Great Company (German): Difference between revisions
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The '''Great Company''' was a group of [[mercenaries]], chiefly of [[Germany|German]] origin but operating in the [[Italy|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 warfare. |
The '''Great Company''' was a group of [[mercenaries]], chiefly of [[Germany|German]] origin but operating in the [[Italy|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 warfare. |
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The company was founded in 1342 by [[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 had inspired to [[Lodrisio Visconti]]'s [[Compgnia di San Giorgio]], under which he had fought in the [[battle of Parabiago]]. Commanders included his brother Reinhardt, [[Ettore da Panigo]], [[Konrad von Landau]] and the Provençal [[Fra Moriale|Fra' Moriale]]. Urslingen was hired by [[Joan I of Naples|Joan I, 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. |
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In 1354 Urslingen died and was succeeded by Fra' Moriale, who added a number of Italians and Provençals to the previous mainly German majority of mercenaries. In the August of the same year [[Konrad von Landau]] became commander-in-chief, and led the Grand Company northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company signed on with the [[Venetian League]] in 1358 and the following year with [[republic of Siena|Siena]], during which time it suffered a serious setback at the hands of [[republic of Florence|Florence]] and had to ransom their leader, Landau. In 1359 the company had again reached a substantial strength, amounting to some 20,000 men; it subsequently fought in battles against [[Rimini]], [[Fabriano]], [[Camerino]], the [[Papal States]] and Florence. In June 1359 it was crushed by the Florentine army under [[Pandolfo II Malatesta]]. In 1363, hired by the [[Visconti]] of [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]], it fought against [[Albert Sterz]]'s [[White Company]], which the Grand Company had defeated the previous year and which had been hired by the [[Marquis of Montferrat]]. This time, after three months of clashes, the Grand COmpany was decisively defeated near [[Novara]] and Konrad von Landau himself was killed. |
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In 1367, as part of the effort to rid France of the pillaging Free Companies, [[Bertrand du Guesclin]] led the Great Company into [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]] to support [[Henry of Trastamara]] in his campaign against [[Pedro the Cruel]]. The Great Company was decimated in this campaign. |
In 1367, as part of the effort to rid France of the pillaging Free Companies, [[Bertrand du Guesclin]] led the Great Company into [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]] to support [[Henry of Trastamara]] in his campaign against [[Pedro the Cruel]]. The Great Company was decimated in this campaign. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*{{cite book|last=Rendina|first=Claudio|title=I capitani di ventura|publisher=Newton & Compton|location=Rome|year=1999}} |
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*Browning, Oscar. ''Guelphs and Ghibellines: A Short History of Mediaeval Italy from 1250-1409'', 1894. |
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*Wise |
*{{cite book|last=Wise|first= Terence|title=Medieval European Armies: 1300-1500|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year= 1975}} |
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[[Category:Mercenaries]] |
[[Category:Mercenaries]] |
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[[category:Condottieri]] |
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[[it:Grande Compagnia]] |
[[it:Grande Compagnia]] |
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Revision as of 11:22, 28 November 2010
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 warfare.
The company was founded in 1342 by 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 had inspired to Lodrisio Visconti's Compgnia di San Giorgio, under which he had fought in the battle of Parabiago. Commanders included his brother Reinhardt, Ettore da Panigo, Konrad von Landau and the Provençal Fra' Moriale. Urslingen was hired by Joan I, 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.
In 1354 Urslingen died and was succeeded by Fra' Moriale, who added a number of Italians and Provençals to the previous mainly German majority of mercenaries. In the August of the same year Konrad von Landau became commander-in-chief, and led the Grand Company northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company signed 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 1359 the company had again reached a substantial strength, amounting to some 20,000 men; it subsequently fought in battles against Rimini, Fabriano, Camerino, the Papal States and Florence. In June 1359 it was crushed by the Florentine army under Pandolfo II Malatesta. In 1363, hired by the Visconti of Milan, it fought against Albert Sterz's White Company, which the Grand Company had defeated the previous year and which had been hired by the Marquis of Montferrat. This time, after three months of clashes, the Grand COmpany was decisively defeated near Novara and Konrad von Landau himself was killed.
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.
See also
References
- Rendina, Claudio (1999). I capitani di ventura. Rome: Newton & Compton.
- Wise, Terence (1975). Medieval European Armies: 1300-1500. Osprey Publishing.