Condottiere 1300-1500: Infamous medieval mercenaries

by David Murphy, Graham Turner (Illustrator)

Overview

Originally contracted by wealthy Italian city states to protect their assets during a time of ceaseless warring, many condottieri of the Italian peninsula became famous for their wealth, venality and amorality during the 14th and 15th centuries. Some even came to rule cities themselves. Lavishly illustrated with contemporary depictions and original artwork, this title examines the complex military organization, recruitment, training and weaponry of the Condottieri. With insight into their origins and motivations, the author, Dr David Murphy, brings together the social, political and military history of these powerful and unscrupulous men who managed to influence Italian society and warfare for over two centuries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472855107
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/23/2021
Series:	Warrior , #115
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	38 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr David Murphy - MA, PhD, FRGS, FRAS - is on the staff of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. He has lectured on a vairety of subjects and periods throughout his academic career. One of his specialist subjects as tutor at University College Dublin was the Medieval and Renaissance period. He has been commissioned by the Military History Trust of Ireland to write a gazeteer of Irish regiments, and as such has good contacts with both national sources and Irish regimental museum collections.

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, specialising in the medieval period. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects from the dress of the 10th-century armies of the Caliphates, through the action of bloody medieval battles, to the daily life of the British Redcoat of the late 18th century. The son of the illustrator Michael Turner, Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.
Dr David Murphy is a graduate of University College, Dublin and Trinity College, Dublin. He is currently a lecturer in military history and strategic studies at Maynooth University in Ireland. He has also lectured abroad at various institutions including the Dutch Military Academy, Breda, West Point Military Academy and the US Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. David is a member of the Royal United Services Institute, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, specializing in the medieval period. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects from the dress of the 10th-century armies of the Caliphates, through the action of bloody medieval battles, to the daily life of the British Redcoat of the late 18th century. The son of the illustrator Michael Turner, Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction · Chronology · Enlistment · Training · Daily Life · Appearance and Dress · Belief and Belonging · Life on Campaign · The Condottiere in Battle · Conspiracy and Betrayal · Aftermath of Battle · Conclusion · Museums, Collections and Re-enactment · Glossary · Bibliography · Colour Plate Commentary · Index

Editorial Reviews

The author does a superlative job of telling the story of these men and the somewhat unusual life they led, for these mercenary armies were not common elsewhere in Europe at the time... Overall a book that covers a lesser known, but still important part of Western history and one that I'm sure you will enjoy reading.” —Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (August 2007)

“David Murphy's Condottiere 1300-1500 - Infamous Medieval Mercenaries surveys those early fighting men who were conscripted by wealthy Italian city states to protect assets during war, providing a blend of military and political history.” —The Bookwatch (December 2007)

From the Publisher