The Spanish general Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba (1453-1515) led several successful military campaigns and was known as "El Gran Capitan" (The Great Captain). He revolutionized sixteenth century warfare by introducing a new firearm (called an arquebus) to his infantry forces. His innovative use of weaponry and strong organizational skills assured Spain more than 100 years of military superiority in Europe.

Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba was born into an aristocratic Spanish family in 1453. He became involved in military initiatives at a young age, fighting as a teenager to quell the Muslim occupation of Granada. In his younger years, Cordoba also served the Spanish royal court of Isabella of Castile, working as a page.

Moorish Conquests

Cordoba assumed military leadership between 1482 and 1492. He contributed to the initiative that eventually ousted the Moors from his country and ended Muslim occupation of Spain. These early years in Cordoba's career familiarized him with various...