Product Description

Originally hired by wealthy Italian city states to protect their assets during a time of ceaseless warring, the Condottiere of the Italian peninsula became famous for his wealth, venality and amorality during the 14th century.

The Condottieri's pursuit of profit meant they were prepared to change sides for the right price, even during battle, and they prospered, becoming both powerful and rich in the process. Leaders such as John Hawkwood, with his famous 'White Company', became major political figures.

Once at the peak of their power, they often worked together to protect their comfortable position by staging a number of visually impressive but almost bloodless battles, thereby avoiding the real thing. It was because of this, and their reliance on medieval tactics and weaponry, including grand armoured knights, that they were eventually wiped out or dispersed by the more modern armies.

Lavishly illustrated with contemporary depictions and original artwork, this title examines the complex military organization, recruitment, training and weaponry of the Condottiere. With insight into their origins and motivations, the author, Dr David Murphy, brings together the social, political and military history of these powerful and unscrupulous men who managed to influence Italian society and warfare for over two centuries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138486 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-24
• Released on: 2007-07-24
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Review
"David Murphy's Condottiere 1300-1500 - Infamous Medieval Mercenaries surveys those early fighting men who were conscripted by wealthy Italian city states to protect assets during war, providing a blend of military and political history." -The Bookwatch (December 2007)

"The author does a superlative job of telling the story of these men and the somewhat unusual life they led, for these mercenary armies were not common elsewhere in Europe at the time... Overall a book that covers a lesser known, but still important part of Western history and one that I'm sure you will enjoy reading." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (August 2007)

About the Author

Dr David Murphy - MA, PhD, FRGS, FRAS - is on the staff of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. He has lectured on a vairety of subjects and periods throughout his academic career. One of his specialist subjects as tutor at University College Dublin was the Medieval and Renaissance period. He has been commissioned by the Military History Trust of Ireland to write a gazeteer of Irish regiments, and as such has good contacts with both national sources and Irish regimental museum collections. The author lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Customer Reviews

Condottiere 1300-1500
Starting in the 14th Century, the petty warring states of Italy began to recruit mercenaries from all over western and central Europe to fight their wars for them. These men were the condottiere, and after several generations of living off the wealth of Italy, they came to be the most well armed, and also some of the most dangerous, of the many mercenary bands of late medieval-Renaissance era Europe. Such was their reputation for their violence, lust, and decadence that whenever they prepared to take up residence in or near a city, the inhabitants sent all their young women as far away as they could.

In many ways, the condottiere represented a high point of late medieval warfare, wearing the finest gothic armor and fighting with swords and lances. They also employed footmen to wield staff weapons, longbows, and various primitive firearms. The finer details of their appearance and armament, as well as their daily life, experience of battle, medical treatment (or more often, lack thereof), and their straightforward battle tactics are all expertly examined by the author David Murphy.

The color plates are by the experienced Osprey artist Graham Turner, and are nicely done indeed. They expertly portray the condottiere at various stages of his career, including recruitment and battle. The appearance of individual condottiere at the beginning and end of this period are also illustrated, along with battle tactics, medical treatment, English condottiere on the march, a mercenary suiting up before a battle, and Niccolo de Tolentino, a famous Florentine condottiere leader, goading his men on at the Battle of San Romano in 1432.

Other useful details of the book include the black-and-white illustrations and photographs throughout, a short chronology, and a handy glossary at the back. Overall, this book serves as a fine source on the men who were indeed the most 'Infamous Medieval Mercenaries'.

A recommendation for specialty holdings.
David Murphy's CONDOTTIERE 1300-1500: INFAMOUS MEDIEVAL MERCENARIES is for any specialty early history library, and focuses on Medieval military organization, recruitment, and strategy. Social, political and military history blend in a recommendation for specialty holdings.