Spanish Tercios: One Of The Greatest Infantry Forces In European History

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  • Опубликовано: 23 июл 2018
  • / history_uncovered
    Spanish Tercios were considered by many to be the most dominant infantry fighting force throughout Early Modern Europe. Developed as a unit in the first part of the 16th century, they dominated European battlefields for nearly 150 years.
    Learn what made them so effective and what separated them from other powers that tried to emulate their success on the field of battle.
    Music:
    The Spanish Guitar in the Renaissance and Baroque
    / the-spanish-guitar-in-...

Комментарии • 2,1 тыс.

  • @userWCFL
    @userWCFL 4 года назад +1240

    Spain doesn't get as much recognition unlike the french and English do. If they did there would be a lot more movies about Spanish history.

    • @VooDooMaGicMan81
      @VooDooMaGicMan81 4 года назад +163

      There will be no positive movies made depicting the exploits of any historic European armies.
      Marxists run the film industry.
      I'm sure if you search classic Spanish-made movies you'll find such content though.

    • @jackpot3541
      @jackpot3541 4 года назад +56

      I would say that the movie industry that makes these types of movies are descents of english/white cultures why would they glorify spanish or hispanic armies in there movies? Its there platform they will makes movies to whom they have more of cultural allegiance to. Since all the war movies have been about english/braveheart/ roman/gladiator, greece/spartans Usa/saving private ryan I had no clue Spain had such formidable warriors.

    • @jjgf8412
      @jjgf8412 4 года назад +130

      @@jackpot3541 i mean...gladiator was about a spanish general and later a gladiator.
      So now we are not white? Ok thanks for the update.
      It's very interesting how you think that spanish culture is a complete diferent thing than european culture, it's very expread this idea,i guess is kinda "death by succes" we had our own sphere of influence,our own world,so we are not so influence by the english and their history.I guess that it would happen the same if we would have won the "war of influence" between France,England and Castille.But we'll see in the future,maybe not spain but one of the hispanic countries could be a superpower in the future.

    • @RuizDream
      @RuizDream 4 года назад +52

      @@jackpot3541 That we do not have good warriors? ... it shows that you have studied history, from Spain you can find feats from the time of the Romans to the time of Napoleon Bonaparte as something worth showing on the screen.

    • @conni70
      @conni70 4 года назад +30

      the nation that is the most underrepresented is Portugal , not Spain....remember, it was the Portuguese who invented, pioneered and developed every major technological advancement in maritime exploration, ship design & building, cartography and naval warfare almost 100 years before Spain got in the exploration business..

  • @39Thorns
    @39Thorns 4 года назад +604

    Because of the Black Legend, Spain and Spanish history does not figure as prominently in Western consciousness as it should. A truly great, world-changing civilization, highly sophisticated culture based on honor, duty and God.

    • @user-jo2cv1dy1b
      @user-jo2cv1dy1b 4 года назад +74

      What does Spain have to do with your current civil wars, your narcos and dictators? If anything you should blame your own countries incompetence, also when was there a genocide? All ex-Spanish colonies still have their original people wether they're mestizos or indigenous tribes

    • @user-jo2cv1dy1b
      @user-jo2cv1dy1b 4 года назад +13

      @Emp Nda Next time make yourself more clear, the way you express yourself looks like ass

    • @Native_Creation
      @Native_Creation 4 года назад +9

      The Black Legend has a big part in it, but it wasn't all made up. As fascinating as Spain is, a very rich history and complex past (I'm part Spanish as well), there was still a lot of injustice and racial prejudices in the Casta System. When many countries gained independence, they didn't change the system, merely who inherited the roles, and that is why there is still corruption to this day. But important is also the role of the U.S. imperialization, whom dominated and shaped the hemisphere after the Texas Revolution and won critical wars against Mexico and Spain for imperial dominance. This is when the Latin American identity formed in the response to Angelican Manifest Destiny. Just like the Aztecs, you could say the Spanish sacrificed much blood in their conquest for the Crown, Glory, God, and most importantly Gold. As fabled, Cortez famously stated to the Mexica “I and my companions suffer from a disease of the heart which can be cured only with gold.”

    • @user-jo2cv1dy1b
      @user-jo2cv1dy1b 4 года назад +25

      @@Native_Creation It's undeniable that Spain had it's injustices, it wasn't perfect. As there are good people there are always those who aren't and abuse their power and corrupt others but we shouldn't only look at the grim side but also apreciatte the good deeds that the good and honourable men fought and died for

    • @thatdutchguy2882
      @thatdutchguy2882 4 года назад +4

      1st verse
      Notice how strongly he puts himself to work
      Who has ever fought against our freedom
      See how he slaves away, digs and marches with force
      For our goods and our blood and our cities.
      Hear the Spanish drums beat!
      Hear the Moorish trumpets!
      See how he comes over
      to occupy Bergen.
      Chorus
      Berg op Zoom stay faithful,
      Stem the Spanish hordes;
      Let our land's trees and its streams
      be loyally guarded!
      2nd verse
      The courageous, bloody, wrathful sword
      It shone and it clanged such that the sparks flew from it.
      Quaking and shaking, upheaval of earth,
      Wonder and thunder, what was below is now above;
      Through all the mines and the gunnery,
      That one could hear all day,
      Many a Spaniard in his cabin
      choked on his own blood.
      Chorus
      Berg op Zoom stays faithful,
      it stems the Spanish hordes;
      It has kept our land's trees and its streams
      loyally guarded!
      3rd verse
      He of Orange came to oppose the Spanish,
      From the field he repelled their violence as a hero;
      And as soon as Spinola heard it,
      He beat a fast retreat with all his lords.
      Cordua soon crawled forth,
      He failed to win there
      Don Velasco was disturbed
      There was nothing he could do
      Chorus
      Berg op Zoom stay faithful,
      it stems the Spanish hordes;
      It has kept our land's trees and its streams
      loyally guarded!
      Not that honorable m8, they were brutish killers, eventually beaten by the Dutch.

  • @Bufoferrata
    @Bufoferrata 4 года назад +213

    British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery wrote a book on military history after he retired. One of the chapters is entitled "The Greatness of Spain." He examines the innovations and triumphs of such brilliant Spanish commanders as Gonzalo De Cordoba "El Gran Capitan."
    Montgomery concluded that the Spanish infantry were, for over century, the finest soldiers in Europe and possibly the world. High praise indeed, especially coming from a man whose country was so often in conflict with the Spanish.
    C.V. Wedgwood, in her magisterial "The Thirty Years War" wrote of the Battle of Rocroi:
    "They had not lost their reputation at Rocroy as the Swedes had done at Nordlingen, but they had died to keep it." She concluded: "In the centre of their position on the fields before Rocroy there stands today a little modern monument, an unassuming grey monolith, the gravestone of the Spanish army; almost, one might say, the gravestone of Spanish greatness."

    • @vinz4066
      @vinz4066 11 месяцев назад

      Tbf it wasnt spanish troops fleeing.

    • @VicoMC-rf3us
      @VicoMC-rf3us 9 месяцев назад +1

      @@vinz4066 Huyeron los británicos de Blas de Lezo. El Hombre que Humilló y Destrozó a la Royal Navy. Eso le duele...y los triste es que la "Armada Invencible Británica" no..lo reconoce esa Gran Humillante DERROTA 👎, por qué..? por temor aque llegara a Oídos de su Colonias y Europa ( Ser Desprentiguiado por Europa del Norte era lo que jamás querrían). Para seguir vendiendo el mito de Armada Invencible..???😂😂😂

    • @Gloriaimperial1
      @Gloriaimperial1 7 месяцев назад +6

      After Rocroi 1643, Spain defeated the French in Catalonia, Italy and Belgium. In fact, we were in the Spanish Netherlands until 1713, and in Italy until 1759. We recovered Italy by defeating the Austrian empire in 1734, in one month. France and the Netherlands lost Quebec, New York, India and South Africa to the British, while Spain defeated the British in America, and they could only capture 1 in 400 pairs of Spanish Empire in 300 years, so Spain's reputation was only lost in the context of the 40 years of war between the French revolutionary wars 1792, Napoleon's invasion 1808-1814, mixed with the war in Latin America 1810-1825 and the liberal revolutions. So Spain is exhausted. But we began global expansion 200 years before the English and French.

    • @EmisoraRadioPatio
      @EmisoraRadioPatio 7 месяцев назад +1

      @@Gloriaimperial1 The Spanish tercios also dealt France it's worst defeat of the 17th century at Valenciennes.

