The rise and fall of Italy’s warriors-for-hire - Stephanie Honchell Smith

Dig into the history of the elite mercenaries known as condottieri, who were soldiers for hire for Italy's rich and powerful.
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During the 14th and 15th centuries, mercenaries known as condottieri dominated Italian warfare, profiting from- and encouraging- the region’s intense political rivalries. As rulers competed for power and prestige, their disputes often played out in military conflicts, fought almost entirely by the condottieri. So who were these elite and conniving warriors? Stephanie Honchell Smith investigates.
Lesson by Stephanie Honchell Smith, directed by Yael Reisfeld.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-mercil...
Dig deeper with additional resources: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-mercil...
Animator's website: www.yaelreisfeld.com
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Orlellys Torre, Corheu, Thomas Mee, Maryann H McCrory, Blas Borde, John Hellmann, Poompak Meephian, Chuck Wofford, Adam Pagan, Wes Winn, Conder Shou, ntiger, Noname, Hansan Hu, David D, Mac Hyney, Keith Ellison, robin valero walters, Lynne Truesdale, Gatsby Dkdc, Matthew Neal, Denis Chon, Julian Oberhofer, Monte Carroll, Eddy, Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Gerardo Castro, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vanessa Graulich, Vandana Gunwani, Abdulmohsin Almadi, AJ Lyon, Geoffrey Bultitude, Mi Mi, Thomas Rothert, Brian Elieson, Oge O and Weronika Falkowska.

[@lukesams3349]

“We have two types of contracts: our short term contract is that you won’t get backstabbed, our long term contract is that you won’t get backstabbed tomorrow”

[@UseVisine]

Complimentary pizza at the end.

[@imperialhistati2348]

😂 Jokes…

[@antoniousai1989]

What's important to specify, since it isn't very clear from the video, is that Condottieri weren't generic mercenaries, but the leaders of groups of mercenaries. Only they were bound by the "Condotta" with their client and in turn, would pay their soldiers out of their huge salary which they would hire and release on the way to the battlefield. The term itself Condottiero in Italian evolved into meaning "Military leader" because of this. Napoleon can be called a Condottiero in Italian, the same as Alexander or Caesar. The word "Condotta" itself derives from the verb "Condurre" which means "to guide" (people or animals), and today it is also used in the formal meaning of "to drive" (a vehicle) instead of the verb "Guidare". It's ridiculous how the Condottieri were a big influence in the decay of medieval Italy, by draining its economic resources in neverending squabbles. Partially because of them (and most importantly because of the discovery of the American continent), geographical Italy went from being the richest region on the planet at its time to being a spoil of war for the Lanzikeneks of Charles V and the Spanish empire.

[@SirsasthNigam.]

they were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period.

[@antoniousai1989]

@@SirsasthNigam. Indeed! Another common term to define them is "Capitani di Ventura", which could be translated as "Venture's Captains". Venture in the sense of risky endeavor, from which the modern expression "Venture Capitalists" was born, due to the risks of the stock market and investments!

[@amgm1996]

thanks for this cooment, it added so much to the video

[@macdjord]

So they were mercenary General Contractors?

[@astroboirap]

typical lazy italians

[@aclosetweeb6901]

"Would I ever leave this company? Look, I'm all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I'm being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly, I'm going wherever they value loyalty the most." -Dwight Schrute (And Italian mercenaries, probably)

[@barbiquearea]

One Condottieri name Francesco Sforza was such a successful commander, that to buy his loyalty, the Duke of Milan betrothed his daughter to him. Francesco led the Milanese army in many successful campaigns against Venice. He would even succeed his father in law to becoming Duke of Milan when the man died without any male heirs, thus establishing the Sforza dynasty that ruled Milan for nearly one hundred years.

[@feral26]

"War has changed. It's no longer about nations, ideologies, or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles, fought by mercenaries and machines...War - and it's consumption of life - has become a well-oiled machine." -Hideo Kojima

[@realkekz]

NANOMACHINES SON

[@paddor]

its

[@nerd26373]

The mercernaries are fascinating to learn more in detail. Personally, I haven't got much knowledge about them and where they may have originated from.

[@adrianusnicholas8600]

To me, the most fascinating commander was Federico Da Montefeltro, ruler of Urbino.

[@antoniousai1989]

Ludovico Sforza too was very interesting but he was a butcher. Federico da Montefeltro was a fine connoisseur of art and paid for lots of masterpieces!

[@TaRAAASHBAGS]

Cesare Borgia might have even been a household name if his end wasn't so unceremonious.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

There are many fascinating figures. Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, Bartolomeo d'Alviano, Guido da Montefeltro (great-great-great grandfather of Federico)...

[@benjamincalitri365]

Machiavelli talks about the flaw of horing mercenaries rather than local soldiers in The Prince, he is referencing exactly this

[@lucianoosorio5942]

“Cause all I hear is threats from a brute with no discipline, and I’m ruling over you like a boot full of my citizens!” Julius Caesar

[@snapeseveres]

So this is the inspiration behind Sellsword armies depicted in A Song of Ice and Fire! Thank you for the wonderful lesson.

[@itacom2199]

In the "Canzone all'Italia" a poem by the XIV Italian poet Francesco Petrarca, there is one of the most famous critiques of the mercenaries, that were an important element in the disunited state of Italy. The poem also talks about the use of mercenaries from Bavaria, and this is used by Petrarca as a justification for his hate for Germans.

[@JuanAguilar-ly7di]

Here is something from Wikipedia: 1) Sir John Hawkwood (c. 1323 - 17 March 1394) was an English soldier who served as a mercenary leader or condottiero in Italy. As his name was difficult to pronounce for non-English-speaking contemporaries, there are many variations of it in the historical record. He often referred to himself as Haukevvod and in Italy he was known as Giovanni Acuto, literally meaning "John Sharp" (or "John the Astute") in reference to his "cleverness or cunning". His exploits made him a man shrouded in myth in both England and Italy. Much of his enduring fame results from the surviving large and prominent fresco portrait of him in the Duomo, Florence, made in 1436 by Paolo Uccello, seen every year by 4½ million tourists. ------ 2) Condottieri (Italian: [kondotˈtjɛːri]; singular condottiero or condottiere) were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other European monarchs during the Italian Wars of the Renaissance and the European Wars of Religion. Notable condottieri include Prospero Colonna, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, Cesare Borgia, the Marquis of Pescara, Andrea Doria, and the Duke of Parma.

[@mistertizio4094]

"Acuto" is also a very good approximation of Hawkwood

[@jking6736]

Loyalty rewards stability Treachery rewards prosperity

[@eddiepolo6047]

This period was some of the inspiration for Joe Abercrombie's First Law universe. Especially the stories set in Styria, and the characters Nicomo Cosca and Monza Murcatto.

[@hungvu2774]

So informative. I hope you will post more types of videos like this

[@heristyono4755]

1:16 Michelangelo's David casually giving a finger

[@riopratamamartin7870]

and now the 21st century rose the era of the next generation of condotierri

[@ElBandito]

However, most modern PMC are still tied to their nation's interests.

[@riopratamamartin7870]

@@ElBandito yeah a little bit but their acting like condotierri or maybe landsknecht

[@AnotherAvaibleName]

@@ElBandito not really

[@daringbeast]

Hello ted ed thanks for such awesome videos 😊

[@GodBless423]

This video is marvelous!

[@KnightsofGaming2016]

"I'm just a businessman doing business" - a condottieri, probably

[@nyko921]

Condottiero*

[@mattdunn0804]

Another great video Ted ed. I would suggest one on the 30 years war.

[@13thravenpurple94]

Great video Thank you 👍

[@matthewstanulet1441]

"Wait? It's all business?" "Always has been" 🧑‍🚀🔫

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your videos!🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@xenonbolty8507]

Love this channel :D more stuff like this please

[@gutsdw]

Hey Ted-Ed, Might I recommend two separate videos just for the enjoyment of myself. One for Marcel Proust’s ‘In Search of Lost Time’ and the other on David Foster Wallace’s ‘Infinite Jest’. Also, loved the video! Loved the animation!

[@benitoharrycollmann132]

It's quite probable that mercenaries contributed as much, if not more so, to the shaping of history as their Regular counterparts. From Giovanni Giustiniani defending Constantinople, to Yamada Nagamasa fighting for the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Thailand, or even Siegfried Müller and his Congolese commandos. Soldiers of fortune are a commonality across almost every culture at some point in time.

[@masaheimoi]

I disagree. Biggest wars were fought with no mercenaries in sight. War has become more and more resource demanding, so in modern times there is no room for non-state actors to build big enough forces to matter.

[@ethanfreeland2510]

@@masaheimoi most modern wars have utilized mercenaries, the USA used a ton of mercenaries in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East

[@masaheimoi]

@@ethanfreeland2510 US used them in trying to control the areas, not in the fight to take over.

[@gleamsuun]

The Condottieri were clearly highly intelligent politicians from how they act as if they'll get things done but only achieve what will benefit them.

[@D00Rb3LL]

The famous Machiavelli always said it was a bad idea to hire mercenaries

[@bvillafuerte765]

Good video.

[@woozertoo]

“Beneath the gold, the bitter steel.” Yeah, right 😂

[@user-bp4nv3qp4d]

Best video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@andrei1637]

This is so different than the wars in eastern europe at the time. I heard a historian saying that while in Italy wars were more like showing off power and might, and they fought with like 5-10 000 men army, in eastern europe there were wars of extermination where the ottomans with 100 000 army were fighting 50 - 100 000 combined armies of european leaders to death

[@swedichboy1000]

Could you cover The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath?

[@josueromerotorrico4453]

They forgot to mention that they have bonus damage against gunpowder units, and also dont take any bonus damage from them.

[@barthoekstra6760]

And Genoese Crossbowmen have bonus damage against cavalry

[@gregmiller9710]

very smart!..

[@mestre12]

I hope you guys can do a video on Urbino

[@Moircuus]

Thankyou so much, I've been thinking about this for a while

[@pradeepraopatwardhan2025]

Good

[@funakfunak2740]

I mean it was not just the condottieri who kept the conflicts from escalating into sacking or burning cities. These were in the first place not wars of conquest, they were economic wars meant to flex or gain favourable trade deals. Honestly the whole city-sponsored armies fighting each other feels a lot like patron-sponsored gladiator battles, just on a bigger scale.

[@ahmedfareed4921]

Nice

[@sample2681]

Who is the voice actor for this video? His voice is so soothing

[@antoniomoreira5921]

For anyone who's very keen on Medieval Italian warfare I hotly recommend Schwerpunkt's videos series

[@NutcasePodcast77]

Give ted an Oscar

[@alexandroskappa642]

Well, the opening quote could have been spoken out by the US weapons industry I guess...

[@QueenDany69]

*_Loyalty rewards stability Treachery rewards prosperity_*

[@Livic091]

I don't want peace, I want problems, always.

[@Amitdas-gk2it]

Interesting

[@gabrieljordan8015]

How did we function as a society before social media?

[@Kaos2401]

imma let someone else answer this

[@kennethadler7380]

We still have does PMC in the 21 century

[@ElBandito]

However, most modern PMC are still tied to their nation's interests.

[@hamouyounes]

did ted ed ever made a video about the barbary pirates

[@Flaschenteufel]

3:22 sure had to be added :D it is just ridiculous beyond any sanity at this point

[@deadbeatboy]

Oh no...

[@CharDhue]

Even today

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

Wait so exactly what WAS required in that first contract?

[@Inkan1969]

It still is a business. See Blackwater and Wagner.

[@marym7104]

Within 6 days!

[@juliusrobertjuico6322]

You have to give it the Condottieris. They have never betrayed a client and have always fulfilled their end of the contract. It's too bad their clients never actually read the full contract to know when the Condottieris' times are done.

[@punishedfilthyfrank7348]

So that's why we can hire Mercenaries in Assassin's Creed II

[@user-ii9vj2ok1p]

how many were there

[@robwalsh9843]

Machiavelli: Mercenaries are useless and dangerous Merchant: Bro, those are my employees

[@bende2479]

It still is a business

[@GuRJaV]

Did anyone else have flashbacks of Berserk

[@jacobgard9404]

Bare minimum has always been the standard

[@ZlXer0]

literally the first PMC

[@thegamerplays8915]

Do you not know I live by war And that peace would ruin me my life in a nutshell

[@LuisCabanzonGutierrez]

Seems these condottieri were paid in spice. The spice must flow. 🔵👃🔵

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Actually in 1300 there were still militias of citizen

[@maindepth8830]

Well this is happenin again

[@boki102409]

Buona pratica comerciale.

[@satnamo]

He who keeps on going even when life becomes hard is a warrior

[@timchau8853]

🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧵🪀🧠

[@hieplamtran6139]

Ironic that in AOE they immune to gunpowder

[@reinardish]

Assassin creed 2 & Brotherhood

[@mysteryGuySaysHi]

so GOT's Golden Company. they were useless in GOT but maybe in ASOIAF

[@mikloscsuvar6097]

It is funny, that due to Wagner riot the Hungarian magazine HVG (Weekly World Economics) took the same topic of dinasty róestablishing condottieries as one of the weekly ones.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

These soldiers of fortune may not have lasted but they did lived their lives to the fullest...tax-free, probably.

[@marym7104]

127,200th viewer of this video!

[@darkcarnage5239]

0:02 sounds about America

[@anothaeasywin]

Condos:sir we need horses Condo leader:Well lets start a war send in our instigators! Instigators: (whisper) He said yo wife a hoe and and she gets drug through the mud.

[@seandivers1]

I’m sure in her you’ll fine sanctuary

[@loudjine.12]

❤❤

[@katherineknapp4370]

Ok

[@aaronargottelopez3488]

❤

[@brojack3571]

Well roman legioner from the past will nailed when heard or see this downgraded🗿 Sure, if they're can heard to the future...

[@iulaihe51299]

the city of cathrage was wrecked by mercenaries they didn't have the funds to pay them and had to hire a second group to get rid of them

[@NAATHAAN]

Food was a much better trade than warriors

[@user-yg5yk2kg7d]

now lets play some age of empires 2 DE after that video. italians vs turks

[@antoniousai1989]

Condos are pretty good against Turks

[@Newton_1988]

Usa knows

[@tm43977]

Business war

[@ilovemuslimfood666]

“Ezio, meet Bianca. Bianca…Ezio.”

[@importantname]

Its just business.

[@victorcast2467]

And no Condottieri was ever as famous os successful as the Band of the Hawk

[@bullymaguire7341]

Hey guys can you make a video on the historical relationship between British and india i guess not 😂😂😂

[@asankajayaweera7212]

I guess this is sort of old version of Wagner Group.

[@TheMinecraftandblueyfanlol900]

Warriors for hire still exist in the ukraine war in 2023

[@MayaUndefined]

I don't understand why the conductaries would not also invest in gunpowder. surely they wanted to hold onto their business?

[@Echo81Rumple83]

War as a business should be illegal.

[@AlexVoxel]

And many of them got paid by both parties at war just to not fight for the enemy, lol

[@kitty_gamer23]

interesting story, but the animation...