EPISODE · Jun 24, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Spanish Tercio at the Battle of Cerignola 1503
from The Story of Spain: Empire, Gold, and Global Power — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1503, on a hillside in southern Italy, a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba—the Gran Capitán—faced a superior French force of knights and Swiss pikemen. Outnumbered and low on supplies, Córdoba deployed a new formation: the tercio, combining arquebusiers and pikemen in a way that would dominate European battlefields for 150 years. This episode explores the tactical revolution at Cerignola, the first major battle won by gunpowder infantry over heavy cavalry, and its implications for Spain's rise as a European power. We discuss the role of the espada ropera, the fortifications improvised from wine casks, and how a single volley changed military history. The battle is a turning point in the Italian Wars and a testament to the Gran Capitán's genius. #Cerignola #GonzaloFernándezdeCórdoba #GranCapitán #Tercio #ItalianWars #1503 #MilitaryHistory #Arquebus #SpanishEmpire #BattleOfCerignola #RenaissanceWarfare #PikeAndShot #Naples #FexingoHistory #Spain #Europe #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1503, on a hillside in southern Italy, a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba—the Gran Capitán—faced a superior French force of knights and Swiss pikemen. Outnumbered and low on supplies, Córdoba deployed a new formation: the tercio, combining arquebusiers and pikemen in a way that would dominate European battlefields for 150 years. This episode explores the tactical revolution at Cerignola, the first major battle won by gunpowder infantry over heavy cavalry, and its implications for Spain's rise as a European power. We discuss the role of the espada ropera, the fortifications improvised from wine casks, and how a single volley changed military history. The battle is a turning point in the Italian Wars and a testament to the Gran Capitán's genius. #Cerignola #GonzaloFernándezdeCórdoba #GranCapitán #Tercio #ItalianWars #1503 #MilitaryHistory #Arquebus #SpanishEmpire #BattleOfCerignola #RenaissanceWarfare #PikeAndShot #Naples #FexingoHistory #Spain #Europe #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Spanish Tercio at the Battle of Cerignola 1503
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