Hi everyone ! I watched "Alatriste" on cinema when it came out
is a good movie but not as good as the novels , the author of "Capitán Alatriste" is Arturo Perez Reverte , a famous Spanish historical noveller and writer from my home town , Cartagena (Nova Carthago if you are familiarised with punic wars
I dont know if those novels have been translated into english but they worth it... They feature actions in Spain, and against the turks, the great Spanish victory at breda 1623 or in 1634 with the tercios crushing the Swedes at Nordlingen...
The big picture of the battle itself is painted by Augusto Ferrer Dalmau, by far the best current Spanish military painter (you should check his works, even the Spanish King is delighted with his paintings) and a personal friend of Perez-Reverte who is today the owner of the picture. If you watch te painting carefully you will see Vigo Mortensen dressed as Alatriste painted there!
If you are interested in the conversation maintained by the flamboyant French officers and the beggars like Spanish troops i can translate it for you:
The French officer says: " Sirs, the Duke of Enghien considers you have fought with incredible valor and he desires to offer you an honorable surrender... What do you say?"
-Alatriste answers: " Please thank the Duke his kind words... But this is a Spanish Tercio ! "
The french looked at the other Spanish who accompanied Alatriste, and the Spaniards nodded confirming Alatriste's words.
Hope to have been useful !
Cheers