the.com/condottieri
medieval italy outsourced its wars to freelance warlords who billed by the campaign.
means mercenary captains who led hired armies for italian city-states during the 14th and 15th centuries, loyal only to the highest bidder.
from from italian condotta, meaning contract — the legal agreement a city signed with a mercenary captain, who then supplied and commanded his own private army.
rarely foughtbattles favored maneuvering and ransom over actual killing
became rulersseveral condottieri seized the very cities that hired them
switched sidesloyalty lasted exactly as long as the payment did
machiavelli hated themhe blamed them for italy's military weakness in the prince
for instance
john hawkwood — english mercenary who ran florence's white company in the 1370s
francesco sforza — condottiere who conquered milan and founded its ruling dynasty in 1450
bartolomeo colleoni — venice's general, honored with verrocchio's bronze equestrian statue
cesare borgia — used and betrayed his own condottieri captains at senigallia, 1502