condottiero
Renaissance military contractor
A condottiero was a mercenary military leader in Renaissance Italy, commanding private armies for hire by city-states, popes, and princes.
These captains contracted their services to the highest bidder, sometimes switching sides mid-conflict.
The term now occasionally describes any mercenary commander or soldier of fortune: a modern condottiero selling his expertise to foreign governments.
Plural: condottieri.
Soldier fighting for pay
- captainOne who commands
- soldierArmed forces member
- companyCommercial enterprise or guests
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
lance · Renaissance · contract · troops · cavalry · infantry · siege · campaign
Enforceable written agreement
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- employerOne who employs others
negotiation · fee · commission · allegiance · service · hiring · wages · defection
Lombardy's capital city
- VeniceLagoon city, northeastern Italy
- FlorenceTuscan capital city
- NaplesMediterranean port city
- LombardyNorthern Italian administrative region
Tuscany · city-state · peninsula · republic
Sculpture depicting mounted figure
- DonatelloQuattrocento Florentine sculptor
- portraitArtistic depiction of someone
- frescoWet plaster painting technique
- chroniclerWriter of historical accounts
Machiavelli · reputation · commemoration · bronze · piazza · memorial · patronage · palazzo
mercenary
Soldier fighting for pay
warfare · lance · Renaissance · contract · troops · cavalry · infantry · siege · campaign · armor
contract
Enforceable written agreement
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- betrayalBreaking of trust
employer · negotiation · fee · commission · allegiance · service · hiring · wages · defection · rivalry
Milan
Lombardy's capital city
Lombardy · Tuscany · city-state · peninsula · republic
equestrian statue
Sculpture depicting mounted figure
- DonatelloQuattrocento Florentine sculptor
- portraitArtistic depiction of someone
- frescoWet plaster painting technique
chronicler · Machiavelli · reputation · commemoration · bronze · piazza · memorial · patronage · palazzo · art commission
condottieropatriot
Devoted country supporter
freedom fighter · volunteer · minuteman · partisan · guerrilla
conduct, conductor, conductors, conducting, conducted, conduction, conductive, conductivity, semiconductor