The Great Company (German)
Encyclopedia
The Great Company was a group of mercenaries
, chiefly of German
origin but operating in the Italian
peninsula, who flourished in the mid-14th century. At its height, the company numbered approximately 6,000 men, chiefly armored cavalry
. The Great Company's power set the pattern for later condottieri
who came to dominate Renaissance
Italian warfare.
The company was founded in 1342 by Werner von Urslingen, whose reputed motto was "Enemy of God, Enemy of Piety, Enemy of Pity", with some writers even reporting the phrase inscribed on his breastplate
. Urslingen had inspired to Lodrisio Visconti
's Compagnia di San Giorgio
, under which he had fought in the battle of Parabiago
. Commanders included his brother Reinhardt, Ettore da Panigo, Konrad von Landau and the Provençal Fra' Moriale. Urslingen was hired by Joan I, Queen of Naples
in 1348 to defend against King Louis of Hungary's invasion. After peace was concluded, the mercenaries ran wild and ravaged Naples for some years.
In 1354 Urslingen died and was succeeded by Fra' Moriale, who added a number of Italians and Provençals to the previous mainly German majority of mercenaries. In the August of the same year Konrad von Landau became commander-in-chief, and led the Grand Company northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company signed on with the Venetian League in 1358 and the following year with Siena
, during which time it suffered a serious setback at the hands of Florence
and had to ransom their leader, Landau. In 1359 the company had again reached a substantial strength, amounting to some 20,000 men; it subsequently fought in battles against Rimini
, Fabriano
, Camerino
, the Papal States
and Florence. In June 1359 it was crushed by the Florentine army under Pandolfo II Malatesta
. In 1363, hired by the Visconti of Milan
, it fought against Albert Sterz's White Company
, which the Grand Company had defeated the previous year and which had been hired by the Marquis of Montferrat. This time, after three months of clashes, the Grand Company was decisively defeated near Novara
and Konrad von Landau himself was killed.
In 1367, as part of the effort to rid France of the pillaging Free Companies, Bertrand du Guesclin
led the Great Company into Iberia
to support Henry of Trastamara in his campaign against Pedro the Cruel. The Great Company was decimated in this campaign.
Free company
A free company or free lance was a late medieval army of mercenaries acting independently of any government, and thus "free". They were not called "free" because their services were gratis, rather they sold their services to the highest bidder...
, chiefly of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
origin but operating in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
peninsula, who flourished in the mid-14th century. At its height, the company numbered approximately 6,000 men, chiefly armored cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. The Great Company's power set the pattern for later condottieri
Condottieri
thumb|Depiction of [[Farinata degli Uberti]] by [[Andrea del Castagno]], showing a 15th century condottiero's typical attire.Condottieri were the mercenary soldier leaders of the professional, military free companies contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages...
who came to dominate Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
Italian warfare.
The company was founded in 1342 by Werner von Urslingen, whose reputed motto was "Enemy of God, Enemy of Piety, Enemy of Pity", with some writers even reporting the phrase inscribed on his breastplate
Breastplate
A breastplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing.- Armour :...
. Urslingen had inspired to Lodrisio Visconti
Lodrisio Visconti
-Biography:He was the son of Pietro, of the powerful House of Visconti of Milan, and Antiochia Crivelli.After a military training under his father, he helped his cousin Matteo Visconti and the latter's son Galeazzo in the reconquest of Milan against the Torriani. Later, together with the other...
's Compagnia di San Giorgio
Compagnia di San Giorgio
The Compagnia di San Giorgio was the name of several companies of mercenaries in Italy during the 14th century.-History:A first company under this name was founded by Lodrisio Visconti, usurper of the title of lord of Seprio in northern Italy, in 1339...
, under which he had fought in the battle of Parabiago
Battle of Parabiago
-Background:Lodrisio Visconti set out for Lombardy in the late January 1339, defeating the Milanese in Rivolta d'Adda, and later conquering Cernusco sul Naviglio, Sesto di Monza and Legnano, where he was joined by the Scaliger troops. Luchino set off to meet the Compagnia with his citizen militia...
. Commanders included his brother Reinhardt, Ettore da Panigo, Konrad von Landau and the Provençal Fra' Moriale. Urslingen was hired by Joan I, Queen of Naples
Joan I of Naples
Joan I , born Joanna of Anjou, was Queen of Naples from 1343 until her death. She was also Countess of Provence and Forcalquier, Queen consort of Majorca and titular Queen of Jerusalem and Sicily 1343–82, and Princess of Achaea 1373/5–81....
in 1348 to defend against King Louis of Hungary's invasion. After peace was concluded, the mercenaries ran wild and ravaged Naples for some years.
In 1354 Urslingen died and was succeeded by Fra' Moriale, who added a number of Italians and Provençals to the previous mainly German majority of mercenaries. In the August of the same year Konrad von Landau became commander-in-chief, and led the Grand Company northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company signed on with the Venetian League in 1358 and the following year with Siena
Republic of Siena
The Republic of Siena , was a state originating from the city of Siena in Tuscany, Central Italy.It existed for over four hundreds years, from the late 11th century until the year 1555, when was defeated by the rival Duchy of Florence in alliance with the Spanish crown...
, during which time it suffered a serious setback at the hands of Florence
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
and had to ransom their leader, Landau. In 1359 the company had again reached a substantial strength, amounting to some 20,000 men; it subsequently fought in battles against Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, Fabriano
Fabriano
Fabriano is a town and comune of Ancona province in the Italian region of the Marche, at 325 m above sea-level. It lies in the Esino valley 44 km upstream and SW of Jesi; and 15 km ENE of Fossato di Vico and 36 km east of Gubbio...
, Camerino
Camerino
Camerino is a small town of 7.135 inhabitants in the Marches , in the province of Macerata, Italy. It is located in the Apennines bordering Umbria, between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Chienti, about 40 miles from Ancona....
, the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
and Florence. In June 1359 it was crushed by the Florentine army under Pandolfo II Malatesta
Pandolfo II Malatesta
Pandolfo II Malatesta was an Italian condottiero.The son of Malatesta II Malatesta, he fought under Werner von Urslingen and Gil de Albornoz. Later served Galeazzo II Visconti of Milan, but raised the jealousy of Bernabò Visconti and fled to the Marche. Later held a condotta for Florence against...
. In 1363, hired by the Visconti of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
, it fought against Albert Sterz's White Company
White Company
The White Company was a 14th Century Italian mercenary Company of Adventure , led from its arrival in Italy in 1361 to 1365 by the German Albert Sterz and later by the Englishman John Hawkwood...
, which the Grand Company had defeated the previous year and which had been hired by the Marquis of Montferrat. This time, after three months of clashes, the Grand Company was decisively defeated near Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
and Konrad von Landau himself was killed.
In 1367, as part of the effort to rid France of the pillaging Free Companies, Bertrand du Guesclin
Bertrand du Guesclin
Bertrand du Guesclin , known as the Eagle of Brittany or the Black Dog of Brocéliande, was a Breton knight and French military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was Constable of France from 1370 to his death...
led the Great Company into Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
to support Henry of Trastamara in his campaign against Pedro the Cruel. The Great Company was decimated in this campaign.