The Spanish Tercios: Masters of the Battlefield

Before the Armada, before the galleons, Spain's military machine — the Tercios — dominated European battlefields for over a century. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of this fearsome infantry formation: its origins in the Italian Wars under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the iconic combination of pike and arquebus, and the brutal siege of Pavia in 1525 where the French king Francis I was captured. They also discuss the logistical genius behind the Spanish Road, the legendary mutinies at Antwerp, and the slow decline at Rocroi in 1643. Along the way, they touch on key figures like the Duke of Alba and the tercio veteran Bernardo de Aldana. This is a story of discipline, innovation, and the human cost of empire. #SpanishTercios #Tercio #PikeAndShot #GonzaloFernandezDeCordoba #ItalianWars #BattleOfPavia #FrancisI #DukeOfAlba #SpanishRoad #MutinyAtAntwerp #Rocroi #BernardoDeAldana #MilitaryHistory #GoldenAgeSpain #Habsburg #16thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #SpainHistory #Reconquista Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo