The Spanish Tercio at the Battle of Lepanto 1571

In 1571, the Holy League faced the Ottoman Empire in a massive naval battle off the coast of Greece. This episode focuses on the Spanish tercios who fought aboard the galleys at Lepanto, revealing how Spain's elite infantry adapted to naval warfare. We cover the command structure under Don John of Austria, the role of Álvaro de Bazán, the tactics of boarding and arquebus fire, and the brutal hand-to-hand combat that turned the tide. We also explore the aftermath: the mythologizing of Lepanto in Spanish culture, the relief of the siege of La Goleta and Tunis, and how Cervantes—who fought and was wounded there—immortalized the battle. This episode ties together the tercio tradition with the Mediterranean struggle for supremacy, offering a fresh angle on a famous clash. #Lepanto #SpanishTercio #DonJohnOfAustria #ÁlvaroDeBazán #Cervantes #HolyLeague #OttomanEmpire #NavalWarfare #Galley #BoardingAction #LaGoleta #Tunis #MediterraneanHistory #16thCentury #Spain #History #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo