Page 49 - History of War - Issue 25-16

ROCROI

HOWTHESE MULTI-ROLE UNITS CAME TO
DOMINATEEARLYMODERNBATTLEFIELDS

For decades Spain’s tercios were the most fearsome, elite
Above: The tercios were the military unit in Early Modern Europe. The tercio had developed
elite units of the Spanish out of a combination of improvements in gunpowder technology
infantry and were famed and the rise of the infantry square during the 15th century. Swiss
throughout Europe for their
ighting prowess pikemen had become famous for forming highly disciplined
squares and successfully defeating heavy cavalry charges led
Right: Pikemen were an
essential component of by the Duke of Burgundy. The Spanish, learning from their own
the Spanish tercio. This military campaigns in Italy, took this method one step further by
particular soldier is deploying i repower units, such as the arquebus, in between the
holding a halberd
pikemen. This dramatically increased the strength and l exibility
of the square. There was an equal distribution of pikemen and
gunmen and they fought together in the same tactical formation
under strict discipline.
Each tercio numbered 3,000 men and was formed of 12
companies of 250 men – the same size as a modern brigade.
Within each company the pikemen formed a central block ten
ranks deep, while an equal number of arquebusiers operated on
the l anks. The pikemen needed depth to form a solid formation
that could resist cavalry attacks – this became commonly
known as the ‘push of pike’. At the same time, the arquebusiers
were deployed in equal depth in order to maximise i repower.
The volleys of guni re were controlled with great discipline and
efi ciency, as arquebusiers were formed up in two lines and
trained not to i re without orders. The practice was for the front
rank to deliver a single mass volley, then retire to the rear of
the square to reload. The second rank would then step forward,
aim, i re on order and also retire so that the front rank could i re
again. These tactics meant that a Spanish tercio could deliver
continuous volleys against an advancing formation. To maintain
the high quality of a tercio’s performance, care was taken to
© Jose Cabrera younger soldiers. This professionalism made the tercios the best
keep a high number of veterans in the units to encourage the
infantry in Europe and they gained a reputation for invincibility
in major battles – it was a reputation that would be ultimately
tested at Rocroi.

49