One is reminded of the warnings of Machiavelli regarding the use of mercenaries

Playing as Byzantilium last night I was forced to rely on mercs to bulk out my army in order to hold off the Turks. And was reminded once again of just how much mercs suck.

Fresh, full strength Saracen Infantry and Italian Infantry in ordered ranks fleeing when charged head on by Horse Archers!!!

GAH!

Anyway, I should've remembered how easily mercs flee from the battlefield. I never seen it in writing, but I assume they receive some kind of morale penalty? Only explanation for their consistent cowardice.

Quote Originally Posted by Machiavelli
Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy. The fact is, they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you. They are ready enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war, but if war comes they take themselves off or run from the foe; which I should have little trouble to prove, for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries, and although they formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves, yet when the foreigners came they showed what they were.