Volgrand t1_jaabqhz wrote
It all began when the worlds colided.
How it happened or why, noone understood. But now new foes were marching through the land, alien kingdoms were demmanding new lands to expand. When king Andrew "the Conqueror" learned that a band of around 250 men had trespassed his frontiers, he expected the his army to easily fend off the offenders. After all, they were just 250 men armed with pole arms... and there were some children among their ranks!
And now he was sitting on the throne, listening to a messenger's report. "My lord, your army was dispersed" he said, terror in his voice. "They fought valiantly, but those strangers were able to fight off all our forces".
"How is that possible!", yelled king Andrew. "What about our griffoon raiders? Their charge is unstoppable to any known foe!"
"They were killed by lines after lines of pikes. They first killed the majestic beasts and then ended the life of their riders!"
"What about the Valkiry Warriors? They wear great swords, certainly they were able to cut the enemy polearms!"
"Just... a few, my lord. the Valkiry warrior wore no armour at all".
"Outrageous! And what about our infantry? We had over 1500 pikemen! What happened?"
"The children happened, sir". There was an incredulous silence after those words, so the messenger explained himself. "Our pikes collided with the enemy's polearms, it was an stalemate... but then our first line fell, man by man. The children that marched with the enemy warriers ran under the pikes and stabbed our warriors in the knees. That's how they were defeated".
The king sat on his throne.
"My lord, they are marching this way".
"How do they call themselves? What lord or tyrant do they serve? Maybe we can still negotiate a truce..."
"They call themselves... Tercios Españoles, from a foreign land called "España" or "Espania", I'm not certain how to pronounced it. They gave me this message for your eyes only".
The messenger gave an scroll to the king. There was a message written in ink with a polished hand writting.
"To the king called Andrew who helds the title 'the Conqueror':
We, the Spanish Tercios, have been tasked by king Felipe the Second to conquer this land for the greatest interest of the Spanish Empire. We stand no quarrel against you, your family or citizens. Your warriors, while foolish, fought with honor, so I know you will do the same, for only a great king can inspire such a thing in their soldiers.
This is the only time I will make this offer. Surrender now, king Andrew, and you shall be treated respect. If you refuse, know that it will be my honor to fight you until death embraces any of us.
May God bless you,
General Ambrosio Spínola."
HorseRaceInHell t1_jaaxbfx wrote
Did Spain actually use children in war like that? It's really clever.
KeeGeeBee t1_jab0z51 wrote
I have never heard of nor can I find record of children being employed in this role - but having someone skitter under the lines of pikes to stab the enemy in their legs and groin was a real thing that happened.
ETxsubboy t1_jabgprp wrote
Claymores were used in this respect, have guys swinging the bloody things in wide arcs under the pikes to cut the legs out from anything just out of reach of the tips of the pikes.
I could totally see children being used like this. The reality of children in warfare is chilling.
Volgrand t1_jabzg4d wrote
I have read both about using children or other men. Anyway it is important to recall that in those years a 14 or 15 years old lad would be considered grown enough to fight.
But I remember reading a document about the Tercios having actual children (10 or 12 years old) for this. They would run under the pikes and cut the enemy's knees and tendons.
Yeah, the Tercios were very professional bastards in battle.
shinitakunai t1_jacoorc wrote
I know about the tercios but never heard of childs fighting
shinitakunai t1_jacomle wrote
As a spaniard this was a cool surprise haha
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