The
Infantería de Marina (Navy
InfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of the Combat Arms they are the backbone of armies...
) or
Spanish Navy Marines is a corps within the
Spanish NavyThe Spanish Navy is the maritime arm of the Spanish Military, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path from the Far East to America across the...
responsible for providing
amphibious warfareAmphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
from the sea utilizing naval platforms and resources. The Infantería de Marina is fully integrated into the Spanish Navy Structure.
It was formed in 1537 by Charles I of Spain (also known as
Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I of Spain, of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556...
), making it the oldest marine corps in the world, drawing from the
Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles.
]
The Infantería de Marina is an elite corps, highly specialised in
amphibious warfareAmphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
, that is, to project an amphibious force onto a hostile, or potentially hostile, coast.
The
Infantería de Marina (Navy
InfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of the Combat Arms they are the backbone of armies...
) or
Spanish Navy Marines is a corps within the
Spanish NavyThe Spanish Navy is the maritime arm of the Spanish Military, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path from the Far East to America across the...
responsible for providing
amphibious warfareAmphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
from the sea utilizing naval platforms and resources. The Infantería de Marina is fully integrated into the Spanish Navy Structure.
It was formed in 1537 by Charles I of Spain (also known as
Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I of Spain, of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556...
), making it the oldest marine corps in the world, drawing from the
Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles.
Mission
]
The Infantería de Marina is an elite corps, highly specialised in
amphibious warfareAmphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
, that is, to project an amphibious force onto a hostile, or potentially hostile, coast. Its ability to embark on a short term notice with (land, air and naval) Navy assets, makes it a unit with a high strategic value. Adding to this a high degree of training, and the capability to deploy swiftly in international waters, results in a potent disuasory force available at a short notice in distant regions.
One of the main characteristics of a marine is the uniform that he wears. On the sleeves of the Spanish Marines are the three "Sardinetas", which marks it as a member of the Royal House Corps. This was earned in 1762 for a heroic, though finally defeated defence of the
Castillo del MorroMorro Castle ) is a picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay in Havana, Cuba. Juan Bautista Antonelli, an Italian engineer, was commissioned to design the structure. When it was built in 1589, Cuba was under the control of Spain...
of
HavanaHavana is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 14 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.4 million inhabitants, and the urban area over 3.7 million, making Havana the largest city in both Cuba and the Caribbean region...
,
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
against a
British expeditionThe Battle of Havana was a military action from March to August 1762, as part of the Seven Years' War. British forces besieged and captured the city of Havana, which at the time was an important Spanish naval base in the Caribbean, and dealt a serious blow to the Spanish navy...
. The only other unit to wear the sardinetas and red trouser stripes is the
Spanish Royal GuardThe Royal Guard is an independent unit of the Spanish Army dedicated to the military protection of H.M. the King of Spain and the members of the Spanish Royal Family. It currently has a strength of 1,500 troops. While the guard does participate in parades and other ceremonial events, it is a...
.
Spanish Marines have modern assets to comply with its mission, having personnel specialised in
artilleryArtillery is a military combat Arm that employs weapons capable of discharging large projectiles in combat. They are generally capable of adding considerable fire power to the military capability of an armed force...
,
sappingMining, undermining, or sapping was a siege method used since antiquity against a walled city, fortress or castle.-Use in antiquity:The Greek historian Polybius, in his Histories, gives a graphic account of mining and counter mining at the Roman siege of Ambracia:According to Polybius, this was the...
,
helicopterA helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades. Helicopters are classified as rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from fixed-wing aircraft because the helicopter achieves lift with the...
s,
special operationsSpecial forces and special operations forces are generic terms for elite highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action and counter-terrorism actions.In the United States, the term special operations forces is...
, communications,
tankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities...
s, among others. Some vehicles form the
Grupo Mecanizado Anfibio del Tercio de Armada (the Mechanized Amphibious Group of the Navy Tercio).
The Marines of Spain are not only a fleet force, as the Spanish Royal Marine Guard Company are responsible for the defence and security forces of naval bases and facilities, naval schools and training units, and all facilities that support the Marines themselves.
The most famous Spanish marine is without a doubt
Don Miguel de Cervantes SaavedraMiguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, often considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature and is regularly regarded among the best novels ever written. His work is considered among the most important in all...
, author of the novel
Don Quixote, fully titled The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha , is a novel written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes...
, who was wounded in the
Battle of LepantoThe Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Spain , the Republic of Venice, the Papacy The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League,...
in 1571. Another famous writer,
Calderón de la BarcaPedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño usually referred as Pedro Calderón de la Barca , was a dramatist of the Spanish Golden Age.-Biography:...
, also served with the marines.
