The dream has come true: there will be a monument to the thirds espyears in the heart of Madrid. Six months later, the ‘Association January 31 Tercios‘ has confirmed that the objectives have been achieved and has ended the popular subscription campaign that began on January 28. “We have raised 200,000 euros for the project, a colossal milestone that does justice to the history of these soldiers,” the group explained in a joint statement this afternoon. It has been 180 days of hard work, in the words of Juan Víctor Carboneras, president of the association, but it has been worth it.
Spain has said yes to history and, with its small but decisive contributions, the Spanish have shown that the Tercios do not know of ideologies. “Thanks to the support of more than 1,700 people from various associations and groups, as well as the push of several Spanish companies, we can say that there will be a monument to these units on Paseo de la Castellana,” confirms the statement. All in all, the project –which has had the collaboration of the ‘Ferrer-Dalmau Art and History Foundation‘ and the ‘Friends of the Spanish Way Association’, among others – has not finished. The next steps include finding companies to support the monument.
The most difficult, however, has already been done, as Carboneras explains to ABC: «The first step was the hardest. But the Spanish have responded. And it is that, for three months, the different associations that have promoted the project have organized from conferences to historical recreations in the center of the capital to publicize the existence of the future monument to the Spanish Tercios. All this, while the sculptor Salvador Amaya, whose hands will shape the figures, began the work of historical documentation and began to mold the clay. Because they were so sure that society would respond, that the work has already started.
Now it’s time to pick the fruits of a tree cared for with care for months. “In the next few hours, the parties involved will transfer the money to the Third Foreigners Foundation, which will be in charge of managing the economic section in the realization of the monument, “adds the statement. However, the first thing that the associations that have organized the campaign will do in the next few hours will be to send a personalized thank you to each of the patrons who have contributed their grain of sand. Because you know: every pike counts in battle. Either to defeat the enemy, or to erect a statue.
four figures
The history of this monument began four years ago. Since then, more and more followers have joined an initiative that will finally see the light of day. As Salvador Amaya himself explains to ABC, the sculpture will be made up of four figures that perfectly represent how the Spanish Tercios were formed: a pikeman –the base of the Spanish infantry between the 15th and 18th centuries–, an arquebusier, a sergeant , and a soldier equipped with a rapier sword and a flag. “We want to immortalize the figure of some combatants who, framed in those military units of the Hispanic Monarchy, magnified our history,” completes the president of ’31 de Enero Tercios’.
The last surprise will be the soldier’s best friend. «We have included a dog because it is an animal that has accompanied man since the beginning of time. It is a symbol of loyalty and dedication. However, it will be one more element of the sculptural group. Let’s not forget that we are dealing with a sculpture, not a recreation, and we can take certain licenses. In any case, don’t worry, we will assume the cost Arturo Pérez-Reverts, Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau and me,” Amaya tells ABC. The monument will have dimensions of about 2.60 meters high, it will be made of lost-wax cast bronze and will be erected on a 3.5-meter granite pedestal.