Medieval Mercenaries

**saundersag** · 08-17-2004, 11:32

I am making a mod about Italy during 1300-1500, during this period there were many foreign merceneries in italy, i know about the landernequets and swiss pikemen, however do any of you know of any other types of mercenaries. I knew there were hungarian and catalan mercenaries but what types of soldiers were there and what were they armed with. Any information about the mercenaries in this period would be welcome.

**The Blind King of Bohemia** · 08-17-2004, 12:22

Alot of mercenary infantry from Gascony was known as well Albanian stradiots(light cavalry armed with lance and sword with typical Albanian shield.

German Reiters, early wheel-lock pistol carrying cavalry.

**saundersag** · 08-17-2004, 12:56

thankyou bkb for sucha quick reply to my question, i already knew about the stradiots however i am intrested in the gascony mercenaries, do you know what type of infantry they generally were. I feel that the german reiters are just a bit too late for the period but thanks for the info. Please anyone post someting if you know anything about mercenaries in this period espicialy if you know they were hired in italy. Thanks

**Rosacrux** · 08-17-2004, 14:31

By "landernequets" I assume you mean the Landsknechten, no?

**saundersag** · 08-17-2004, 15:34

Yes sorry, i meant Landsknechten sorry. My spelling isn't very good sorry, by the way just checking they became pikemen emulating the swiss pikemen.

**Hurin_Rules** · 08-17-2004, 17:32

If you have access to a library, I would recommend Kenneth Fowler's book, Medieval Mercenaries. It's not great, but it does cover a lot of the different types.

You might also want to look up the Catalan Company and the White Company (the latter led by John Hawkwood), which were two of the more famous mercenary bands. The Catalan Company actually launched a coup in Greece and seized power for itself. This is an interesting case of a mercenary company actually becoming the government of a European state.

**The Blind King of Bohemia** · 08-17-2004, 17:36

Thats true, i think they(Catalan company) held Athens if i'm not mistaken.

**saundersag** · 08-17-2004, 17:39

Thanks for the Info. I will try and find the book i have heard references from it. I have a book about italian medieval armies and it talks about the white comapany and about there use of longbows. It also talks about one of his battles at Castagnaro however i didn't know much about the catalan company. I just found this website which talks about the catalan company apparently the founder was orginally a templar but hear is the website http://www.fact-index.com/c/ca/catalan_company.html Anyway thanks for the info