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Italia mi ventura: El soldado español en las guerras de Italia
«España mi natura, Italia mi ventura, Flandes mi sepultura», rezan unos versillos anónimos populares entre la soldadesca española de los tercios que combatía por su rey en las cuatro esquinas de Europa. Pero en la primera mitad del siglo XVI la península itálica, lejos de ser plácido lugar para entrenamiento de bisoños y solaz de veteranos, fue escenario de una acendrada pugna entre España y Francia, décadas de enfrentamientos que convirtieron a Italia en un crisol de nuevas tácticas y tecnología militar, y que propició la aparición de los tercios de infantería españoles como la mejor y más temida fuerza militar de Europa durante más de cien años. En el libro Italia mi ventura, Idan Sherer, experto en la guerra renacentista, examina la experiencia del soldado español durante el periodo formativo de las Guerras de Italia, y lo hace de una manera integral, desde su reclutamiento y vida diaria, con el desgaste fruto de desplazamientos, enfermedades o una alimentación a menudo deficiente, hasta la experiencia de combate –fuese en escaramuzas, asedios o batallas–, pasando por aspectos rara vez tratados como el motín o la a menudo conflictiva relación con la población civil, con su máxima expresión en las violencias que seguían a la expugnación de una ciudad y el saco de Roma de 1527 como epítome. El autor también plantea cuestiones de calado que marcan la aparición de la guerra moderna, como las tendencias hacia la privatización y profesionalización, las tensiones entre las motivaciones individuales y la eficacia organizativa, entre los contextos de origen del soldado y su adaptación a la vida militar, o entre el espíritu de cuerpo y la identidad nacional. Un espíritu de cuerpo, impregnado de orgullo por un sentimiento de valía, de celo nacional y religioso, que otorgaba una motivación extraordinaria a la severa sociedad guerrera formada por los soldados españoles de infantería, tantas y tantas veces demostrada sobre el campo de batalla, y que tuvo su origen en las Guerras de Italia.
542 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 6, 2017
Since this book is based on a PhD thesis, it leaves the impression as if in Hebrew University of Jerusalem the ability to analyze information and make meaningful conclusions is not required to get an academic degree. The result is very far from the example set in the same field by historians like David Potter or David Parrot.
The book is little more than a collection of facts and quotations, and most of them are from the surface of known sources. Despite the author's claims on novelty, most of the examples have already been seen in previously published works on the warfare in the sixteenth century (surprisingly, he often cites exact same phrases as the other authors, but references only to the primary sources, without respects to those who have published the quotations first). Even venerable works from Oman and Taylor are still used here as a pinnacle of historical knowledge instead of original research.
But examples prove nothing. Worse, generalizations here also repeat the things someone has already written. The only times where the author has his own voice are the places where he suddenly jumps from horrors of Renaissance wars to accusations of Soviet and Russian soldiers. Better that he restricted himself to examples.
The book is little more than a collection of facts and quotations, and most of them are from the surface of known sources. Despite the author's claims on novelty, most of the examples have already been seen in previously published works on the warfare in the sixteenth century (surprisingly, he often cites exact same phrases as the other authors, but references only to the primary sources, without respects to those who have published the quotations first). Even venerable works from Oman and Taylor are still used here as a pinnacle of historical knowledge instead of original research.
But examples prove nothing. Worse, generalizations here also repeat the things someone has already written. The only times where the author has his own voice are the places where he suddenly jumps from horrors of Renaissance wars to accusations of Soviet and Russian soldiers. Better that he restricted himself to examples.
July 24, 2018
Interesting read that does what you expect it to do, but what it lacks in surprise, it makes up with thoroughness.
Idan Sherer, compartmentalizes the subject matter in a non surprising but adequate way; Spanish infantry recruitment, conditions of soldiering, combat and also includes the sack of cities and mutinies. Clearly Sherer does not stick to "accepted truths" like how the Spanish infantry were as described by Italian contemporaries to be lowly dregs, little better then animals but instead does his outmost best to de-demonize the Spanish infantry. He outlines their various background thanks to the preservation of several recruitment rosters, recruits that included former monks, Hidalgos and off course a lot of lower end persons, yet the diversity in background is striking and should be remembered when reading the opinions of Machiavelli who hated them so much. Even if at the same time (especially in the chapter on the sack of cities and their impact on local populations throughout the chapters) he does underline their brutality even if in most occasions German and Italian mercenaries were acting similarly. As Sherer notes, as much as the Spanish treatment of native americans, the Spanish sacking of Italian towns (Rome!)contributed to their overall bad reputation that was not quite undeserved.
Particularly interesting was the chapter on mutinies, Sherer correctly points out, the concept of a mutiny has changed, these days a mutiny is treason while for the Spanish Tercio's and their commanders and even the king himself; a mutiny was an acknowledged reasonable and to be expected response to the conditions the Tercio's had to endure. Conditions like inadequate pay, no pay at all, not enough food and bad leadership. I found it interesting to discover how the commanders and mutineers wrote polite yet firm letters as part of negotiations and both sides actively compromised, it had a so it seems a sort of trade union strike vibe. this comparing of the Spanish Tercio to modern armies is a recurring theme in the book, most of the times Sherer uses this to underline how harsh conditions were for the average soldier.
Sherer spent's a lot of time on the question whether if the Spanish army are proof that the seeds and origin of the military revolution truly lie in the 16th century. The answer is a yes/but at the one had the Spanish did introduce centralized bureaucratic recruitment, enforced a standardized equipment rule for their recruits and tercio's companies never fought against Spain even if they did mutiny at times when their (in theory) regular wages did not arrive. Sherer though notes that at the same time they still relied on plunder to keep the soldiers happy, they did not use formal "boot camps" to train new recruits as they were expected to learn while part of their company, they did no provide uniforms and all and all the battlefield would have been different but not alien for a Soldier of a few generations before them (even if gunpowder weapons had increased dramatically). So, a modern army? No but not quite a medieval one either.... Note; Something I do would like to see in the future; is how the Spanish army compares to the Swedish of the 17th century. Which of these two did have the biggest contribution to the setting of off the Military revolution that Sherer discusses and comments on? From a famous soldier point of view, the Spanish Tercio infantry companies were as (in)famous in their day as the Swedish hakkapeliitta cavalry units in their own respective battlefields. I believe this would make an interesting next study on the military revolution in early modern Europe.
In conclusion, it is perhaps not a book for a wide audience, it does require some knowledge on 16th century European politics and as with any specialized book it does expect a strong interest in one subject. But if you are interested in the early modern European history and want to focus on the military, this is for you.
Idan Sherer, compartmentalizes the subject matter in a non surprising but adequate way; Spanish infantry recruitment, conditions of soldiering, combat and also includes the sack of cities and mutinies. Clearly Sherer does not stick to "accepted truths" like how the Spanish infantry were as described by Italian contemporaries to be lowly dregs, little better then animals but instead does his outmost best to de-demonize the Spanish infantry. He outlines their various background thanks to the preservation of several recruitment rosters, recruits that included former monks, Hidalgos and off course a lot of lower end persons, yet the diversity in background is striking and should be remembered when reading the opinions of Machiavelli who hated them so much. Even if at the same time (especially in the chapter on the sack of cities and their impact on local populations throughout the chapters) he does underline their brutality even if in most occasions German and Italian mercenaries were acting similarly. As Sherer notes, as much as the Spanish treatment of native americans, the Spanish sacking of Italian towns (Rome!)contributed to their overall bad reputation that was not quite undeserved.
Particularly interesting was the chapter on mutinies, Sherer correctly points out, the concept of a mutiny has changed, these days a mutiny is treason while for the Spanish Tercio's and their commanders and even the king himself; a mutiny was an acknowledged reasonable and to be expected response to the conditions the Tercio's had to endure. Conditions like inadequate pay, no pay at all, not enough food and bad leadership. I found it interesting to discover how the commanders and mutineers wrote polite yet firm letters as part of negotiations and both sides actively compromised, it had a so it seems a sort of trade union strike vibe. this comparing of the Spanish Tercio to modern armies is a recurring theme in the book, most of the times Sherer uses this to underline how harsh conditions were for the average soldier.
Sherer spent's a lot of time on the question whether if the Spanish army are proof that the seeds and origin of the military revolution truly lie in the 16th century. The answer is a yes/but at the one had the Spanish did introduce centralized bureaucratic recruitment, enforced a standardized equipment rule for their recruits and tercio's companies never fought against Spain even if they did mutiny at times when their (in theory) regular wages did not arrive. Sherer though notes that at the same time they still relied on plunder to keep the soldiers happy, they did not use formal "boot camps" to train new recruits as they were expected to learn while part of their company, they did no provide uniforms and all and all the battlefield would have been different but not alien for a Soldier of a few generations before them (even if gunpowder weapons had increased dramatically). So, a modern army? No but not quite a medieval one either.... Note; Something I do would like to see in the future; is how the Spanish army compares to the Swedish of the 17th century. Which of these two did have the biggest contribution to the setting of off the Military revolution that Sherer discusses and comments on? From a famous soldier point of view, the Spanish Tercio infantry companies were as (in)famous in their day as the Swedish hakkapeliitta cavalry units in their own respective battlefields. I believe this would make an interesting next study on the military revolution in early modern Europe.
In conclusion, it is perhaps not a book for a wide audience, it does require some knowledge on 16th century European politics and as with any specialized book it does expect a strong interest in one subject. But if you are interested in the early modern European history and want to focus on the military, this is for you.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews