'The greatest mercenary of an age when soldiers of fortune flourished,' says the cover flap of Frances Stonor Saunders's biography of Sir John Hawkwood (c.1320-94), one-time leader of the White Company made famous by Conan Doyle's historical novels. The 14th century was indeed an age of opportunity for military adventurers, and for mercenary soldiers in particular. Independent companies, led by seasoned captains, and with their own internal discipline and organisation, came to constitute effectively an independent factor in the warfare and politics of an age when states had not as yet learned to maintain standing armies. Ready to hire themselves out to any prince, city or lord prepared to pay for their services, such companies could make their paymasters militarily very formidable. Their martial skills were matched by their skills in pillaging, looting and burning, and in bullying towns and often whole regions into paying exorbitant tributes to be left in peace. Their activities were one of the most intractable political and social problems of the period.

LRB 5 May 2005 | PDF Download