    • @Gloriaimperial1
      @Gloriaimperial1 7 месяцев назад +1

      @@EmisoraRadioPatio Ahí está, no caí en el dato en ese momento. ¡Muy bien apuntado, gracias! 🙂👍

  • @felicetanka
    @felicetanka 4 года назад +162

    Hispania: sword of Rome.

  • @stuka80
    @stuka80 6 лет назад +655

    60% unit casualties in the middle of battle and not breaking is ridiculous, i had no idea Spanish Tercios were this effective

    • @rubencuadros7174
      @rubencuadros7174 6 лет назад +192

      At the Battle of Nordlingen, a senior Swedish official said: We had never faced an infantry soldier like the Spaniard. It does not collapse, it is a rock, it does not deserve and it resists patiently until it can defeat you "

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +139

      stuka80 spaniards were a force to be reckon.
      Theres accounts where they would fight without getting paid, and according to tradition during imperial times the spaniards had almost exclusively the "privilege" to charge first before italians or germans. They considered the germans good soldiers but very unreliable because they cared more about money, and saw italians as decent fighters but not good enough, thats why when an italian tercio charged first into battle they gained the respect from all the spanish soldiers

    • @laertes9505
      @laertes9505 6 лет назад +15

      The artillery was not as effective as it would be later. Also, they were not as close a formation as is believed. The arquebusiers used to move in "mangas" or platoons around the square of pikemen and they ran to take refuge inside when the cavalry charge.

    • @gapos0180
      @gapos0180 5 лет назад +61

      People are never aware of what Spain did and look it as a weak nation

    • @Stahlen
      @Stahlen 5 лет назад +20

      And we are very proud of that. Tercios were the stones of our empire. Un saludo! :)

  • @brandonbohr.7301
    @brandonbohr.7301 6 лет назад +586

    The Spanish tercios won almost every battle in 16th century.

    • @alvaromartinez8209
      @alvaromartinez8209 6 лет назад +44

      field battles yes. However, at the time many battles were sieges. Sieges were long and costly affairs, a few mediocre soldiers could challenge a better and larger army behind solid walls. If the fortress was located n top of hard rock, just above the water table or even better on an island close to the coast, 16the century fortresses built in the new style called "trace italienne" were almost impossible to take. In many cases, an army laying siege would not survive winter plagued by diseases and desertions.

    • @ignaerium487
      @ignaerium487 6 лет назад +30

      Indeed, most of them were sieges but look battle of lepanto, pavia, some in 80 years war and etc...

    • @antoniolima1068
      @antoniolima1068 6 лет назад +4

      they tried an anfibious assault on my island and they lost, we used bulls to defeat them, look for salga batle.

    • @DidierDidier-kc4nm
      @DidierDidier-kc4nm 5 лет назад +13

      NOPE they lost at Ravenne and Cerisolles against french (30% of loses one of biggest rate of renaissance battle loses !!) BUT yes they were great soldiers and at least there is topic about them !!

    • @albertoc1973
      @albertoc1973 5 лет назад +33

      @@DidierDidier-kc4nm but you lost that war, and in fact in ravenna the spaniards outskilled their ciunterpart infantry, and when they were alone, they calmly retreated.
      And yes spanish infantry has been the best in history, being undefeated for 100 years in open field.

  • @peterp4037
    @peterp4037 4 года назад +66

    Difficult to see videos that treat Spanish history in a fair and respectful way but this video is one of them. Thanks.

  • @juanmanuelzardainbuganza8889
    @juanmanuelzardainbuganza8889 6 лет назад +1308

    Not many know or appreciate the Spanish tercios, good man I thank you for your effort and dedication, muchas gracias.

    • @juanmanuelzardainbuganza8889
      @juanmanuelzardainbuganza8889 6 лет назад +48

      Provocateur wey soy mexico-español, se lo que digo.

    • @juanlulourido548
      @juanlulourido548 6 лет назад +11

      Provocateur
      Not intended lmao

    • @Titantr0n
      @Titantr0n 6 лет назад +5

      What? They're all over the place in popular culture and all I've seen or read about them is praise.

    • @rubencuadros7174
      @rubencuadros7174 6 лет назад +6

      Provocateur 1.000 million 😂😂😂

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +33

      Provocateur thank you for being ignorant and believing the black legend impulsed by the british

  • @jdz9952
    @jdz9952 4 года назад +220

    Back when the Spanish flag caused fear in land and the sea

    • @legolasmvp3067
      @legolasmvp3067 3 года назад +4

      Nelson Noob

    • @TavoDev
      @TavoDev 3 года назад +14

      @@legolasmvp3067 that is a fact

    • @alvar534
      @alvar534 3 года назад +16

      @@legolasmvp3067 nelson lost one of arms while trying to take Tenerife with 7000 soldiers and much greater fire power against roughly 2000 soldiers and militia (villagers con professional). Had to surrender, and that wasn't a exception for him. Bad experiences for nelson when facing the spaniards

    • @alvar534
      @alvar534 3 года назад +11

      @@accountterms9456 sure. Prior to going to Canarias Nelson attacked cadiz and fail miserably, so much so that the people of cadiz used to chant afterwards " ¿de qué sirve a los ingleses tener fragatas ligeras , si saben que mazarredo tiene lanchas cañoneras? Mazarredo was the spanish commander

    • @blade5896
      @blade5896 3 года назад +1

      @@alvar534 he did alright at trafalgar lol

  • @EpimetheusHistory
    @EpimetheusHistory 6 лет назад +605

    Fantastic video! Love to see the Tercios getting covered, perhaps my favorite historical military unit; they had a great ability to adapt and a really unique military culture surrounding them. They do not get enough attention-Thank you for doing a great job! :)

    • @williamkartatar4759
      @williamkartatar4759 6 лет назад +7

      Mein too XD

    • @moviejose3249
      @moviejose3249 6 лет назад +20

      The defense of Castelnuovo deserves its own story

    • @salvadorpacheco18
      @salvadorpacheco18 6 лет назад +8

      Please a video about the Empel´s battle

    • @antonio703
      @antonio703 6 лет назад +31

      Epimetheus the Anglo-Saxon culture that is hispanophobic causes the history of the Tercios to be hidden

    • @bfkwknsc5639
      @bfkwknsc5639 6 лет назад +3

      antonio703 So True

  • @julioalbertocamposmedrano2830
    @julioalbertocamposmedrano2830 6 лет назад +354

    In spanish we have an expression "bicoca" that means something easy to get or acomplish, and it come frome the Battle of Bicoca. This battle between the Tercios and its allies against the french and its allies, resulted in a spanish victory with a casualtie toll of 3000 casualties for the frenchs and 1 for the spanish and even this one was for the kick of a donkey not for enemy actions.

    • @reddyforlenny9389
      @reddyforlenny9389 5 лет назад +25

      A good spaniard always take a piss pointing towards the rest of Europe and away from the New World.

    • @piotrmoklinowski9103
      @piotrmoklinowski9103 4 года назад +50

      @@reddyforlenny9389 Only pointing to England (Blas de Lezo)

    • @reddyforlenny9389
      @reddyforlenny9389 4 года назад +31

      @@piotrmoklinowski9103 Blas De Lezo A.K.A the greatest general you never heard of before may he live forever in glory

    • @piotrmoklinowski9103
      @piotrmoklinowski9103 4 года назад +26

      @@reddyforlenny9389 Blas de Lezo fought against the British and the Dutch in front of my home town, Málaga. Here he lost his left leg when he was only 15 years old Qué sabrás tú lo que yo sé o no... Málaga, patria de los GALVEZ, VIRREYES DE NUEVA ESPAÑA.

    • @reddyforlenny9389
      @reddyforlenny9389 4 года назад +14

      @@piotrmoklinowski9103 he fought in my home country Colombia defending Cartagena de Indis, one of his most fameous victories truly an underrated figure

  • @rejmons1
    @rejmons1 6 лет назад +673

    Why I admire the Spanish Conquistadors? Because they were the bravest warriors of all the time. A fight a few against thousands? No problem! Sailing on a great unknown sea? Why not? The mad journey through the huge, dark, unknown jungle? When we will start? Trip through cold and deadly dangerous mountains? Similar answer. The hunt on a dragon? Boring! The famous response of Gimli from LOTR: "Certainty of death? Small chance of success? What are we waiting for?" suits them best.

    • @marinagutierrez3487
      @marinagutierrez3487 6 лет назад +92

      Tomasz Wójcik The best was when 450 Spanish soldiers defeated the Aztec empire of 10 million people, destroyed its capital, Tenochitlan, of 300,000 people, and destroyed an army of 60,000 Aztecs composed of jaguar legionnaires.

