Who Invented Combined Arms?
Regarding the use of gun-powder, infantry and cav-alry as described in “The Day Combined Arms Prevailed,” by David T. Zabecki [Spring 2023]: It wasn’t Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden [at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631] but Spain in the 1482–92 last phases of the that developed combined arms—namely, the (“thirds”) each of pikemen, swords-men and harquebusiers (then heavy muskets)—later honed in 1499–1504 amid the Italian wars. Due to their discipline, skills and esprit were for a century and a half the dominant Euro-pean fighting force, though still written off, put down and envied today.
