17th Century FORUM
The Spanish army during the 80 years war (1568-1648)
CWyatt
Just a question of curiosity. The Spanish army in what is now Belgium and the Netherlands, the army at battles like Jemmingen and Turnhout; were the Spanish army soldiers recruited in the Low Countries or from Spain proper? Thanks
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| alien |
1
The soldiers of. the Ejercito de Flandes came from every country under the Spanish crown. There was always a core of true spanish infantry tercios, but there were a lot of italian ones ( from the kingdom of Naples or the dukedom of Milan), together with german and wallon regiments. In the cavalry there were even less Spaniards. The mounted arm was composed by indipendent companies raised in Italy, Burgundy, Germany and Low Countries. For instance in the army led by the Cardinal-Infante in 1634 (that fougth the battle of Nordlingen) there were only 2 spanish tercios, but 7 italian, 2 burgundian and 3 german infantry regiments . For the cavalry there were 32 italian companies, 12 burgundians and a german regiment 10 companies strong.
Posted: 27-Nov-2008 21:06
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| CWyatt |
2
Thansk, interesting stuff
Posted: 13-Dec-2008 10:52
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| Verdoy |
3
The Spanish Army of Flanders was integrated by troops recruited in all Spanish Crown territories.
The infrantry:
The spaniards were considered the best troops and formed into the so called Tercios Viejos (old tercios). These units were always deployed in the front line (always disputed with the Italian Tercios). These troops, spaniards along with the italians were decisive in turning a battle into victory, even though only consisted of a 25% of the entire army. They really were the dorsal spine of the army.
The Italian Tercios were considered practically as spanish troops, and the rest of the units (wallonian Tercios, german Regiments, etc) were called Tercios de las Naciones (Tercios of the Nations) referring to the rest of the countries under spanish rule.
Referring to the battle of Nordlingen (1634), as an example, only two Tercios (spanish Tercio of Idiaquez and Italian Tercio of Toralto) stood at the top of the Albuch hill resisting up to 15 charges of the best units of sweeden troops (coloured Regiments). Then turned off into an attack down hill that destroyed the retreating sweeden units. So, even though the size of the armies confronted that day was up to some 20.000 - 30.000, in fact, only two Tercios (some 4.000 men) and the italo-spanish cavalry of the left wing were necesary to defeat completely the protestant army and destroy so valued sweedish regiments.
Cavalry:
The spaniards, passing the years, payd less and less atention to the cavalry and due to that point, started to decline and suffer first time at Rocroi. Cavalry was mostly integrated by italians and alsacian troops. The light cavalry was integrated by croats mercenaries.
Sorry about my english. I will try to answer to any further question if my knoledge let me do so.
regards.
Posted: 22-Jan-2009 15:43
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| xavierb |
4
Alien:
Agreed. I'd like to see a Campaign booklet on Rocroi as well as the 1640 Catalan revolution.
xavier
Posted: 17-Feb-2009 11:16
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| cdr |
5
The difference between the Spanish forces at the beginning of this period and the same forces at the end of the period , is so great that the topic would need at least two volumes.
Also the great duke of Parma fought several years without any spanish troops in his army.
Posted: 13-Oct-2009 12:46
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