First period
The Infantería de Armada (Navy Infantry) was created by
Charles VCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I of Spain, of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556...
in 1537, when he permanently assigned the
Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles (
NaplesThe Kingdom of Naples is the modern day name for a polity which existed on the southern part of the Italian peninsula. Also known contemporaneously, and somewhat confusingly, as the Kingdom of Sicily, this kingdom was founded after the secession of the island of Sicily from the old Kingdom of...
Sea Old Companies) to the
Escuadras de Galeras del Mediterráneo (Mediterranean Galley Squadrons). But it was
Philip IIPhilip II was King of Spain and Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, during his wife Mary Tudor's reign, King of England and Ireland...
who established today's concept of a
landing forceA landing operation is a military action aimed at a bringing the landing force usually via landing craft to a shore or to land with the purpose of power projection ashore by forces coming usually from ships and also aircraft and able to fight....
. This was a pure naval power projection ashore by forces deployed from ships that could maintain their ability to fight despite based on board. This is the period of the famous
TercioThe Tercio , also known as Tercio Español, was a Renaissance era military formation similar to and derivative of the Swiss pike square and was a term used to describe a mixed infantry formation of about 3,000 pikemen, swordsmen and arquebusiers in a mutually supportive formation; it was also...
s (literally "One Third", due to its organisation: one third of
musketeerA musketeer was an early modern type of infantry soldier equipped with a musket. Musketeers were an important part of early modern armies, particularly in Europe.-Musketeers in China:Muskets were used in China at least from the 14th Century....
s, one third of
spearA spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharpened head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be of another material fastened to the shaft, such as obsidian, iron or bronze...
men and the left third of
pikemenA pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used two-handed and used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown...
):
- Tercio Nuevo de la Mar de Nápoles.
- Tercio de la Armada del Mar Océano.
- Tercio de Galeras de Sicilia.
- Tercio Viejo del Mar Océano y de Infantería Napolitana.
Of the Tercios above, the first is considered the core of the Infantería de Marina, and it bears in its
coat of armsA coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways. Historically, they were used by knights to identify them apart from enemy...
two crossed anchors that became the Corps' coat of arms until 1931.
In 1704, the Tercios became regiments:
Regimientos de Bajeles (Vessel's Regiments),
Regimiento de la Armada (Navy Regiment),
R. del Mar de Nápoles (Naples' Sea Regiment), and
R. de Marina de Sicilia (Sicily's Navy Regiment), detaching some small units to the Army, and the main body remained in the Navy becoming the
Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina (Navy Battalions Corps).
The battles that the marines served in during this very busy period included:
- Algiers
Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria, and the second largest city in the Maghreb . According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630...
expedition (1541).
- Battle of Lepanto (1571)
The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Spain , the Republic of Venice, the Papacy The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League,...
.
- Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian Republic , is a country located in North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast. Tunisia is located southwest of the island of Sicily and south of Sardinia. Its size is almost 165,000 km² with an estimated population of just...
expedition (1573).
- The conquest of Terceira Island
Terceira Island is an island in the Azores, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 396.75 km². The island's length is 29 km and the width is 18 km; the perimeter is 90 km. Population is 54,996, down from a peak of 59,000...
(AzoresThe Azores is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about from Lisbon and about from the east coast of North America. The two westernmost Azorean islands actually lie on the North American plate...
) (1582).
- Great Britain expedition (1599).
- San Salvador (Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
) expedition (1625).
Second period
In 1717 the
Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina was definitively settled and organized, reaching its full strength of twelve battalions. The first ones were named: Armada, Bajeles, Marina, Oceano, Mediterráneo and Barlovento. Their mission was to form the "Main body of landing columns and ship's soldiers tasks" in a time that
boardingBoarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion onto a ship's deck of people. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party...
was still a critical part of battle at sea. They were also gun crews.
In a 1793, a woman, Ana Maria de Soto, disguised as a man, and answering to the name of Antonio Maria de Soto, enlisted in the 6th company of 11° Battalion of the Navy, being licensed with pension and honors in 1798, when she was discovered to be a woman.
She was the first female Marine of the world.
The major actions they took part in during this period were:
- Sardinia
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Isabella Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria, and...
, 1717.
- Naples and Sicily, 1732.
- Battle of Cartagena de Indias
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was the decisive battle of a massive amphibious expedition by the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon against Spain under Admiral Blas de Lezo, taking place at the city of Cartagena de Indias, in present day Colombia, starting in March 1741...
, 1741.
- Defence of Havana
Havana is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 14 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.4 million inhabitants, and the urban area over 3.7 million, making Havana the largest city in both Cuba and the Caribbean region...
, 1762.
- Algiers expedition, 1775.
