TYW043
First Legion
The Thirty Years War was fought from 1618 to 1648 and was one of the bloodiest, most destructive conflicts in human history.
One of the initial releases for the range was a Spanish Tercio formed up for the Battle of Rocroi in 1643 and now First Legion is adding a release of artillery and crew, being suitable to portray both the French and the Spanish artillery at the battle.
Rocroi was a decisive French victory and marked the beginning of the end of the myth of invincibility of the Spanish Tercio. After several French cavalry attacks had routed the Spanish cavalry, the Spanish infantry were left unsupported and exposed to artillery attack. The French Commander, the Duc d'Enghien massed his artillery alongside the already captured Spanish guns, and relentlessly hammered the Spanish squares. The Germans and Walloons within the Spanish forces deserted, overwhelmed and broken, leading to the end of the battle in French victory.