While useful, they became increasingly unpopular In england, not only was their brutality condemned, but the rise of mercenary leaders of lowly origins to high office caused friction within the nobility. But by the end of the 13th century paid military service was the norm in europe Although not exclusively about medieval mercenaries, this book delves into the economic aspects of cooperation, competition, and trust among strangers, which are relevant themes in understanding the dynamics of mercenary companies. Götz von berlichingen was one of the most formidable german knights of the late medieval period, earning a reputation as a fearless mercenary and rebel Born in 1480 into a minor noble family in württemberg, he was raised in the warrior tradition of the german knightly class.
Gottfried götz von berlichingen zu hornberg (pronounced [ˈgɔtfʁiːd fɔn ˈbɛʁlɪçɪŋən], [ˈgœts] Eisenfaust), was a german (franconian) imperial knight (reichsritter), mercenary and poet. There is good evidence for virtually all the major military powers of europe in the tenth and eleventh centuries that their rulers employed a military bodyguard with a substantially or even exclusively foreign component. The central theme of this chapter is that, while mercenary service, in terms of service for pay, became increasingly accepted and organized from at least the middle of the eleventh century, there was a real change in the perception of the issue from the later thirteenth century. Varied dramatically depending on where they were from and the conditions of their becoming mercenaries If you were a genoese crossbowman you'd have a fancy kit with a crossbow and pavice ( shield behind which you would load the crossbow).
