Španjolska legija osnovana je 28. 01. 1920. godine na temelju dekreta španjolskog kralja Alfonsa XIII. 28. 09. 1920. u redove Legije primljeno je prvih 400 katalonskih dobrovoljaca. Za razliku od francuske Legije stranaca, španjolska Legija se popunjava prvo Španjolcima i osobama koje imaju španjolsko podrijetlo, a tek potom i strancima koji žele pristupiti u Legiju. Formirana je kao profesionalna jedinica za uporabu u španjolskim prekomorskim posjedima, gdje je trebala zamijeniti regularne španjolske vojnike. Zbrka nastala s nazivom, koja vlada i danas, nastala na temelju prijevoda španjolskog naziva na engleski jezik. "La Legion Extranera" u jednostavnom engleskom prijevodu zaista označava Legiju stranaca. No, riječ "extranero" ima barem trostruko značenje u španjolskom jeziku: stranac, inozemstvo i daleko (u daljini, u inozemstvu). U ovom slučaju treba koristiti posljednji termin, koji precizno označava da je riječ o Legiji za korištenje van zemlje.

      The Spanish Legion was founded on January 28, 1920 based on the decree of the Spanish King Alfonso XIII. On September 28, 1920, the first 400 Catalan volunteers were accepted into the ranks of the Legion. Unlike the French Foreign Legion, the Spanish Legion is filled first with Spaniards and persons of Spanish origin, and only then with foreigners who wish to join the Legion. It was formed as a professional unit for use in Spain's overseas possessions, where it was supposed to replace regular Spanish soldiers. The confusion with the name, which prevails even today, was based on the translation of the Spanish name into English. "La Legion Extranera" in simple English translation really means The Foreign Legion. But the word "extranero" has at least a triple meaning in the Spanish language: foreigner, foreign country, and far away (far away, abroad). In this case, the last term should be used, which precisely indicates that it is a Legion for use outside the country. 

      Danas je Španjolska legija ustrojena kao brigada, koja od 1995. godine nosi ime svog osnivača, španjolskog kralja Alfonsa XIII. U službenim dokumentima često se spominje pod kraticom BRILEG (Brigada Legionaria). BRILEG je sastavljen od glavnog stožera i četiri regimente, (koje se u španjolskoj praksi nazivaju "terciosi") a svaka regimenta od različitog broja bataljona (banderasa) ili samostalnih jedinica nižeg ranga: 1° Tercio - Gran Capitan, baziran u Mellili, 2° Tercio - Duque de Alba, baziran u Ceuti, 3° Tercio - Don Juan de Asturia, baziran u Almeriji te 4° Tercio - Alejandro Farnesio, baziran u Rondi.

      Today, the Spanish Legion is organized into a brigade, which, since 1995, bears the name of its founder, King Alfonso XIII of Spain. In official documents, it is often mentioned under the abbreviation BRILEG (Brigada Legionaria). BRILEG is composed of the main headquarters and four regiments (called "tercios" in Spanish practice), and each regiment of a different number of battalions (banderas) or independent units of a lower rank: 1° Tercio - Gran Capitan, based in Mellila, 2° Tercio - Duque de Alba, based in Ceuta, 3rd Tercio - Don Juan de Asturia, based in Almeria and 4th Tercio - Alejandro Farnesio, based in Ronda.

Brigade de la Légion Rey Alfonso XIII

      Brigada Legije Rey Alfonso XIII (Brigade de la Légion Rey Alfonso XIII) BRILEG je najveća taktička vojna formacija Španjolske legije i sadrži 2 od 4 terciosa, koji su bazirani u Viatoru (Almeria) i Ronda (Málaga). Brigada je kreirana 11. 08. 1995. Nova je Brigada dio Snaga za brze reakcije Kopnene vojske. Snage za brze reakcije 2006. godine su preimenovane u Komandu lakih snaga. Reorganizacijom 2015 godine postaju Laka brigada za opće poslove.  

Bandera de Operaciones Especiales de la Legión "C. L. Maderal Oleaga" XIX

      The Brigade de la Légion Rey Alfonso XIII (BRILEG) is a major tactical military formation of the Spanish Legion comprising 2 tercios with elements based in Viator (Almeria) and Ronda (Málaga). The Brigade was created on August 11, 1995, occupying the facilities of the former XXIII Motorized Infantry Brigade. In 1996 the brigade was granted the denomination of "King Alfonso". The new Brigade was part of the Army's Rapid Action Forces, which in 2006 was renamed Light Force Command. It reorganized in 2015 into a Light Multi-Purpose Organic Brigade.

      Preva regimenta Legije (1st Legion Tercio "Gran Captain Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba") je pješadijska regimenta Španjolske legije. Sjedište Regimente je u Melilli i zapovjeda Prvim bataljonom legije (I Spanish Legion Bandera).

      The 1st Legion Tercio ("Gran Captain Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba") is an infantry regiment of the Spanish Legion. The regiments headquarters is in Melilla and commands the I Spanish Legion Bandera.

2nd Legion Tercio "Duque de Alba"

      Vojni činovi i uvjeti napredovanja španjolske legije jednaki su onima koji vrijede za ostatak španjolske vojske. Prije je Legija imala vlastiti sustav činova za podoficire. Jedina moderna razlika je ta što vojnike (OR-1) u Legiji nazivaju "Caballeros Legionarios" (vitezovi legionari). Legionari ovaj naslov smatraju odlikovanjem, stečenim rigoroznim testovima obuke i inicijacije.

      The military ranks and promotion conditions of the Spanish Legion are the same as those applicable to the remainder of the Spanish Army. Formerly the Legion had its own rank system for non-commissioned officers. The only modern difference is that soldiers (OR-1) in the Legion are referred to as "Caballeros Legionarios" (Legionnaire knights). Legionnaires consider this title as a distinction, earned through rigorous training and initiation tests.