BattleOfPavia #SpanishTercio #ItalianWars #CharlesV #FrancisI #Arquebus #Landsknechts #Gendarmes #CharlesDeLannoy #Pescara #HabsburgValois #MilitaryHistory #EarlyModernWarfare #1525 #SiegeOfPavia #SwissMercenaries #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Spanish Tercio at Pavia: Arquebusiers Break the Knight
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