Author Topic: Spanish Tercios (Read 50079 times)

Antonio J Carrasco · « **Reply #60 on:** September 02, 2019, 09:24:03 PM »

Quote from: Paul Richardson on September 02, 2019, 11:35:03 AM

I wonder whether the men in boots are intended to be officers / gentlemen.

Not necesarily. Boots were a prestige item; it was used to show status and wealth, in the Spanish units. A common soldier would purchase boots, feathers for his chambergo, sashes, ecc, only to show other soldiers that he was successful and a "hidalgo", i.e. he was noble and didn't need to work for a living -war wasn't considered a job per se-. An hidalgo was something similar to a yeoman or to the Polish petty nobility. Bottom line is that you don't need to assume that a Spanish soldier with boots was an officer or an adventurer gentlemen -although he could be-, only that he was (or pretended to be!) financially successful.

Lord Raglan · « **Reply #61 on:** September 02, 2019, 10:53:00 PM »

You got to love a Spanish peacock

Paul Richardson · « **Reply #62 on:** September 03, 2019, 07:52:57 AM »

Many thanks Antonio. Interesting. In the German infantry units in my little collection, the ordinary soldiers wear shoes and only the officers wear boots.