Why were Spanish tercios so superior in 16th and 17th century?

Probably a convergence of good stats timming ( and their mangas and privados hace them some advantage)

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tercios superiority slowly fell down along with the range of the musket increased

their superiority in close combat and h2h combat became irrevelant

exactly the same happened to the chinese and japanese armies in the 19th

Spanish tercios were what you call an elite army. High discipline, top equipment, loyalty and shit.

Also the Tercios were usually named as "los viejos tercios" "the old tercios" because of the advanced age of the soldiers. An old veteran who fought tons of battles and survived has more value 10 newbies.

>>1405017
Also this. Tercios fell together with the pike. These soldiers were famous in Europe for being absolute savages in close combat and never giving up. The improvement of fire weapons and artillery made them completely obsolete.

Money.

>>1405360
>high discipline and loyalty
As long as they got paid in time...

>>1405646
>As long as they got paid in time...
Actually, the crown abused of their loyalty like cunts. Late payment was common. But their patience had a limit, like everything...

>>1405646
Actually the Tercios Viejos never refused a fight. They were one of the few armies of they times than even in a mutiny would fight even if they weren't paid before the fight or even after, like the Mutiny of Amberes or Harleem. Honra and Honour were incredible important for them, and discipline was brutal.

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>>1404388
Battle of Rocroi put an end to that, thanks to the Duc d'Enghien.

>>1404388
Call me a retard, but I never understood what kind of formation tercio is, even after reading Wikipedia.

>>1407357
In that battle non-Spanish formations cracked first, while Spanish tercios held out for hours. Bad example senpai.