    • @rejmons1
      @rejmons1 6 лет назад +88

      I do not care about the political results of their conquests. But imagine yourself the situation: 450 people are going to fight with hundreds of thousands. Can you imagine yourself in this situation? Me not! Me probably could escape and hide on a safe ship. They exactly knew how small are chances of success and what awaits them in the event of a loss, but they took up the challenger with no visible signs of fear. Like Cesar - they came, they saw and they won!

    • @rejmons1
      @rejmons1 6 лет назад +86

      By the way: Something is completely "no hello" with the narration of historians: One hundred years before this conquest the chords of Tamerlane destroyed with most brutal barbarism India, Iran, Iraq, the Country of Kurds, Armenia, and Georgia. They killed hundred of thousands Shiits, Buddhist, Hindu, Christians. But who cares? At the same time Cossacks of Jermak (Russia) destroyed the Siberia Khanate and Kazan Khanate and killed thousands of Mongols and Tatars. Who cares? No one! And Jermak is the Russian hero. At the some time Khan Babur and his chords destroyed India. Who cares? Even more: Spaniards and Germans in 1527 completely destroyed Rome. They destroyed very valuable cultural monuments, they killed thousands of Romans, they raped thousands of Roman women (Sacco di Roma). Does anyone remember that? No! But the destruction of the Aztec state and the plunder of their capital are known to everyone... So, why historians generous tears pour, and do not generous the some "tearsfall" when they are writing about the exploits of Jermak or Babur? I think, because the Conquistadors were WHITE WEST EUROPEANS and Catholics!

    • @MFallion
      @MFallion 6 лет назад +91

      Tomasz Wójcik I'm a Spanish speaker, I consider this my own culture has well the ancient mesoamerican culture, I'm heavily proud of both of them, but contrary to popular belief, the Spanish who came to the continent where not professional soldiers, yet they got quite impressive victories, but they didn't win alone, thousands of Tlaxcaltecas, Totonacs, and other minor states joined the Spanish to fight the Mexicas (actual name of the aztecs) and the weapon than allowed them to win was the viruela, not the steel.
      I loved your comment BTW.

    • @aresse3725
      @aresse3725 6 лет назад +7

      you like conquistadores? great. now you better like african and arab immigrants too, they are the 21st century conquistadores. you cannot use double standard here.

  • @taggebagge
    @taggebagge 5 лет назад +276

    I did not know that we Swedes fought against the Spanish Tercio during the thirty years war.
    I think it can't really be understated, the Spanish achievement of fighting us in 1634 and attaining a victory of arms. At the time of the thirty years war Sweden was blessed with a king who greatly reformed the Swedish military, and we had fought against the Danish, the Russians and the Polish with his reforms in place, and due to the training he put his men through much of it had been a great success. Even the Holy Roman Empire was beaten at the Battle of Lützen in 1632, with the king bravely falling in battle.
    To fight us just two years after, and yet alone come out of the battle on top is indeed very impressing.
    Very much liked this video and warm regards from Sweden to former enemies, now european brethren, in Spain.

    • @alvaromartinez8209
      @alvaromartinez8209 5 лет назад +34

      probably you did not heard about the battle of Nordlingen because the Swedes lost. Still, the Swedes fought very well and almost won but they were outnumbered by a third.

    • @joaquinandreu8530
      @joaquinandreu8530 5 лет назад +37

      Yep, normally the Swedes operated in the North and the Spaniards in the South. The Battle of the Nordlingen was the only one were they classed. Loves from Spain, you are always welcomed here!

    • @carpetclimber4027
      @carpetclimber4027 5 лет назад +5

      Not much of the Swedish army was actually Swedish by then. At the start of the war, the army was 95% Swedish and Finnish, at the end, 5%.

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +4

      Carpet Climber Where from was the rest? Germany?

    • @tesseract2144
      @tesseract2144 5 лет назад +7

      @@raphtube75 Yep, mostly protestant states of the HRE and maybe some French

  • @caladvwlch10
    @caladvwlch10 4 года назад +28

    The number of battles in which they totally swept the enemy in numerical inferiority and with hardly any casualties of their own is INCREDIBLE.

  • @granudisimo
    @granudisimo 4 года назад +128

    Dude, we literally invented Marines, although we called them "Infantería de marina".
    Soldiers that were equally good in land and sea, another innovation brought by the Tercios that is still relevant today.

    • @LEREDOUTABLE
      @LEREDOUTABLE 3 года назад +18

      Oldest marine corps

    • @eldorados_lost_searcher
      @eldorados_lost_searcher 3 года назад +10

      Pretty sure the Romans invented the concept of marines, however I'll concede that the Spanish tercios de marina were the formal revival of the unit type.

    • @juibus3414
      @juibus3414 3 года назад +23

      @@eldorados_lost_searcher Technically no, the Romans had legionnaires and other troops that accompanied vessels but the Spaniards where the first to purpose train fighting men to serve as marine borne infantry, and their only purpose was to fight aboard ships or disembark whilst fighting.

    • @beirakeiser1039
      @beirakeiser1039 3 года назад +2

      It was the Portuguese

    • @darkgames26
      @darkgames26 2 года назад

      @@juibus3414 investiga más quienes fueron los Tartessos y cambiaras de opinión. Los Taressos son los padres del mediterráneo, los antiguos atlantes.

  • @olegdolinskii5546
    @olegdolinskii5546 Год назад +98

    Greetings from Ukraine! 🇺🇦🇪🇸 Spanish history is so rich and magnificent! Spanish Tercios were a truly ingenious and formidable military formations, a true juggernaut that rolled over its enemies for many decades and brave Spanish warriors were true gods of war of their time! Let the Cross of Burgundy flag fly forever! Be proud, Spain! Greetings from Ukraine 🇺🇦🇪🇸!

    • @jackcarson9046
      @jackcarson9046 Год назад +7

      Ukraine not a real country.

    • @las_espannas
      @las_espannas Год назад +10

      ​@@jackcarson9046Why?

    • @franciscojavierferres26
      @franciscojavierferres26 Год назад +13

      @@las_espannas Slava Ukraini. Glory to the great people of Ukrain.

    • @DonSerlgs
      @DonSerlgs 11 месяцев назад +8

      Slava Ukrain

    • @mhoadievdelapaz3703
      @mhoadievdelapaz3703 11 месяцев назад +1

      @@las_espannas Ukr through Elensky are just following orders from his superiors in White House.

  • @marekck
    @marekck 4 года назад +66

    Without forgetting that with the master Carranza, in the 16th century a new fencing method was developed, the Spanish skill, which combined with the dagger of sailing, or vizcaína, is considered as the Spanish martial art.
    And the Spanish sword was unrivaled, lagging behind French or Italian fencing, the Spanish on land were invincible, and for the English, on any surface, because their victories against Spain are exaggerated, and their many defeats against Spain are hidden. (the vast majority of battles)

    • @msrlapin99
      @msrlapin99 6 месяцев назад

      As someone who's used Destreza and fought fairly skilled diestros in HEMA contests, I find that it requires an amount of mobility that's hard to find on a battlefield,. It's more likely that tercio swordsmen used something similar to Godhino, or common Iberian swordplay similar to the swordsmanship of most cutting swords in Europe. There are principles of destreza that could be used by a ronelero, but the art isn't designed with sword and shield in mind.

  • @ElXulin
    @ElXulin 6 лет назад +114

    Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, also known as Gran Capitán, was the father of the Tercios. I recomend a book called ''Tercios'' whose author is José Javier Esparza. In the book he explains from the origin of the Tercios to the end of them, starting in the Hispania Romana era (explaining why the Spanish soldiers were especially efficent due to their millitary tradition) and also speaking about the Reconquista.

  • @danielw.8356
    @danielw.8356 4 года назад +64

    In all honesty their needs to be more Spanish History movies. Their power from the 1500's to even the early 1800's was prominent, and at many times, were the most powerful empire in Europe.

  • @gonzapra1
    @gonzapra1 6 лет назад +220

    Some amazing facts of the tercios:
    -Their combat skill came in part from the fact that anyone in Spain learned how to use a sword at school, and swordsmanship was a skill required to any wooer by any woman. It was at this time when the sport version of fencing was invented.
    -In combat, hearing the orders from the command chain was as important as it could be, and silence discipline became so binding that anyone screaming during a charge or at any other moment could be killed by any other companion in situ if he was making hard for others to hear orders.
    -It was one of the first combat units to place new and young soldiers at the rear of the formation, leaving the front lines to the veterans, to the point that a new soldier could spend months in the front without taking part on any real combat. This was one of the reasons why the usually suffered low casualties.
    -This soldiers where so hard to kill that many times they won a battle suffering one, five or twelve casualties, while completly destroying the enemy army. (Battle of bioca: from 19000 to 30000 enemies vs 18000 spanish soldiers: 3000 enemy casualties, 1 spanish casualty. Empel battle: 10 ships full of soldiers vs 5000 spaniards, all ten ships captured, no spanish casualties.)
    -The birth of this unit can be found on "Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1453-1515)" an amazing general whose adventures will surely amaze and entretain any viewer of this channel :)

    • @Dell-ol6hb
      @Dell-ol6hb 4 года назад +6

      Gonzalo I highly doubt everyone (male) is trained with a sword at school, school was a huge luxury in the 1500s so I doubt anyone besides no less nobles’ kids and merchants’ children were going to be put in school, otherwise every other kid likely helped their parents at whatever their occupation was whether that be farming, tanning, herding, etc. Pretty much like the rest of Europe in that regard.

    • @gentlemanfarmer6042
      @gentlemanfarmer6042 4 года назад +7

      @@Dell-ol6hb I didn't know peasants and farmers were allowed in the Royal Army at that time.
      Re-read your comment and I think you answer your own question my friend, by anyone, he ment "anyone capable" , Nobility and Merchants Sons ......
      Because you're right, peasants and farmers sons would not have gone to school.

    • @internetwonderbuilder4741
      @internetwonderbuilder4741 4 года назад +7

      @@gentlemanfarmer6042I've read that many conquistadors came from the peasant class, and for them joining on to new world expeditions was a potential path out of poverty. I have never heard anything other than that all the conquistadors were excellent fighters. Also, Spain due to a military tradition born out of 800 years of continuous warfare with the Moors, probably treated swordsmanship as a national tradition rather than a thing only allowed for the elite.

    • @gentlemanfarmer6042
      @gentlemanfarmer6042 4 года назад +1

      @@internetwonderbuilder4741 Never said that, please go back and re-read.
      The first part of that response is faceious, in response to Dell's post.
      I agree with you there. Anyone going to the new world, were poorer and peasants. Lol large numbers of people were lost on journeys over seas, Governers and Royalty just played the numbrrs game with the lower classes.
      As far as the Landed Conquistadors of Europe were Nobilty, no other way around this.
      This is the way it was, that's why large swathes of poorer people took the huge gamble of crossing oceans to start a new life.
      As far as the moors, it's really The Almohads, the Almovariads ( I know I butchered those) culture that were talking about.
      And let's be real, just like Europe ..the middle east and the world of Islam had nobilty, Freeman, serfs, merchants etc...as well.
      Arabs were the most important on a list of People's.
      The Creole Hiararchy that was put in place in America , in regions owned by Spain. Where degrees of cultural freedoms were awarded to individuals who were of poorer blood. That's a legacy of the Moors in Spain.
      Not swords, up untill the late 14th century only the very highest of nobility carried swords into battle.
      They were mostly ceromonial objects, work during feast and such.
      It's not like you see in movies and tv shows, evryone running around with swords and shit, very inaccurate.

    • @internetwonderbuilder4741
      @internetwonderbuilder4741 4 года назад +3

      @@gentlemanfarmer6042 you never said what precisely? Reread my comment. Further, I was under the impression that the context here was 16th - 17th century Spaniards, not Spain before the 1300's? What I stated was that Spain had a unique martial tradition within Europe due to its previous history of Moorish occupation. Such a martial tradition would have fostered good swordsmanship in general among the population relative to other European peoples, meaning that a poor Spaniard probably handled a sword better than a poor Italian for example, even without the benefit of formal learning. Also I have read that all Spaniards were subject to conscription, and renowned for their willingness to take up arms when ordered to, thus many Spanish peasants were also at least somewhat experienced veterans as well as farmers/rope makers/cobblers etc.

  • @mueslisnipes9515
    @mueslisnipes9515 5 лет назад +24

    Kudos to the team who made this video. As a spaniard, I kindly appreciate an anglo team, raised in culture still influenced by protestant mindset and anti catholicism where the black legend is in force, made such accurate and fair video. Honores para vosotros.

  • @user-YuHaoHuang
    @user-YuHaoHuang 4 года назад +22

    60% casualty rate is ridiculous in medieval armies, when even the most well trained armies would've routed with 20% casualty

  • @nassauguy48
    @nassauguy48 3 года назад +33

    Love and admiration for Spain from Greece!

  • @samfricker6355
    @samfricker6355 6 лет назад +203

    I've recently become fascinated by the Tercio formation, and lo and behold, a video decends from the heavens to answer all my questions! Thanks!

    • @chickenman2048
      @chickenman2048 6 лет назад +7

      Sam Fricker same here, trying to use the tercio for my total war game tactics

    • @samfricker6355
      @samfricker6355 6 лет назад

      Oh man, that would be so awesome! Which TW?

    • @Cholimao
      @Cholimao 6 лет назад +1

      Sam there's a mod of Empire TW is called Colonialism 1600 is a little bit green but got the units and is pretty good.

    • @samfricker6355
      @samfricker6355 6 лет назад

      Thanks that sounds really awesome! I'd absolutely love a TW game set in the 30 years war, that would be great

    • @arthas640
      @arthas640 6 лет назад

      I was literally watching a video about the Dutch revolution the day before this was posted, and it got me wondering about the details of the Tercio :3

  • @342Rodry
    @342Rodry 6 лет назад +540

    ¡Plus Ultra!

    • @JM-fo1te
      @JM-fo1te 6 лет назад +53

      Plvs Vltra

    • @regal677
      @regal677 6 лет назад +34

      It's obvious that Charles V stole this phrase from All Might

    • @pablofloresmunoz2306
      @pablofloresmunoz2306 5 лет назад +17

      Santiago y cierra España!

    • @AlvaroS21
      @AlvaroS21 5 лет назад +16

      Viva España!!

    • @Dell-ol6hb
      @Dell-ol6hb 4 года назад +1

      Sergio B. Lol

  • @kyomademon453
    @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +51

    150 years dominating the battlefield against all foes, willing to fight without pay and very eager to deal big casualties when outnumbered before falling to death, the warriors of hispania have been an elite force thru history.

    • @kratos2758
      @kratos2758 4 года назад

      Idiot. Theyre more like destroyer not warriors and they are bad people. They invaded and killed many innocent lives. They cant win without guns.

    • @grigorirasputin7165
      @grigorirasputin7165 4 года назад

      @@kratos2758 Salty latino?

    • @colacao6065
      @colacao6065 3 года назад +8

      @@kratos2758 I didn't know I was in an online circus. The Tercios were a military unit that only operated in Europe. And during their two centuries of existence they were in charge of protecting THE LEGITIMATE TERRITORIES OF THE KING OF SPAIN.
      They were never an invading force, on the contrary, IT WAS THE OTHER COUNTRIES that wanted to invade territories of the Spanish empire.
      And let's not talk about America, you bore me with so much black legend. To know what country you are from and the atrocities it has committed...

  • @lubrjavo
    @lubrjavo 4 года назад +25

    Spain has always been underepresented. Why do you think most don't know about the Spanish civil war ? It is the true start of ww II .

  • @vtorresalonso3107
    @vtorresalonso3107 6 лет назад +34

    Thank you, mate. From A spanish guy, god bless you

  • @fricheck9828
    @fricheck9828 5 лет назад +160

    No hay en toda la historia del mundo una infantería tan heróica y valiente como la española, sus gestas superan con creces a cualquier otra.
    200 años antes que los británicos, con muchísimos menos medios y personas dominamos y conquistamos extensos territorios en los cinco continentes.¿ Qué nación puede ni siquiera compararse?

    • @thedarkestwhite9460
      @thedarkestwhite9460 4 года назад +1

      Portugal was 5 times smaller and did pretty much the same you narcissistic Spaniard

    • @thedarkestwhite9460
      @thedarkestwhite9460 4 года назад

      @@slppl1684 stfu low iq simp

    • @juibus3414
      @juibus3414 3 года назад +1

      @@thedarkestwhite9460 We are brothers, dont forget that my brother.

    • @LuisBrito-ly1ko
      @LuisBrito-ly1ko 3 года назад +7

      Roman Republic, Macedon, Persia, Mongolia, Portugal, Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of France... there’s plenty of nations that can compare to and surpass Spain.
      As for the infantry thing, there’s plenty of people throughout history than can dispute that statement. Like the Romans.

    • @pantherausf.d6914
      @pantherausf.d6914 2 года назад

      Perfecta comparación: El Imperio Británico en la Era Victoriana.

  • @philliphapsburg8575
    @philliphapsburg8575 6 лет назад +81

    I approve this video

    • @alecity4877
      @alecity4877 6 лет назад +9

      you are felipe, not phillip!

    • @angelmatesmolan
      @angelmatesmolan 5 лет назад

      @@alecity4877 in english is Phillip maybe he's english?

    • @alecity4877
      @alecity4877 5 лет назад

      @@angelmatesmolan It's a joke, his nickname does reference to The king of Spain, well king of castile, "phillip von hapsburg" who was called actually "Felipe", I'm just saying he is felipe not phillip as a joke of the rivalry between spain and england.

    • @angelmatesmolan
      @angelmatesmolan 5 лет назад

      @@alecity4877 Iknow but I thought you didn't xD

  • @Veldtian1
    @Veldtian1 6 лет назад +66

    I think the Muslims and the constant invasions of Spain and the subsequent expulsion of them in the late 1400's is one of the primary reason why their techniques, tactics and procedures where so well honed over hundreds of years of mortal struggle.

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +8

      Veldtian1 eeh not really, by 1250 the muslims were no longer a major threat to spain since castilla made granada its vassal kingdom, the conquest of granada and the italian wars along the command of the great captain gonzalo showed the world what spaniards were capable off

    • @aresse3725
      @aresse3725 6 лет назад +4

      the threat came from the Almoravids, Almohads and Merinids not from Granadans. the war the Merinids lost in 1340 in Andalusia was the end of the muslim threat.

    • @BicornioSPA
      @BicornioSPA 5 лет назад +4

      Thats from everything, in age of Rome and even before, "spaniards" have a great fame infantry.

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +1

      Veldtian1 Right. That plus the institutions created along the process made Spain the most advanced nation in Europe by 1500 and a world power.

    • @OCVrm7
      @OCVrm7 5 лет назад +5

      Were centuries of fighting and oppressions so after that Spaniards became beasts of combat.

  • @tacoespacial9443
    @tacoespacial9443 5 лет назад +39

    Long live to Spain.

  • @snipershadow3011
    @snipershadow3011 4 года назад +34

    I've always been fascinated with the Spanish Tercios although I never found detailed info on them. They are a good explanation of Spain's success against much larger foes such as the Aztec, Inca and Ottoman Empires during the XVI and XVII centuries. Thanks for the video.

    • @Trikipum
      @Trikipum 3 года назад +9

      No tercios in America.. those in american just had steel balls and were good at diplomacy but not such a thing as tercios in america.. specially because the military forces in every conflict in america didnt have enough troops to fill up 1/10 of a tercio..

    • @antoniolopezlopez4236
      @antoniolopezlopez4236 Год назад +1

      Regarding the Aztecas, the castilian were a minority in the conquest of Mexico.
      The fall of Tenochtliclan was achieved by an army composed 98% of natives, mainly Tlaxcaltecas, allies of the castilian troops headed by Hernan Cortes.
      In the case of the Incas, in the south, when Pizarro arrived Peru there was already a civil war and Huáscar was fighting his half brother Atahualpa. Here Pizarro married Huascar's sister Quispe Sisa, and as result the first mixed blooded Inca princess was born; called Francisca Pizarro Yupanqui. It was a very intelligent diplomacy move.
      Te success of spaniards in America was more because of diplomacy and cunning than the power of the weapons. You can for example search about the history of Malintzin, the native woman who helped Cortés, and the privileges of Tlaxcaltecas or Otomíes after the conquest, to see how important were castillian native allies; withouth them, it wouldn't be possible.
      The armies of Cortés in Mesoamerica and Pizarro in southamerica were ridiculously small in comparison with the natives, and we are not speaking about poor uncivilized natives... NO¡¡
      They were fearsome warriors, intelligent and organized. The Mayans, Tlaxcalas and Incas were formidable in battle.

    • @martinrosemary5654
      @martinrosemary5654 11 месяцев назад

      @@Trikipum Actually that seems to be true but there is an exception: The Tercios de Arauco, Arauco(modern day Chile) was the only place in the Americas where the Spanish never conquered and where defeated in battle many times by its Native people the Mapuche or ''Araucanos'' as the Spanish called them, in the end they decided to send a Mestre de campo who created the tercios de arauco still it was enough to hold the Mapuches but not conquer them, Spain ended up Recognizing the Mapuche as an independent nation an they where free and independent until the year 1883 where the Chilean and Argentinian armies where finnally able to defeat them whit the help of modern weapons and annexed their ancestral land. Yet most people outside Chile know little or nothing about this feat of epic proportions.

  • @moviejose3249
    @moviejose3249 6 лет назад +216

    The defense of Castelnuovo deserves its own story

    • @AlexP-jz9sg
      @AlexP-jz9sg 4 года назад +15

      Hells yeah.. And the Tercio POW's escape from Istanbul thereafter.

    • @agahkaya1193
      @agahkaya1193 4 года назад

      @@AlexP-jz9sg damn I didn't hear that story. Is that a real thing?

    • @AlexP-jz9sg
      @AlexP-jz9sg 4 года назад +3

      @@agahkaya1193 Yes.

    • @Bazerald777
      @Bazerald777 4 года назад +6

      @@agahkaya1193 Yep and you can watch the detailed, beautifully visualized and epicly narrated video in the Kings and Generals channel. Said battle is narrated in the video from 30 June 2019.

    • @agahkaya1193
      @agahkaya1193 4 года назад +3

      @@Bazerald777 I'm from Istanbul and I'm shocked I didn't hear such cool story ever before. To me these tercios are pretty sick thanks mate

  • @charlescortez3544
    @charlescortez3544 6 лет назад +452

    SANTIAGO!

    • @javiermercado1996
      @javiermercado1996 6 лет назад +42

      Charles Cortez Y CIERRA ESPAÑA!

    • @lilith4961
      @lilith4961 6 лет назад +4

      Did they say ay guerra too?

    • @javiermercado1996
      @javiermercado1996 6 лет назад +12

      Lilith
      Ay! Eso duele! = Ay! That hurts!
      Está ahí = (something or someone) is there
      En la casa hay un gato = There is a cat in the house
      Hay guerra = there is war , isnt a common phrase. If you are the one who can declare war you would say more likely habrá guerra = there will be war.

    • @Doominguez27
      @Doominguez27 6 лет назад +12

      DESPERTA FERRO¡

    • @locoyogui
      @locoyogui 5 лет назад +6

      Y cierra España!!

  • @peterjaimez1619
    @peterjaimez1619 6 лет назад +64

    Simply: Courage, valour, tenacity those were, and to a point still are, characteristics of the Spaniard. When people review the Spanish Conquistadores today, few realise that NO amount of enemies in America could break a Spanish unit. Cheers, Peter

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +2

      Peter Jaimez probably bc spaniards used steel, horses and gunpowder vs unorganized troops fighting with stones and bronze in america

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 6 лет назад +2

      Magne your comment is so ignorant and stupid thats not even worth a facepalm

    • @laertes9505
      @laertes9505 6 лет назад +2

      They were also soldiers with a lot of military experience.

    • @Cervando
      @Cervando 6 лет назад +12

      ThatGuyYouKnow When they conquered the Aztecs they had only 22 firearms and limited ammunition. In fact they had to enter live volcanic craters to gather more sulphur to make gunpowder. The Spanish even adopted the local quilted armour, as their's was unsuitable in the tropical heat. The Aztecs could chop a horse's head off with a blow from their Macahuitl, which was edged with obsidian and far sharper than steel. Clearly you know very little about the subject.

    • @Ramoncandamo
      @Ramoncandamo 6 лет назад +4

      ThatGuyYouKnow The myth of the horse ends the first war between Spaniards and natives. The Spanish horses do not spit fire, nor could they fly, that only the dragons can do and they were over. I leave you cuts in your house

  • @joanegea6466
    @joanegea6466 4 года назад +23

    The Black leyend against Spain make Spain not considered the most powerful Imperio almost 200 years (from 1500 to 1700 more or less). It is crazy because nobody in the last 1500 years has done it.

    • @lordaltair8098
      @lordaltair8098 2 года назад +2

      The Spanish Empire was 333 years long from 1492 to 1824 but is belived it lasted more than 400 years, it depends on who you ask

    • @Thrashgu
      @Thrashgu 2 года назад

      @@lordaltair8098 1492 - 1898

    • @andresjavierorellanagonzal9562
      @andresjavierorellanagonzal9562 2 года назад +2

      @@Thrashgu 1492-1976

    • @francisco-pk5rt
      @francisco-pk5rt 10 месяцев назад

      Fue desde 1492 hasta 1700 en plena fuerza militar y desde 1700 hasta 1820 más debilitado pero supimos mantener nuestras posesiones en America y Asía.