- Battle of Pensacola (1781)
The Battle of Pensacola marked the culmination of Spain's conquest of the British province West Florida from Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War in 1781.-Background:...
.
- Siege of Toulon
The Siege of Toulon was an early Republican victory over a Royalist rebellion in the Southern French city of Toulon. It is also often known as the Fall of Toulon....
, 1793.
- Defense of Ferrol, Spain, 1800.
- Recapture of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital, and largest city, of Argentina, currently the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the eastern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, 1806.
Third period
Though Spain's empire was dismembered in the nineteenth century the marines continued to be active abroad.
Its most important actions in this period were:
- Santo Domingo
The French occupation of Santo Domingo started in 1795 when France came to own the whole island when by the Treaty of Basel Spain ceded Santo Domingo as a consequence of the French Revolutionary Wars. At the time, slaves led by Toussaint Louverture in Saint-Domingue were in revolt against France...
(1804)
- Cochinchina (Vietnam)
The Cochinchina campaign , fought between the French and the Spanish on the one side and the Vietnamese on the other, began as a limited punitive campaign and ended as a French war of conquest...
(1858).
- Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico, also known as the Maximilian Affair and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by the army of the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the British and Spanish...
(1862).
- Cuba and Philippines
The Spanish–American War was an armed military conflict between Spain and the United States that took place between April and August 1898, over the issues of the liberation of Cuba. The war began after American demands for the resolution of the Cuban fight for independence were rejected by Spain...
(1898).
- Morocco (1911)
These actions were carried out by the
Batallones Expedicionarios (Expeditionary Battalions), some of them campaigning abroad for up to ten years.
Fourth period
At the end of the
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
, the
Battle of GallipoliThe Gallipoli Campaign took place at Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916, during the First World War. A joint British Empire and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Istanbul, and secure a sea route to Russia...
made almost all countries abandon the idea of amphibious assault. The world's marine corps fell into a deep crisis, with the Infantería de Marina being no exception, though it enjoyed success during the
Third Rif WarThe Rif War of 1920, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif and J'bala tribes.-Early Stages:...
in its innovative
AlhucemasPeñón de Alhucemas, or "Lavender Rock", is one of the Spanish plazas de soberanía just off the Moroccan coast.Peñón de Alhucemas and the islets of "Isla de Mar" and "Isla de Tierra" slightly to the west form the Alhucemas Islands...
amphibious assault in 1925, when it employed coordinated
airIn military tactics, close air support is air action against hostile targets that requires detailed coordination and integration with ground forces. It is typically used to support ground troops, providing firepower at critical points....
and
naval gunfireNaval gunfire support is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range....
to support the assault.
The "Expeditionary Mission", was considered a "colonial force", and denounced as an instrument of
imperialismImperialism, as defined by the dictionary of human geography, is “the creation and maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination.” Imperialism, in many ways, is described...
, and so condemned to extinction by the government of the
Second Spanish RepublicThe Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14, 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country following local and municipal elections in which republican candidates won the majority of votes in urban areas and April 1, 1939, when the last of the Republican ...
in 1931.
During the bitterly fought
Spanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil War was a major conflict that devastated Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939. It began after an attempted coup d'état by a group of Spanish Army generals against the government of the Second Spanish Republic, then under the leadership of president Manuel Azaña...
the Corp split and served both sides, performing garrison duties, leading landing parties, and providing expert gun and machine gun crews. After the civil war the defeated republic's death decree for the Infantería Marina was revoked and its strength was increased during the dictatorship of
Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco Bahamonde, commonly known as Francisco Franco , or simply Franco, was a military general and dictator of Spain from October 1936, and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in 1975...
.
Fifth period
In 1957, the
Grupo Especial Anfibio (Amphibious Special Group) was created, and the Infantería de Marina returned to its primary duty as a Landing Force Mission. In 1958 it established a
beachheadBeachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. Sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
in
Spanish SaharaSpanish Sahara was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was ruled as a territory by Spain between 1884 and 1975. The territory represented one of the last remnants of the Spanish Empire, and was abandoned under internal pressures from native populations and the external...
and
IfniIfni was a Spanish province on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, south of Agadir and across from the Canary Islands.It had a total area of 1,502 km² , and a population of 51,517 in 1964...
during the
Ifni WarThe Ifni War, sometimes called the Forgotten War in Spain , was a series of armed incursions into Spanish West Africa by Moroccan insurgents and Sahrawi rebels that began in October 1957 and culminated with the abortive siege of Sidi Ifni.The war, which may be seen as part of the general movement...
.
The capabilities and strength of the Infantería de Marina were increased: new amphibious vehicles, anti-tank weapons, individual equipment and artillery.
