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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 355.354094509023
EAN num: 9781846030772
ISBN number: 1846030773
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 64
Printing Date: July 24, 2007
Publishing house: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: July 24, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 146201
Studio: Osprey Publishing
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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.
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Rated by buyers -
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 armour 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 colour 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'.
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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.
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