  • @cidiussifilius2959
    @cidiussifilius2959 6 лет назад +45

    The first video where spanish tercios are not undervalued

  • @GanjaEnthusiast322
    @GanjaEnthusiast322 6 лет назад +204

    When Spain was a dominant power

    • @4TheWinQuinn
      @4TheWinQuinn 6 лет назад +56

      1500 era Spain, my favourite period of history. The Spanish empire is so cool.

    • @aresse3725
      @aresse3725 6 лет назад +4

      no when Habsburgs were a dominant power.

    • @BicornioSPA
      @BicornioSPA 5 лет назад +23

      Los Habsburgo sin España no existían, la suma de Castilla y Aragon ya había formado al reino mas poderoso de Europa con diferencia antes de los Habsburgo, y de hecho sus posesiones fueron mas un dolor de cabeza que algo positivo, España tenia que recorrer media europa llena de enemigos para defender esas posesiones.

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +2

      José Andrés Qué sabiduría en lo que escribes. Cuánta estupidez hoy. Así fue. Un saludo

    • @soyderiverdeliverybeaver8941
      @soyderiverdeliverybeaver8941 5 лет назад +3

      @@raphtube75 bueno, en realidad el tercio se formó antes de los hamburguesas, así que en algo tiene razón

  • @eldorado5327
    @eldorado5327 5 лет назад +38

    SPAIN,EVANGELIZER OF HALF WORLD,HAMMER OF HERETICS,SWORD OF ROME,LIGHT OF TRENTO,LAND OF SAN IGNACIUS,GLORIA Y MÁS GLORIA AL IMPERIO ESPAÑOL!!!PLUS ULTRA!!!!

  • @senorsotomonte4777
    @senorsotomonte4777 4 года назад +14

    Thanks for showing this without the influence of the Black Legend. Gracias

  • @HertzRico
    @HertzRico 6 лет назад +42

    I follow many medieval/military oriented channels and everyone ignores spain, and it's odd because in most of the ages they cover spain was empire and the tercios, at least from my point of view, it's the last medieval infantry unit and the first modern infantry unit. You've earnt your like and suscribe.

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +5

      Jesus Rico Your perception is so sharp. Yes, completely ignored. The causes are.. well, that’s a long story. Anyway, yes, the first modern army and navy. Everyone else afterwards just copy pasted, without dismissing the technological advance of course

    • @thedarkestwhite9460
      @thedarkestwhite9460 4 года назад

      @@raphtube75 the caravel was invented by the Portuguese as well as the galleons, stop spreading lies

    • @ousamadearudesuwa
      @ousamadearudesuwa 4 года назад +1

      @@raphtube75 the Caravel and Galleys are a Portuguese innovation from earlier ships from Venice and the Ottomans.

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 4 года назад

      The Darkest White Sssss

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 4 года назад

      Tiamat's Chosen Daughter Well, your answer, as most information found, is only partially true

  • @Komodokhan148
    @Komodokhan148 4 года назад +16

    They were the special forces of their time.

  • @afonsobrunos
    @afonsobrunos 6 лет назад +64

    I cant believe that your channel doesnt have a big amount of subscribers. Works like theses videos helped alot of people like me in our classrooms. It's a good way to present kids from history of our past. Thanks for the video and keep the good work!

    • @solidraven6986
      @solidraven6986 6 лет назад +1

      canaldodante some people can't handle history

  • @aresxx8228
    @aresxx8228 5 лет назад +92

    Polish Winged Hussars and Spanish tercios it could be the best army in the world in 16-17 century!Greetnigs for Spain and all Europe ,today we must stay strong together against islamic invasion!

    • @El_Cid_Campeador
      @El_Cid_Campeador 5 лет назад +3

      I know someone hes son is half polak half spanish

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +25

      Arek O Greetings from Spain. We still admire and appreciate Poland. Without Spain and Poland Europe today would be like Pakistan.

    • @aragornii507
      @aragornii507 5 лет назад +15

      It would be an honor to fight alongside the Polish winged hussars

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +5

      Aragorn II Same here!

    • @angelmatesmolan
      @angelmatesmolan 5 лет назад +11

      That would be the best army as you said, one of the best chivalry and one of the best infantry. What an honor fight with the poles, what an epic battle, greetings from Spain to Poland, two great nations forgotten by the time but that onces they were great superpowers

  • @juanserra1720
    @juanserra1720 4 года назад +6

    Thank you for the video. Spanish Tercio (1503-1704) will never be erased from History

  • @marekck
    @marekck 4 года назад +35

    Durante mas de un siglo España se enfrento sola, contra los otomanos y todas las potencias europeas, y no consiguieron doblegarles, solo la ineptitud y dejadez militar de felipe III y IV, causaron su decadencia

    • @cesarsilxs
      @cesarsilxs 3 года назад +5

      Mas que ineptitud fue agotamiento, aguantaron muchos años y muy bien, pero ya llego un punto en que la nacion no podia hacer frente a tantos enemigos a la vez, tantas guerras destrozaron el pais economicamente

    • @adriancampos8640
      @adriancampos8640 3 года назад +5

      @@cesarsilxs No solo era el número de guerras, sino que mantener frentes abiertos en seis continentes antes de la primera guerra mundial como mínimo era un suicidio.

  • @bypyros1933
    @bypyros1933 5 лет назад +26

    You could have also talked about the encamisadas. Attacks to the enemy camp at night with a small group to sabotage their artillery and do as much damage as possible. This was possible even in the worst places, they carried their swords and daggers, some even an arquebus through the water.

  • @namegoeshere9226
    @namegoeshere9226 4 года назад +12

    When Spain had men that loved their country and where willing to fight to the last man.

  • @josevicentelopeztel2072
    @josevicentelopeztel2072 4 года назад +24

    Viva España y viva la Hispanidad. Saludos desde Valencia. ORGULLOSO DE NUESTRA HISTORIA.

  • @valartnad
    @valartnad 4 года назад +18

    The Tercios, also the first and greatest marine infantry force in the world

  • @adelmomoure841
    @adelmomoure841 6 лет назад +18

    Thank you so much, finally a non-spaniard youtuber explaining who the tercios were... Suscribing now.

  • @carlosalvarez5067
    @carlosalvarez5067 6 лет назад +186

    I´m going to say something
    Tercios vs Samurai (Philippines XVI Century)

    • @goodydeza
      @goodydeza 5 лет назад +30

      800 ronin vs 80? tercios... Batalla de Cagallan me parece.

    • @bypyros1933
      @bypyros1933 5 лет назад +9

      @@goodydeza 1000-1500 ronin vs 40 tercios.

    • @bondocena6654
      @bondocena6654 5 лет назад +12

      as a Pilipino, I am interested.

    • @bypyros1933
      @bypyros1933 5 лет назад +73

      @@bondocena6654 Philipines, 1582. By that time the Philipines were part of the spanish empire and it was the point of commerce with Asia.
      Because of that, piracy was very frequent. A big pirate band commanded by Tay Fusa and formed by ronin (samurais without lord to serve who became pirates to survive) was in the area and help was requested. And how many hundreds or thousands of soldiers sid they send? 40, that's it.
      The 40 spanish tercios commanded by Juan Pablo de Carrión went to fight the pirates.
      They defeated ship after ship until Tay Fusa offered them to give him certain amount of gold to retreat. He was sure they would accept, after all they werw still too many (around 600 left). But they didn't accept and the spaniards landed on a small island. Tay Fusa ordered to attack. The final battle would be in land.
      Tay Fusa told his subordinates to pull their pikes, but Carrión told his men to spread oil on the pikes and when the japanese charged their hands just slipped and...you can guess what happened after that. The ronin charged like 3 or 4 times more and were finally able to penetrate their formation, but behind the spikes the soldiers were waiting for them, and they were famous for their lethal swordsmanship and their unbreakable moral. The samurais ran away and the spaniards collected the japanese weapons and armors. When the pirates returned to Japan, to justify their terrible defeat they called the spaniards demons half fish and half lizard.

    • @santos98pg
      @santos98pg 5 лет назад +11

      40 españoles vs 1000 samurais

  • @gabrihernadez
    @gabrihernadez 4 года назад +18

    The best infantry in history.

  • @juanmanuelfrutoscaballero8956
    @juanmanuelfrutoscaballero8956 5 лет назад +132

    España mi natura Italia mi ventura Flandes mi sepultura

  • @roberx4890
    @roberx4890 4 года назад +9

    A perfect description of the Spanish thirds.
    It was time. Thank you for the veracity of the information.
    Greetings

  • @Thecrowleone
    @Thecrowleone 4 года назад +13

    "This is a Spanish Tercio, we don't surrender." They allso use to put the most veteran soldier on the front lines so the new coud gain combat expirience, and most of tercio soldiers where proud volounteers not mercenaries or levis.

