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HorseRaceInHell t1_jaaxbfx wrote

Reply to comment by Volgrand in [WP] A fantasy army with its generic Hollywood tactics meets a small group of Medieval Infantry who understand things like "formations" and "discipline". by Bunnytob

Did Spain actually use children in war like that? It's really clever.

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KeeGeeBee t1_jab0z51 wrote

I have never heard of nor can I find record of children being employed in this role - but having someone skitter under the lines of pikes to stab the enemy in their legs and groin was a real thing that happened.

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ETxsubboy t1_jabgprp wrote

Claymores were used in this respect, have guys swinging the bloody things in wide arcs under the pikes to cut the legs out from anything just out of reach of the tips of the pikes.

I could totally see children being used like this. The reality of children in warfare is chilling.

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Volgrand t1_jabzg4d wrote

I have read both about using children or other men. Anyway it is important to recall that in those years a 14 or 15 years old lad would be considered grown enough to fight.

But I remember reading a document about the Tercios having actual children (10 or 12 years old) for this. They would run under the pikes and cut the enemy's knees and tendons.

Yeah, the Tercios were very professional bastards in battle.

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shinitakunai t1_jacoorc wrote

I know about the tercios but never heard of childs fighting

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