Pike and Shot Warfare - The Spanish Tercio | Early-Modern Warfare

Pike and shot warfare emerged in response to forces dominating the battlefields such as the Swiss mercenary and the gendarmes, the French heavy cavalry. These powerhouses dominated their respective troop types throughout the late Middle Ages. During the Pike and Shot age, the first to successfully stand firm against these forces combined were the Spanish. But they had to learn it the hard way during the Italian wars at the battle of Seminara in 1495. But, later, in the battle of Cerignola they actually managed to defeat the French and Swiss Pike men because of their Pike and Shot tactics. The battle of Cerignola is considered the first battle in Europe won by gunpowder warfare. After that they created the Tercio. The Tercio was a Spanish formation, which dominated the European battlefields up to the Thirty Years' War. Only at the Battle of Nieuwpoort (1600) or at the battle of Rocroi 1643 did the tercios show weaknesses.

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Everybody intersted in the tercios should check out this song called hymno de los tercios:
   • Himno de Los Tercios  

#history #pikeandshot #warfare #battles

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Music:
Video Game Soldier by Twin Musicom (via YouTube Library)