The military revolution of the Catholic Monarchs

The Military Revolution, understood as the profound changes in strategy, armament, and organization, has traditionally been associated with Central European and Nordic armies, within the context of the last decades of the 16th century and the first decades of the 17th century. However, the work The Military Revolution of the Catholic Monarchs presents sufficient evidence to suggest that these changes are rooted in those experienced by the Spanish armies, almost a century earlier.

The logistical and financial changes implemented by Queen Isabella II, the strategic expertise of Ferdinand the Catholic, and the tactical skill of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba—the Great Captain—are essential elements that facilitate this rapid evolution of the Spanish armies and navies, leading to the birth of the first global empire in history.

Brief biography of the author:

Trained at the University of Bayreuth (Germany), the University of Lumière Lyon 2 (France), and the University of Valladolid (Spain), where he holds a doctorate in Medieval History, Francisco Hidalgo is the author of numerous essays and academic and fiction books. His most recent research focuses specifically on the history of armies, navies, and warfare in the Late Middle Ages. He is a professor at Butler University in the United States.