The Spanish Tercios 1536–1704 cover

Description

A mixed infantry formation made up of about 3,000 men armed with pikes, swords and handguns, the innovative and influential tercio or 'Spanish square' was the basic combat unit of the armies of Spain throughout much of the 16th and 17th centuries. Arguably the first permanent tactical formation seen in Europe since the Roman cohort, the tercio was the forerunner of modern formations such as the battalion and regiment. The variety of different weapons fielded in the tercio meant the Spanish infantry could resist opposing cavalry forces while overcoming every kind of enemy infantry deployed against them. Featuring full-colour artwork and photographs of rare items held at the Spanish Army Museum, this study covers the whole period during which the tercios were active, opening with the third Italian war between the forces of France and the Holy Roman Emperor and concluding with the final transformation of the Spanish tercios into regiments in 1704.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Antecedents of tercios in Gonzalo de Córdoba's early 16th-century Italian campaigns /Ordinance of Geneva, and creation of first tercios by Emperor Charles V /Recruitment, training, organization and logistics – the 'Spanish Road' across Europe /Ranks and duties within a tercio /Morale and esprit de corps – the 'Spanish Fury' /Weapons, armour, clothing, flags /Tactics – use of weapons in combination /Evolution – orders of battle – naval tercios /Decline /Bibliography

Product details

Published Jul 24 2012
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781849087933
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 8 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Men-at-Arms
Short code MAA 481
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Illustrator

Gerry Embleton

Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator an…

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