Osprey Men-at-Arms 101 : The Conquistadores

On 12 October 1492 Columbus, seeking a route to the legendary rich markets of China and Japan by sailing continually westwards, discovered the New World. In the following decade a considerable number of Spanish colonies were founded in the West Indies, many of the settlers being ex-soldiers who had fought in the armies which drove the Moors out of Southern Spain, or in the Italian campaigns against the French. They were a hardy, adventurous and unruly crew, no longer able to find suitable employment in Europe. They carved a foothold for Spain in the Indies, only to become restless in the role of settler once their pioneering work was done. Anxious to avoid the dull work of the administrators and planters who inevitably followed the explorers, these men soon began to seek new frontiers, once again turning their faces westwards towards the unknown. The age of Los Conquistadores, 'the conquerors', had arrived... Terence Wise relates the history of these colourful pioneer-warriors; their organisation, equipment, weapons, armour, and the enemies they fought. Packed with illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Introduction
• Los Conquistadores
• The Aztecs
• The Incas
• The Maya
• The Plates