    • @Thecrowleone
      @Thecrowleone 2 года назад

      @WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE No tienes ni idea compañero🤣🤣🤣

    • @Thecrowleone
      @Thecrowleone 2 года назад

      @WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE Infórmate un poquito mejor ignorante, los hidalgos españoles eran los mejores espadachines de su época gracias a la Destreza Española, y los tercios estaban compuestos por españoles voluntarios, quienes conquistaron tres cuartas partes del mundo, se imaginará por qué.

  • @jabronis33
    @jabronis33 4 года назад +12

    They also had armored war dogs who were important in defeating large armies. They used them to strike fear in the Saracen occupying Spain

    • @joseantonioalcaraz827
      @joseantonioalcaraz827 4 года назад

      @John Johnny upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Arco_trionfale_del_Castel_Nuovo%2C_12_partenza_di_alfonso.JPG

  • @churck2267
    @churck2267 6 лет назад +151

    God bless the Crown of Spain.

    • @Johan_t
      @Johan_t 6 лет назад +4

      Churck No God and no monarchy...
      Republic!! ✊

    • @aresse3725
      @aresse3725 6 лет назад +5

      the Austrian crown of spain lol.

    • @rubencuadros7174
      @rubencuadros7174 6 лет назад +1

      Ares Se ???

    • @pablofloresmunoz2306
      @pablofloresmunoz2306 5 лет назад +14

      Borbon sucks, Catholic Kings were better! ISABEL STILLS ALIVE ON MY HEART!

    • @drex6347
      @drex6347 5 лет назад +11

      Screw both Habsburgs and Bourbons. Hail Trastámara!

  • @LeonidasArg2021
    @LeonidasArg2021 2 года назад +6

    Fun fact, Spain almost conquered England in the end of the 16th Century, after the killing of the Catholic Queen of Scotland by the English, Spain took that personally since they were the Ultimate defenders of Catholicism they declared war on England and organized a fleet of 140 ships with 27,000 men to land in Cornwall and march to London (yeah, the famous Spanish Armada), why Spain lost? Because of the bad weather which destroyed 70% of the invading force, similar to why Gengis Khan failed conquering Japan, because of bad weather. Had the Spanish succeded in that, the British Empire would have spoken Spanish instead of English, who knows.

  • @Alsayid
    @Alsayid 4 года назад +8

    There is so much in history that we are never taught one word of growing up, or really anywhere, until we stumble across it by chance (such as this). Very interesting.

    • @anactaneustheeleventh2542
      @anactaneustheeleventh2542 4 года назад

      Al Sayid
      That’s true, a lot of great history is kept in the shadows, I wonder why.

  • @davidmunoz4066
    @davidmunoz4066 4 года назад +15

    Gracias por el video, viva la hispanidad!! Fue un gran logro al crearse un ejercito profesional se hizo a semejanza de las legiones romanas. Tambien creo el imperio Español la primera infanteria de marina.

    • @H4D3SS9
      @H4D3SS9 4 года назад +2

      Los tercios de mar, de hecho la infanteria de marina española hoy en día se organiza en tercios.

  • @ignaerium487
    @ignaerium487 6 лет назад +53

    Also, you didn't mention the one who pionered this formation or "invented it" who was El Gran Capitan or his real name: Gonzalo Francisco de Cordoba.
    But great video! You gained a subscriber and a like, hope you keep bringing quality content. Also Congratulations from spain.

    • @Mitchazeh
      @Mitchazeh 6 лет назад +16

      Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba*.

  • @forcraft9874
    @forcraft9874 5 лет назад +112

    Allende nuestros mares
    Allende nuestras olas
    El mundo fue una selva
    De lanzas españolas

    • @raphtube75
      @raphtube75 5 лет назад +2

      Forcraft 987 Qué hermoso. Qué poderoso. De quién es, del capitán Aldana?

    • @Thecrowleone
      @Thecrowleone 2 года назад +2

      @WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE Vas por toda la sección intentando desprestigiar nuestra historia, algún trauma de infancia? Un español te robo a la novia o eres uno de esos Aztecas de pega descendiente del mestizaje criticando España en Español, patetico 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

    • @BicornioSPA
      @BicornioSPA 2 года назад

      @WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE Los araucanos, solo combatieron contra los españoles en la etapa inicial de la conquista, caso parecido a Tlaxcala, de hecho fue precisamente el hecho de aliarse con los españoles los que los salvó de su propia extinción, cuando la mal llamada guerra de independencia sucedió, de que bando te crees que estaban los araucanos?
      Esa es la razón por la que fueron masacrados cuando ya no estaban los españoles, te suena la conquista al desierto? Hay que leer mas para no ser tan ignorante, los españoles en aquella época no les interesaba la araucania muchacho, venga.. a leer! Y no te duermas tarde que tienes cole.

  • @andrewgodly5739
    @andrewgodly5739 4 года назад +8

    Those paintings of a tight pike formation with all their pikes pointed up looks so cool. I wonder how amazing it looked in real life. It would be terrifying to be their enemy. Fighting a wall of spears doesn't sound fun and you'd be forced to engage them or suffer from the continuous blasting of firearms

  • @TheFrenchGrunt
    @TheFrenchGrunt 6 лет назад +81

    My favorite military formation besides the Republican Romans

  • @Astania08
    @Astania08 6 лет назад +185

    Long live the spanish kingdom :)

    • @higochumbo8932
      @higochumbo8932 6 лет назад +4

      /Republic.

    • @galaico8683
      @galaico8683 4 года назад +10

      @@higochumbo8932 monarchy

    • @lillith3159
      @lillith3159 4 года назад +2

      @@galaico8683 Conderation maybe?

    • @Dell-ol6hb
      @Dell-ol6hb 4 года назад +2

      Galaico a Spanish monarchist? Or a Carlist? You guys still exist?

    • @galaico8683
      @galaico8683 4 года назад +1

      @@Dell-ol6hb spanish monarchist

  • @ruthy8ruthy
    @ruthy8ruthy 4 года назад +3

    This is such a brilliantly done video
    Thank you

  • @pol14d1cto
    @pol14d1cto 6 лет назад +131

    Great Video. The tercios even beat Samurais in Cagayan. Also they domined the sword like none else, the Japanese Katana is a Joke compared to the Spanish Rapier, espada ropera. The origin of the esgrima.

    • @lilith4961
      @lilith4961 5 лет назад +4

      Poli Adicto kinda meaningless for the samurai if you had to use the sword in battle as opposed to the arrow you were already losing.

    • @pol14d1cto
      @pol14d1cto 5 лет назад +34

      Samurais and Ronin were equiped with Shotguns as well sold by the Portuguese. The filipines tribes told to the spanish there was another "tribe" (japan) in the north that came time to time to steal and so on, So a group of few spanish went to the north to find them. The difference was the figthing techniques and armors, but still the difference was like 50 japanes each spanish. I say cause Samurais are very overstimated and the spanish underrecognize when they just beat the whole European tribes, even sweeden, they conquered and discover the world we know today and they were the first to round the world. El Cano. So many tales.. like Orellana one in Amazonas. 50 man agains thousands in their territory covered with alligator skin, so brave man to face those tribes and make them run. There are not movies about this but many books. There is a hidden spanish story called the black spanish legend promoted by anglosaxons to hide that Spain was by far the most advanced civilization in the world for centuries.

    • @Oinkcleot
      @Oinkcleot 5 лет назад +4

      you are blessed!

    • @soreonEbb
      @soreonEbb 5 лет назад +14

      La Verdadera Destreza!

    • @fakofakooglu7460
      @fakofakooglu7460 5 лет назад +2

      nope Katana is way better than the Rapier and also it was not a hand to hand combat.

  • @toasterpastries5811
    @toasterpastries5811 6 лет назад +46

    *PLUS ULTRA*

  • @Marshal_Rock
    @Marshal_Rock 6 лет назад +19

    Great job!

  • @dibelek1
    @dibelek1 4 года назад +39

    Spanish Tercios plus Polish winged hussars and nobody can stand against them. what do you think?

  • @higochumbo8932
    @higochumbo8932 6 лет назад +33

    The name Tercio didn't really name a specific combat formation. It's not even clear that the name comes from the unit composition.
    The origin of the term is debated even today. Other widespread theory seems to be that the Spanish simply divided their army stationed in Italy in three "thirds" ("tercios", in Spanish), the Tercio de Sicilia (Third of Sicily), the Tercio de Nápoles (Third of Naples) and Tercio de Lombardía (Third of Lombardy/Milan).
    As new units were created, they seemed to have kept the same denomination even when we were not talking about mathematical "thirds" anymore (Tercio de Cerdeña (Sardinia), Tercio de Galeras (galleys), Tercio de Granada and so on).
    Another theory, based in some historical sources, suggests that the name simply comes from the original units having 3000 men.

    • @jbv4143
      @jbv4143 6 лет назад +5

      Hola buenas, me gustaria decirte que el origen de Tercios vine de la composicion en batalla de los mismos, pues entraban en combate por tres bloques, una de piqueros, otra de espadachilles y otra de arcabuceros o ballesteros.

    • @Cervando
      @Cervando 6 лет назад

      It was explained in the video. Originally a tercio or third comprised one third pike, one third swordsmen and one third arquebusiers. The composition changed with time and the swordsmen were dropped in favour of more firearms.

    • @higochumbo8932
      @higochumbo8932 5 лет назад

      Not even historians know for sure, don't know what makes you guys so certain.

    • @Trikipum
      @Trikipum 4 года назад

      Yeah, it is exactly this. The name doesnt have to do shit with the composition. It is called "thirds" because originally they were 3. They were totally independent units, from an administrative point of view, and here is where the name "thirds" come from.. the 3 big autonomous armies tht were in italy...

    • @Trikipum
      @Trikipum 3 года назад

      @@Cervando This is not true..

  • @thecolten1000
    @thecolten1000 6 лет назад +4

    Excellent work. Will recommend your channel

  • @undpqbnu
    @undpqbnu 5 лет назад +10

    The Tercios were, with time, divided in Tercios Viejos or Old Tercios and Tercios Nuevos or New Tercios. Within the Old Tercios there was one dedicated exclusively to naval warfare, the Tercio de Galeras or Galley Tercios, being this the origin of modern marine infantry. The Spanish Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina is the oldest active marine corp in the world rooting all the way back to the Tercios. In fact, the Corp’s divisions are still known as Tercios (Tercio de Armada divided in Tercio del Norte, del Sur y de Levante; one for each coast of mainland Spain).

  • @EvilSmonker
    @EvilSmonker 5 лет назад +3

    Thanks for this, only video I could find on the platform on the topic.

  • @guillermp
    @guillermp 5 лет назад +12

    Maan, i'd love to see a good film about the tercios done with love and passion for spanish history.
    Actually any film about spanish history, that's a gold mine no one has figure out how to explode correctly.

    • @scytale2242
      @scytale2242 4 года назад

      www.imdb.com/title/tt0395119/

    • @Ahkran1980
      @Ahkran1980 4 года назад +2

      That's because spanish film industry is alt-left, and they literally hate all this commanders and war units. They think of them like invaders, conquerers.. bad guys (You can never judge past situations with modern etics). Even when they really know nothing about their own history. That's why you will never see a good film collection of spanish great war and exploration history. A shame. Cheers from Spain.

  • @papikascherryson6927
    @papikascherryson6927 2 года назад +10

    The spanish Infanteria de Marina was the first who improve amphibian landing on the coast with blunderbuss and pikes

  • @vcab6875
    @vcab6875 6 лет назад +1

    OUTSTANDING Video!
    Well researched and presented.

  • @OCVrm7
    @OCVrm7 5 лет назад +18

    Proud to be from Spain. We have a great history some want destroy it but they can't. Viva Españaaaa!!!

  • @Mitchazeh
    @Mitchazeh 6 лет назад +51

    I'm so proud of being a Spaniard and of my ancestry.

    • @hi-am-pat2k176
      @hi-am-pat2k176 4 года назад +3

      Ya me too im fillipino with spanish blood

    • @santiagoz.s.1024
      @santiagoz.s.1024 3 года назад +4

      Peruvian here. Orgulloso de que mi familia haya llegado con los primeros colonos españoles a lo que fuera el Virreinato del Perú. Siempre unidos por la hispanidad. Un abrazo!

  • @metallicarchaea1820
    @metallicarchaea1820 6 лет назад +11

    Amazing video.

  • @andresmora5192
    @andresmora5192 2 года назад +14

    The glory of Spain, born under the banner of the Cross of Burgundy, made Spain the first global empire in the world history.
    The Burgundy Cross flag was so feared and respected by the Dutch, French, English, and Ottomans.
    With that flag Spain conquered the world and the seas.

  • @clementeperez2870
    @clementeperez2870 4 года назад +1

    Great video! Thank you

  • @rubenak1
    @rubenak1 6 лет назад +4

    Great video!! 👏👏

  • @juno9388
    @juno9388 6 лет назад +8

    Thanks for this vídeo, gretings from spain. VIVA ESPAÑA 🇪🇸

  • @gripen-swe
    @gripen-swe 6 лет назад +2

    Great video on Early Modern warfare. Love this period - the weapons, clothes, armor and tactics!

  • @Leothelion357
    @Leothelion357 4 года назад +2

    Many should give this guy some appreciation. He seems to have taken heed to the comments in previous videos and livened up his tone. Good job sir 👏

    • @Leothelion357
      @Leothelion357 4 года назад

      Or maybe he got worse, i didn’t see this was a year old 😂😂👍

  • @andrewbatist6355
    @andrewbatist6355 4 года назад +3

    the images are stunning. good job. you got you more subcribed sir

  • @penalver7839
    @penalver7839 5 лет назад +17

    "It doesn´t matter how many they are, only where are they" Tercios de España

    • @Anaris10
      @Anaris10 4 года назад

      Actually it was "The Spartans don't ask how many, but where?".

  • @endthedrugwartoday
    @endthedrugwartoday 10 месяцев назад

    Very engaging! Great coverage!!🎉🎉🎉

  • @infantrygruntforever
    @infantrygruntforever 4 года назад +6

    Proud to have spanish ancestors

  • @davidtorres6408
    @davidtorres6408 4 года назад +13

    Santiago y cierra España! Honor y gloria al imperio español y a sus invictos tercios! 🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦

  • @otromikro
    @otromikro 4 года назад +7

    The Spanish infantryman:
    "Quien no haya sido Soldado de Infantería quizá ignore lo que es sentirse amo del mundo, a pie y sin dinero."
    Thank you for the video.
    Greetings from Spain :-)

  • @Santiagoparrav
    @Santiagoparrav 6 лет назад +5

    I love your videos so much!

  • @tonirk5122
    @tonirk5122 6 лет назад +3

    Great video!

  • @Roguesquadroon
    @Roguesquadroon 4 года назад +19

    Opposing pikemen to horses
    Facing arquebusiers against pikemen
    Soul united by the same creed
    May the blood run protecting the kingdom.
    Burgundy Cross fluttering in the wind
    Children of Saint James, great are the Tercios
    Pike squadron, flanks covered
    The only man whos free is one without fear.
    Fight for your brother, die for your kingdom
    Live for peace in this great empire
    There never will be defeats, if they take us prisoner
    Only after death we will capitulate.
    Chain gorget, leather vest
    Breast and backplates will protect me from iron
    Rise the pikes with a song to the skies
    I will never fear if the Tercio is on formation.
    Spanish Tercio Anthem, roughly translated by yours trully.

    • @legolasmvp3067
      @legolasmvp3067 3 года назад

      in spanish: oponiendo picas a caballos
      enfrentando arcabuces a piqueros
      con el alma unida por el mismo Creado
      que la sangre corra protegiendo el reino
      Aspa de Borgoña
      flameando al viento
      hijos de Santiago grandes son los tercios
      escuadron de picas flancos a cubierto
      solo es libre el hombre que no tiene miedo
      Lucha por tu hermano muere por tu reino
      vive por la paz en este gran imperio
      Nunca habrá derrotas si nos hacen presos
      solo tras de muertos capitularemos
      La gola de malla chaleco de cuero
      peto y espaldar me guardarán del hierro
      levantad las picas con un canto al cielo
      nunca temeré si va en columna el tercio

    • @staringgasmask
      @staringgasmask 3 года назад +1

      @@legolasmvp3067 de hecho el tercio no tenía himno, esa es una canción haciéndoles honor, pero ahora no recuerdo quién la compuso

  • @constantinediomedes6277
    @constantinediomedes6277 6 лет назад +5

    Finally someone covers the tercios!

  • @Jimmy_Watt
    @Jimmy_Watt 3 года назад

    I'm learning a lot on this channel. Thanks!

  • @josecabello5821
    @josecabello5821 4 года назад +2

    Spanish Tercios. 💪🏻 Thanks for this wonderful video/explanation.