Spanish tercios
E511937
Spanish tercios were elite, mixed-arms infantry formations of the Spanish Empire renowned in the 16th and early 17th centuries for their discipline, innovative tactics, and dominance on European battlefields.
Observed surface forms (3)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Tercio (early modern Spanish infantry unit) | 2 |
| Spanish Tercios | 1 |
| Tercio | 1 |
Statements (83)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
military formation
ⓘ
pike and shot formation ⓘ |
| activeFrom | 16th century ⓘ |
| activeUntil | early 18th century ⓘ |
| allegiance | Catholic Habsburg monarchy NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| combatStyle |
close-order drill
ⓘ
coordinated volley fire ⓘ pike charges ⓘ |
| commandStructure | colonel-level commander ⓘ |
| country | Spanish Empire ⓘ |
| declineReason |
increased effectiveness of firearms
ⓘ
rise of linear infantry tactics ⓘ |
| doctrineInfluencedBy | Swiss pikemen NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| equipment |
arquebuses
ⓘ
breastplates ⓘ morion helmets ⓘ muskets ⓘ pikes ⓘ swords ⓘ |
| etymology | name derived from Spanish word "tercio" meaning "third" ⓘ |
| formationShape |
deep infantry block
ⓘ
large square ⓘ |
| foughtIn |
Battle of Lepanto
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Battle of Mühlberg NERFINISHED ⓘ Battle of Nördlingen (1634) NERFINISHED ⓘ Battle of Pavia NERFINISHED ⓘ Battle of Rocroi NERFINISHED ⓘ Eighty Years' War NERFINISHED ⓘ French Wars of Religion NERFINISHED ⓘ Italian Wars NERFINISHED ⓘ Siege of Breda NERFINISHED ⓘ Thirty Years' War NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| garrisonedIn |
Flanders
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Italy NERFINISHED ⓘ Spain NERFINISHED ⓘ the Low Countries NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasPart |
arquebusiers
ⓘ
artillery detachments ⓘ chaplains ⓘ drummers ⓘ engineers ⓘ ensigns ⓘ musketeers ⓘ officers ⓘ pikemen ⓘ swordsmen ⓘ |
| historicalReputation |
backbone of Spanish military power in the 16th century
ⓘ
elite troops of early modern Europe ⓘ |
| influenced |
Dutch military reforms
ⓘ
Swedish brigade system ⓘ early modern European infantry tactics ⓘ |
| knownFor |
battlefield cohesion
ⓘ
discipline ⓘ dominance on European battlefields ⓘ high morale ⓘ innovative tactics ⓘ professionalism ⓘ |
| languageOfName | Spanish ⓘ |
| militaryBranch | infantry ⓘ |
| notableDefeat | Battle of Rocroi NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notablePeriod |
16th century
ⓘ
early 17th century ⓘ |
| organizationalForm | regiment-like unit ⓘ |
| originatedIn |
Aragon
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Castile NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| partOf | Spanish Army NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| peakInfluence | late 16th century ⓘ |
| recruitedFrom |
Aragonese
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Castilians NERFINISHED ⓘ Flemings NERFINISHED ⓘ Germans NERFINISHED ⓘ Irish ⓘ Italians NERFINISHED ⓘ Walloon soldiers ⓘ |
| reorganizedInto | line infantry regiments ⓘ |
| role |
defensive infantry formation
ⓘ
shock infantry ⓘ |
| tacticalDoctrine |
combined arms infantry tactics
ⓘ
pike and shot tactics ⓘ |
| typicalStrength |
approximately 3000 soldiers
ⓘ
between 2000 and 3000 men ⓘ |
| usedBy |
Habsburg Spain
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Spanish Monarchy NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (8)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Tercio (early modern Spanish infantry unit)
this entity surface form:
Spanish Tercios
this entity surface form:
Tercio (early modern Spanish infantry unit)
this entity surface form:
Tercio