Machiavelli to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada

Machiavelli to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada Major Rascon

References • Jones, The Art of War in the Western World, pp.195-213 • Montross, War Through the Ages, pp. 211-214, 227-261 • Preston and Wise, Men in Arms, pp. 98-109, 119-131 • Ropp, War in the Modern World,j pp.19-40, 60-66

Learning Objectives The student will know and understand: • The contribution of Machiavelli with emphasis on his attitudes on war and ethics • Spanish tactical evolution on land, emphasizing Cordoba and the Moor expulsion • The Battle of Lepanto

Learning Objectives (cont.) The student will know and understand: • The revolt in the Netherlands and the defeat of the Spanish Armada • The reforms of Maurice of Nassau • The significant developments in weaponry during the mid-16th century

Machiavelli, 1469-1527 • Recognized link between military, social, and political sphere • Saw that new era of war had opened • Effective armies composed of natives • Will to fight based on satisfaction with nation’s society

Machiavelli (cont.) • Principles:- Quick, decisive defeat- Command to one individual - Training/discipline critical - Punishment must be severe “It is much safer to be feared than loved” • These changes seen with innovations in Spain

Spanish Tactical Evolutions • Granada - eventually defeated by Ferdinand and Isabella • Cordoba - very successful Spanish general • Column - became basic fighting unit • Tercio - later, 3 columns became a Tercio

Conquest of GranadaMay 1485 - Jan 1492 Background • Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille married • Their Goal - expel Moslem Moors from Spain • December 1481 - Moslems seize Zahara • Response - Christians retaliate, Ferdinand and Isabella come to aid

Results of Granada • Successful • April 1491 - January 1492: Christians, in overwhelming force, repulsed all Moors • Ended 8 centuries of Moslem/Christian struggle • Spanish Soldier became formidable • Necessitated requirement for professional army

Gonzalo de Cordoba • Used Economy of Force • Arquebusier Protection • Recognized potential and vulnerability Arquebusier • Provided protection while reloading with pikemen • Key in using small arms decisively on the battlefield • Video-10min Matchlock

Column and Tercio • 1505 - Column created by King Ferdinand based on Cordoba’s experience • Mixed pikemen, halberdiers, arquebusiers, and sword-and-buckler men • Commanded by cabo de colunela (chief of column), or “colonel” • Originally used for admin and movement • 1534 - The Tercio Developed • Larger organization made up of 3 Colunelas

Spanish Square • “Spanish Square” • Eliminated sword-and-buckler and halberdiers, leaving only pikemen and arquebusiers • Pikemen massed 50-60 men front, 20 deep • Arquebusier at Corners • Employment • Arquebusiers would fire, then fall back to protection of pikemen while they reloaded • Became basic fighting unit • Countermarch • Video –5min Spanish square

Battle of Lepanto - 1571 • Last significant galley battle • Influenced by gunpowder but little changed from “infantry battle at sea” • Christians vs. Turks • Turks – 230 ships lost; 20,000 men killed • Christians – 173 ships lost; 7,600 killed

Revolt in the Netherlands • Netherlands inherited by Spain • Dutch revolt: 1568-1609 • Religious differences: Northern provinces strongly protestant; Spanish … Catholic • Initial Spanish success: 1585: Recapture of Antwerp by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma • English intervene of side of rebels

Spanish Armada - 1588 • AO designed to invade England • The Armada was to rendezvous with Parma’s army in Netherlands and cross channel • The Armada itself carried a subsidiary landing force • The English Plan • Prevent the junction

The Destruction of the Armada English ships, guns, and gunnery proved decisively superior The Armada’s only chance was to close and attempt to board • English used wind and speed to their advantage to escape boarding • Spanish are too slow for smaller, faster English • English employed speed and guns effectively

Spanish Losses • Out of 130 Ships • 63 lost • English sank or captured 15 • 19 wrecked on Scottish or Irish coast • Remaining 33 unknown • Heralded decline of Spanish empire • Began England’s mastery of the seas • Revolt lasted 21 years afterward, led by Maurice of Nassau

Maurice of Nassau Philosophies • Continued Netherlands’ revolt • Restructured military using Romans as model • Reduced depth from 40 to 10 and then later down to 5 (the number who could effectively employ their arms) • Frontage of 50 pikemen at 3 ft intervals (modern linear formations) • Formations had musketeers placed on the flanks 40 men, combined arms • This smaller force made unit more flexible

Features of Army under Maurice of Nassau • Troops rigorously taught drill by superiors • Long term enlistments of regular soldiers • Good pay, regular professional army • First military academy introduced • Encouraged development of new weapons- Gas and explosive shells- Mapmakers- Field glasses for observation

New 16th Century Weapons • Musket replaced arquebus • Increased range • Greater stopping power • Wheellock pistol • Renewed importance of cavalry • Now, less vulnerable to attack

Summary • Machiavelli foresees changing military • Spanish exploit new technology to become dominating force and create standing armies • New naval tactics end “battle at sea” principles and lead to destruction of Armada • Maurice of Nassau makes innovative changes to create a superior force • Steady, increased use of new weapons and gun powder on the battlefield

Questions?

Machiavelli to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada