The Condottieri: Italy's Mercenary Captains of the Renaissance

Before the age of standing national armies, Renaissance Italy was a battlefield fought by hired guns: the condottieri. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise and fall of these mercenary captains who commanded private armies for city-states like Florence, Milan, and Venice. They delve into the career of Giovanni da Procida, the shadowy figure behind the Sicilian Vespers; the rise of the Great Companies under Fra' Moriale and John Hawkwood; and the shocking treachery of Carmagnola, executed by the Venetian Republic. Lucas explains the peculiar 'war without blood' that later gave way to brutal sackings, and how condottieri like Francesco Sforza seized power to become dukes themselves. The episode also touches on Machiavelli's critique of mercenaries in 'The Prince' and the role of Swiss pikemen who ultimately made the condottiero obsolete. From the Company of the Rose to the Battle of Anghiari, this is a story of violence, loyalty, and betrayal in the Italian Renaissance. #Condottieri #RenaissanceItaly #Mercenaries #GiovanniDaProcida #SicilianVespers #JohnHawkwood #Carmagnola #FrancescoSforza #Machiavelli #BattleOfAnghiari #GreatCompanies #CompanyOfTheRose #FraMoriale #Venice #Florence #Milan #History #FexingoHistory #RomanRepublic #Renaissance Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo