The Spanish Tercio system
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:01 pmThis picture depicts the typical outfit of the proffessional divisions of Tercios, career soldiers. Peasants could be equipped with cheap weaponry by the government and equipment was usually standardised.
Tercios, meaning thirds, were the method the Spanish army used to divide its regimetns into easily manageable tactical forces. They were called tercios as they were made up of three thousand soldiers (plus a few reserves, including engineers and field surgeons in the later and more proffessional campaigning regiments). They were often divided into thirds of about 1,000 men each with their own tactical purpose in the regiment. It was common in the era to have a thousand pikemen, a thousand musketeers and a thousand multi-purpose irregulars (these were similar to "rodeleros", the legionary sword-bearing all purpose militia formed in the early years of the Spanish empire's formation, armed with metal-plated shields and shortswords, cheap yet all-round effective).
An army was usually made up of several Tercios.
With an army as organised as the Roman system of legions, Tercios were highly effective and versatile. The armies were drilled in formation, regularly employing pike triangles in order to defend all directions from the front, making the formation almost impenetrable while defending the militias armed with long-ranged weaponry in the rear ranks.
Tercios rarely contained any cavalry, as horses were usually restricted to the nobility serving in the Spanish army. Because tercios were made up of career soldiers, in it for the money, or conscripted to fight in the name of the empire. Horses would be used as pack animals, or as transport, as the pike, musket and crossbow-based formations relied on combat on foot.
RANKS:
Soldado: A commoner, could be fresh from the farms or with several years of service in his history - but as long as he was a commoner and a regular foot soldier, all he could expect was a decent meal every day and his weapons to be supplied. Promotions were rare. The rank means "soldier" literally.
Cabo: A cabo would be in charge of a troop, most probably a subdivision of a formation in a tercio, equivalent to a sergeant of the time. He could sometimes have been promoted after long service in the army, proving his competence through several battles, but would usually train to attain this position.
Sargento: A "sergeant" actually had more authority than was given to sergeants in other armies. He would control an entire formation, organising its maneuvers on behalf of his commander and making sure that the cabos marched the men to where they were supposed to go. For a peasant to attain this rank, hell would need to freeze over - it was for educated men, the closest to middle class as one can get in the 17th century.
Brigada: A commander of a tercio, in charge of several Sargentos and about 3,000 soldados with a few cabos thrown in. He took orders from officers, and be the midway point between the fighting men and the brains sitting in the tents several miles behind the frontline. A brigada would be noble, and usually be able to afford his own armour and a horse. Sometimes a brigada would be a knight of the realm. His pay was handsome.
Alferez: An Alferez was just barely above a Brigada in rank. The word "Alferez" is Arabic, coming from the times of Moorish rule of Spain, and means "horseman" or "cavalier." He would always be a nobleman, and usually serve on the field in a formation of knights.
Teniente: The teniente was in charge of the maneuvers of an entire Tercio, and would be the one to draw up plans for any attacks, retreats, and make sure that things got done in the best interests of Spain and the army with which he was travelling.
Tercios, meaning thirds, were the method the Spanish army used to divide its regimetns into easily manageable tactical forces. They were called tercios as they were made up of three thousand soldiers (plus a few reserves, including engineers and field surgeons in the later and more proffessional campaigning regiments). They were often divided into thirds of about 1,000 men each with their own tactical purpose in the regiment. It was common in the era to have a thousand pikemen, a thousand musketeers and a thousand multi-purpose irregulars (these were similar to "rodeleros", the legionary sword-bearing all purpose militia formed in the early years of the Spanish empire's formation, armed with metal-plated shields and shortswords, cheap yet all-round effective).
An army was usually made up of several Tercios.
With an army as organised as the Roman system of legions, Tercios were highly effective and versatile. The armies were drilled in formation, regularly employing pike triangles in order to defend all directions from the front, making the formation almost impenetrable while defending the militias armed with long-ranged weaponry in the rear ranks.
Tercios rarely contained any cavalry, as horses were usually restricted to the nobility serving in the Spanish army. Because tercios were made up of career soldiers, in it for the money, or conscripted to fight in the name of the empire. Horses would be used as pack animals, or as transport, as the pike, musket and crossbow-based formations relied on combat on foot.
RANKS:
Soldado: A commoner, could be fresh from the farms or with several years of service in his history - but as long as he was a commoner and a regular foot soldier, all he could expect was a decent meal every day and his weapons to be supplied. Promotions were rare. The rank means "soldier" literally.
Cabo: A cabo would be in charge of a troop, most probably a subdivision of a formation in a tercio, equivalent to a sergeant of the time. He could sometimes have been promoted after long service in the army, proving his competence through several battles, but would usually train to attain this position.
Sargento: A "sergeant" actually had more authority than was given to sergeants in other armies. He would control an entire formation, organising its maneuvers on behalf of his commander and making sure that the cabos marched the men to where they were supposed to go. For a peasant to attain this rank, hell would need to freeze over - it was for educated men, the closest to middle class as one can get in the 17th century.
Brigada: A commander of a tercio, in charge of several Sargentos and about 3,000 soldados with a few cabos thrown in. He took orders from officers, and be the midway point between the fighting men and the brains sitting in the tents several miles behind the frontline. A brigada would be noble, and usually be able to afford his own armour and a horse. Sometimes a brigada would be a knight of the realm. His pay was handsome.
Alferez: An Alferez was just barely above a Brigada in rank. The word "Alferez" is Arabic, coming from the times of Moorish rule of Spain, and means "horseman" or "cavalier." He would always be a nobleman, and usually serve on the field in a formation of knights.
Teniente: The teniente was in charge of the maneuvers of an entire Tercio, and would be the one to draw up plans for any attacks, retreats, and make sure that things got done in the best interests of Spain and the army with which he was travelling.