Indian militia

Indian Militia, published in 1599, is a treatise on military art. It was designed for the Spanish captains or “caudillos” in America, faced with geographical problems, and the aborigines.
Its author, Bernardo de Vargas Machuca (1557-1622) Spanish soldier and captain, participated in the late sixteenth century in various campaigns in America. The result of his experience was the book Milicia indiana (Madrid, 1599).
Indian Militia is a general guide for conquistadors with military tactics and political strategies to defeat and reduce isolated indigenous groups and rebels. It also includes recommendations to unveil the military strategies of the Indians, as well as rules of behavior for conquerors.
Through this treatise we also come to know the most frequent illnesses and injuries among soldiers and the most convenient treatments and medicines to remedy them.