The Great Company (German)
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This article is about the German mercenary company. For the Catalan mercenary company, see The Great Company (Catalan).
The Great Company was a group of mercenaries, chiefly of German origin but operating in the Italian peninsula, who flourished in the mid-14th century. At its height, the company numbered approximately 6,000 men, chiefly armored cavalry. The Great Company's power set the pattern for later condottieri who came to dominate Renaissance Italian politics.
The best known early captain of the Great Company was Werner von Urslingen, whose reputed motto was "Enemy of God, Enemy of Piety, Enemy of Pity," with some writers even reporting the phrase inscribed on his breastplate. Urslingen was hired by Johanna, Queen of Naples in 1348 to defend against King Louis of Hungary's invasion. After peace was concluded, the mercenaries ran wild and ravaged Naples for some years.
By 1355, Konrad von Landau had succeeded Urslingen in command of the Great Company, who led it northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company hired on with the Venetian League in 1358 and the following year with Siena, during which time it suffered a serious setback at the hands of Florence and had to ransom their leader, Landau.
In 1367, as part of the effort to rid France of the pillaging Free Companies, Bertrand du Guesclin led the Great Company into Iberia to support Henry of Trastamara in his campaign against Pedro the Cruel. The Great Company was decimated in this campaign.
[edit] References
- Browning, Oscar. Guelphs and Ghibellines: A Short History of Mediaeval Italy from 1250-1409, 1894.
- Wise, Terence. Medieval European Armies: 1300-1500. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1975.
