The Spanish Tercio at the Siege of Ostend 1601-1604

In this episode of The Story of Spain: Empire, Gold, and Global Power, Lucas and Luna dive into the longest and bloodiest siege of the Eighty Years' War: the Siege of Ostend (1601–1604). They explore the strategic importance of this coastal fortress for the Spanish Crown, the grueling trench warfare led by Archduke Albert and Ambrogio Spinola, and the English and Dutch defenses under commanders like Francis Vere. The conversation covers the use of mines and countermines, the role of the Spanish tercios and Italian regiments, the controversial negotiations at the Siege of Sluis, and the eventual surrender that gave Spain a pyrrhic victory. Along the way, they reflect on the human cost—tens of thousands dead from combat, disease, and starvation—and the siege's lasting impact on Spanish military reputation and the course of the war. A must-listen for anyone interested in early modern warfare, the Dutch Revolt, and the limits of imperial power. #SiegeOfOstend #EightyYearsWar #SpanishTercio #AmbrogioSpinola #ArchdukeAlbert #FrancisVere #Ostend #Flanders #TrenchWarfare #PyrrhicVictory #DutchRevolt #ArmyOfFlanders #MiningWarfare #1601 #EarlyModernWarfare #History #FexingoHistory #SpanishEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo