The Great Company (German)
- The Great Company (German)
"This article is about the German mercenary company. For the Catalan mercenary company, see The Great Company (Catalan)".
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 politics.
The best known early captain of the Great Company was 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 was hired by Johanna, 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.
By 1355, Konrad von Landau had succeeded Urslingen in command of the Great Company, who led it northward to find new employment in the Italian wars. The Company hired 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 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.
References
*Browning, Oscar. "Guelphs and Ghibellines: A Short History of Mediaeval Italy from 1250-1409", 1894.
*Wise, Terence. "Medieval European Armies: 1300-1500". Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1975.
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
The Great Company — may refer to: *The Great Company (Catalan), a Latin band of mercenaries from the 14th century *The Great Company (German), a German band of mercenaries from the 14th century … Wikipedia
The Selmer Company — was a manufacturer of musical instruments started in Paris, France in the early 1900s. Selmer was known for its high quality woodwind instruments, especially saxophones and clarinets. The Selmer brand was preferred by many well known jazz artists … Wikipedia
The Motor Company of Botswana — (Pty.) Ltd. Rechtsform Propriety Limited Gründung 1992 Auflösung … Deutsch Wikipedia
The Great Escape (film) — Infobox Film name = The Great Escape image size = 225px caption = original movie poster by Frank McCarthy director = John Sturges writer = Book: Paul Brickhill Screenplay: James Clavell W.R. Burnett Walter Newman (uncredited) starring = Steve… … Wikipedia
The Great Game — For the film, see The Great Game (film) The Great Game was a term used for the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. The classic Great Game period is generally regarded as… … Wikipedia
The Great Dictator — Infobox Film name = The Great Dictator imdb id = 0032553 writer = Charles Chaplin starring = Charles Chaplin Paulette Goddard Jack Oakie director = Charles Chaplin Wheeler Dryden| producer = Charles Chaplin distributor = United Artists released … Wikipedia
The Great Global Warming Swindle — infobox television caption = DVD cover show name = The Great Global Warming Swindle format = Documentary runtime = 75 mins creator = Martin Durkin country = United Kingdom network = Channel 4, 8 March, 2007 Original run = March 8 2007 website =… … Wikipedia
The Great Race — Infobox Film name = The Great Race image size = caption = Poster director = Blake Edwards producer = Martin Jurow writer = Blake Edwards, Arthur A. Ross starring = Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood music = Henry Mancini cinematography =… … Wikipedia
Frederick the Great — Frederick II Frederick II, aged 68, by Anton Graff King of Prussia Elector of Brandenburg Reign … Wikipedia
Cricket in the Great War — The onset of the Great War in 1914 brought an end to the Edwardian Golden Age of English cricket. Surrey called off their last two matches without forfeiting their position at the top of the County Championship, which they thus won for the first… … Wikipedia