The
Tercio de Armada (TeAr) became the main amphibious unit and has experienced several restructures that led to the E-01 Plan, which defines the requirements and structures from the year 2000 for the Infantería de Marina. The Spanish Marines have been present in Europe, Central America and Asia in an anonymous role as an "emergency force" ready to evacuate civilians in conflict areas, or as a deterrence force in providing cover for the actions of allied forces.
Today the main fighting Force of the Spanish Marine Infantry is the Marine Infantry Brigade, which includes the following units:
- Marine Infantry Brigade (BRIMAR)
- HQ Unit
- 1st Landing Battalion
- 2nd Landing Battalion
- 3rd Mechanized Landing Battalion (Include a Tank Company)
- Special Operations Unit (Battalion sized)
- Artillery Landing Group
- Mixed Arms Group
- Combat Service Support Group
Other Marine Infantry units include:
- Protection Forces
- Third of North (Northern Battalion)
- Third of Levante (Battalion of the East)
- Third of the South (South Battalion)
- Canarias Security Unit
- Headquarters Security Group, Madrid
Machine Guns
- FN Minimi
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of several countries...
(5,56 Nato5.56x45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
, 7,62 NatoThe 7.62x51mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard for small arms among NATO countries. Specifications for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge are not identical to the commercial .308 Winchester though they are safely interchangeable....
)
- CETME Ameli
The Ameli is a 5.56mm light machine gun designed for the Spanish Army by the nationally owned and operated Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales small arms research institute .Development of the weapon began in...
- Rheinmetall MG-3
- M2HB
Artillery
- ECIA 81 mm mortar
A mortar is a muzzle-loading indirect fire weapon that fires shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It typically has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber.- Function :...
- 6 M-109A2
The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It was upgraded a number of times to today's M109A6 Paladin...
- 12 M-56
The OTO-Melara Mod 56 is an Italian 105 mm pack howitzer designed by OTO-Melara. It fires the standard US type M1 ammunition.- History :The OTO Melara 105 mm Mod 56 began life in the 1950s to meet the requirement for a modern light weight howitzer that could be used by Italy's world famous Alpini...
Guided Missiles
- 24 TOW 2A
The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank guided missile. "TOW" stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided". The TOW was first produced in 1970 and is the most widely used anti-tank guided missile in the world.-Design and development:...
(anti-tankAnti-tank refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. The most common anti-tank systems include artillery with a high muzzle velocity, missiles , various autocannons firing penetrating ammunition, and anti-tank mines.In the area of anti-tank warfare, three...
)
- 12 Mistral
Mistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA missile systems . Based on the French SATCP , the portable missile later to become the Mistral began development in 1974...
(anti-aircraftAnti-aircraft warfare, or air defence, is any method of engaging hostile military aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces or denial of passage through a specific airspace region, area or anti-aircraft combat zone...
)
Vehicles
- 16 M-60A3 TTS
The M60 Series was a main battle tank introduced in December 1960. It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today despite being superseded by the M1 Abrams...
- 39 Piranha IIIC 8x8
The MOWAG Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss MOWAG corporation.Four generations of vehicles have been produced, manufactured by MOWAG or under licence by other companies, and variants are in service with military forces throughout the world.-Variants:Piranhas...
- 19 AAV-7A
- 124 Humvee
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 1/4 ton MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks...
See also
- Marine (military)
- Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE)
- Alonso Pita da Veiga
Alonso Pita da Veiga, born in Ferrol in 15th century Galicia, Spain, was the most remarkable young officer of the Spanish Tercios fighting under the orders of Count Fernando de Andrade in the Battle of Pavia , between the years 1513-1525, becoming a lord with the right to wear a coat of arms and...
at the "Battle of PaviaThe Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of February 24, 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521-26. A Spanish-Imperial army under the nominal command of Charles de Lannoy attacked the French army under the personal command of Francis I of France in the great hunting preserve...
" captured King Francis I of FranceFrancis I , was king of France from 1515 until his death.Francis I is considered to be France's first Renaissance monarch. His reign saw France make immense cultural advances...
(1513-1525)
- Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, often considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature and is regularly regarded among the best novels ever written. His work is considered among the most important in all...
Spain's most famous Marine, injured at the Battle of Lepanto (1571)The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Spain , the Republic of Venice, the Papacy The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League,...
, where the Spanish marines played a decisive part.
- Salve Marinera
Salve Marinera is the official anthem of the Spanish Navy.-History:The Salve Marinera lyrics and music originated in the zarzuela musical play "El Molinero de Subiza", by Cristóbal Oudrid in 1870....
, Spanish Navy anthem. Some of its best versions are sung by choruses of the Infanteria de Marina
External links