The Golden Age of Free Companies

Renaissance Italy was marked by both continuous warfare and economic growth. Against this backdrop arose the Condotta, the contract system of hiring mercenaries, which was arguably the most distinct characteristic of the period. Initially, soldiers hired themselves out to the highest bidder as “free lances,” the lance being the smallest unit of army organization at the time. This is the origin of the modern term “freelancer.” However, these soldiers soon formed entire mercenary companies led by elected leaders, such as John Hawkwood, who were seen as first among equals. The powerful and wealthy Italian cities, enriched by their monopoly on maritime trade with the East, could easily hire these companies, but they soon learned that doing so often brought more problems than they had bargained for. Known as Free Companies or Great Companies, these mercenary groups saw themselves as independent, self-governing adventurers always on the lookout for the most lucrative offer. A rich Italian city, they soon realized, was a worthwhile target to plunder. It was not long until they would become the bane of Italy. In this video, we investigate the phenomenon of Free Companies and how they were eventually replaced by the arguably more famous mercenary captains, the condottieri.

Some must read mlitary history books:

Bibliography:
Caferro, W., Articles, Warfare and Economy in Renaissance Italy, 1350-1450, In: The Journal of Interdisciplinary History vol. 39 (2008) p. 167-210.
Caferro, William P., Hawkwood: Florentine Hero and Faithful Englishman, in: The Hundred Years War. Different vistas p. 295-328.
Caferro, William P., "The fox and the lion": the White Company and the Hundred Years War in Italy, In: The Hundred Years War. A wider focus, 2005 p. 179-210.
Caferro, William P., Slaying the hydra-headed beast: Italy and the companies of adventure in the fourteenth century, In: Crusaders, condottieri and cannon, 2003, p. 285-304.
Fowler, K., Medieval Mercenaries, 2001.
Mallet, M., Mercenaries and their Master. Warfare in Renaissance Italy, 1974.
Mallet, M. s. v. Mercenaries in: Maurice Keen, Medieval Warfare. A history, 1999, pp. 209-229.
Savy, N. s. v. Great Company, in Clifford J. Rogers, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, 2010.
Knödler, J., s. v. Brabancons in Clifford J. Rogers, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, 2010.

#history #documentary #education

[planescaped]

Hiring an army to protect you only for them to realize you're completely defenseless without them, and them basically taking over, is such a pro gamer move.

[robertusaugustus]

The age of the condottieri is criminally underused in fiction, imagine a band of brothers style miniseries following these multinational companies in the late-14th/early-15th century

[michaelmcnally]

- These cool dudes need their own videos
- aww man
- and that's why we're going to make them
- HELL YEAH!

[danshakuimo]

Maybe the cure to male loneliness is to join a great company and extort rich cities for gold and plundering the countryside

[serveandprotect]

Strange phenomenon that some of these "condottieri" who were (in general) often despised, thought as "foreign barbarians" and feared in Italy, at the end became sentimentally attached to the very same city-states they were fighting sometimes against and sometimes for. John Hawkwood for instance wasn't always a soldier - he was also Richard the 2nd's official envoy to the Papal Court. By serving the Italian cities he became a multi-millionaire - Hawkwood however went further. He had a big political influence in the Italian Peninsula, would arbitrate many treaties, and was given many riches, lands and titles - especially from the State of Florence. He was entombed in Santa Maria del Fiore (the biggest & most famous florentine church). There's still a very famous "fresco" depicting him in the very same Church, although his body was sent back to England upon the request of Richard the IInd. What's WEIRD is that him and men like him DEVASTATED the whole countryside and were famous for their ruthlessnes and cruelty - and yet ! - they were welcomed and even revered.

[Hakasedess]

Me, a fledgling king: Yeah, so I hired a free company to assist us in this new war
My advisors: My liege, our coffers are rather slim at present, are you sure this is the best idea?
Me, bewildered: Not to worry, they are a free company.
My advisors, realizing they backed the wrong horse: ...My liege... that just means they're mercenaries, they still demand payment.

[SeverusFelix]

For some reason a whole bunch of Free Companies got hired in 1444

[cemilkerimli]

Okay then, we learned about free company. But how about grand company and independent army? How much development we need to get them?

[bonzotheclown]

"Mercenaries will see you lay down your life for king and country and say"

"HAH!, He lacketh the skill to freeboot!"

[yegorkhorushko]

Yeeeess, more videos on proto-Rennaissance and Renaissance, please! ❤ I'll be waiting for stories about great companies and condottieros, too. Thank you very much 😊

[lordInquisitor]

The art has gotten particularly GORGEOUS

[c.andrew]

Smoothbrains discuss tactics. Bigbrains discuss logistics. I appreciate your attention to describing the pages and 'backup horses' in cavalry, especially!

[kmystak]

Your art is getting better and better! Excellent!

[darkmasterchief]

I love learning about mercenaries, especially these medieval to late/post Renaissance bands of warriors of fortune.

[mueezadam]

I love your animated characters, it’s what caught my eye initially to your siege series

[clintmoor]

really cool video. It's refreshing to see you cover topics that have not been done to death! maybe think about covering things about the 18th and 19th centuries too?

[memesforcomrade]

as an EU4 player I owe many successful campaigns to the free company

[LarsOfTheMohicans]

The Golden Age Arc, explained via history.

[b-ss]

Would you ever do a video on how medieval/renaissance people overcame language barriers? I find it ever interesting hearing these stories of traveling Mercinaries, Merchants, Crusaidors and Vagabonds, however, I do wander how people traveled and survived pre-duolingo.

[hlommersottana]

Do you make or find these images of soldiers?
Where can I find them?
I just want to look at them