Free company

Long ago, there were groups of soldiers. They were called free companies. These soldiers did not work for a king. Instead, they worked for money.

Sometimes wars would stop for a while. When this happened, the soldiers had no jobs. They formed bands to make a living. They would take things from the countryside.

Many groups had special names. One group was called the Tard-Venus. They even won a battle in France.

In Italy, leaders were called condottieri. These leaders were like contractors. They were hired to fight for cities.

Some cities paid money to stay safe. This helped the soldiers stay away. Eventually, kings built their own armies. This meant the free companies were gone.

Between the 12th and 14th centuries, there were groups called free companies. These were armies of mercenaries. Mercenaries are soldiers who work for pay. These groups were "free" because they did not work for any government. They worked for private employers instead.

During the Hundred Years' War, fighting would stop for a while. When wars paused, these soldiers lost their jobs. Many formed armed bands to make money. In France, they were called routiers. They would take goods from the countryside.

One group was called the Tard-Venus. They even won a battle at Brignais in 1362. Another group, the White Company, was led by John Hawkwood.

In Italy, these groups were very common. City states often fought each other. Leaders of these groups were called condottieri. This word means "contractor." Some cities paid the companies to stay away. The city of Siena paid a lot of money to stay safe. Eventually, central governments grew stronger. They built their own armies, and the free companies ended.

Free companies were unique groups of soldiers during the Middle Ages. They were made up of mercenaries, which are people who fight for pay. These groups were called "free" because they did not belong to any government. Instead, they were hired by private employers to do specific jobs. They were very organized and could move quickly across large areas. This mobility made them very useful in many different battles.

These companies worked in a very specific way. When a war was happening, they were hired to fight. But when a peace treaty was signed, the soldiers were often laid off. Without new jobs, many soldiers formed armed bands to survive. In France, these groups were known as routiers or écorcheurs. They often made money by taking goods from the countryside. This happened because they lacked other skills for civilian life.

History shows these groups appeared as early as the 12th century. They were part of a conflict called the Anarchy between 1137 and 1153. Later, the King of France, Philip II, used them in his armies. They were also important to King Henry II and his son, Richard I, of England. In 1204, King John of England did not pay his mercenaries. This led to different outcomes for the various kings involved. These early groups helped shape how wars were fought in Europe.

Many famous companies emerged after the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360. One group was the Tard-Venus, led by Seguin de Badefol. They even defeated French forces at the Battle of Brignais in 1362. Another group was the White Company, led by John Hawkwood. In Italy, leaders were called condottieri, which means "contractor." The city of Siena paid 291,379 florins between 1342 and 1399 to keep companies away. These groups were massive parts of the economy and the wars.

Free companies are a big part of how Europe changed. In Italy, many rich city states hired these companies to fight each other. This created a cycle of fighting and paying for peace. Some groups, like the Catalan Company, even traveled to Greece. Others, like the Navarrese Company, also moved across many lands. Eventually, central governments became much stronger and built their own armies. This change meant that private mercenary companies were no longer needed.

A free company was a specialized group of mercenaries during the Middle Ages. These soldiers were recruited by private employers rather than by a national government. Because they operated independently of state control, they were known as "free." These companies were highly organized and possessed great mobility. This allowed them to move quickly across large territories during conflicts. They were vital elements in the armies of many powerful leaders throughout Europe.

The mechanism of these companies relied on the cycle of war and peace. During active hostilities, employers hired these professional soldiers for specific campaigns. However, when peace treaties were signed, the soldiers were often laid off en masse. Many of these men lacked civilian skills for peaceful life. To survive, they formed armed bands to live by pillaging the countryside. In France, these groups were called routiers or écorcheurs. They operated outside the formal, structured laws of arms used by traditional armies.

Free companies could be categorized by their location and their specific activities. In France, many groups emerged as brigands after the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360. These bands often occupied and ransomed various towns to make money. In Italy, the companies functioned within a patchwork of rich, competing city-states. These Italian groups often included both Italian and German troops. They used complex internal structures involving cavalry, infantry, and archers. Their leaders in Italy were known as condottieri, which means "contractor" in Italian.

The history of these groups stretches back to the 12th century. They participated in the Anarchy, a succession conflict between 1137 and 1153. In the 1180s, the King of France, Philip II, integrated them into his armies. English kings like Henry II and Richard I also relied on these seasoned troops. In 1204, King John of England failed to pay his mercenaries. This period of history saw the rise of famous groups like the Catalan Company. This group formed in Spain in the early 1300s and fought in the Byzantine Empire.

Specific numbers show how much influence these companies had on European wealth and stability. The city of Siena was significantly weakened by these mercenary groups. Between 1342 and 1399, Siena spent 291,379 florins just to buy off the companies. This massive expense helped reduce Siena from a major rival of Florence to a second-rate power. In other areas, leaders like Robert Knolles earned 100,000 écus through his activities. The scale of these payments shows how much these companies shaped the economy.

Notable examples illustrate the military power and unpredictable nature of these companies. The Tard-Venus, led by Seguin de Badefol, was a group that ravaged Burgundy and Languedoc. In 1362, they even defeated the Kingdom of France at the Battle of Brignais.

Another famous group was the White Company, which was led by John Hawkwood. The Catalan Company and the Navarrese Company also moved across vast distances, eventually reaching Greece. These examples show that free companies were not just local gangs, but serious military forces.

These companies are deeply connected to the evolution of how states function. In Italy, the constant disputes between city-states created a perfect environment for mercenary work. This created a cycle where states hired companies to fight one another. However, the era of the free company eventually came to an end. By the mid-1400s, centralized state power began to rise across Europe. As governments gained more control over their own military forces, the need for private companies vanished. The rise of permanent, state-controlled armies changed the nature of warfare forever.