Abstract

In medieval and Renaissance Italy, warfare was primarily conducted by mercenaries called condottiere, and they represented a middle-ground between the production of defense by the state and by private entities. Condottiere were used because they allowed for social dynamism and reputation-building while minimizing damage to capital in the mercantile city-states of Northern Italy such as Florence and Milan. The condottiere phenomenon lasted from 1368 to 1559 and ended when great power politics, conscription, and total war destroyed their usefulness.

Keywords: condottiere, finance, manufacturing, mercenaries, social, reputation, Europe, Italy, Renaissance, Medieval

How to Cite:

Hukill, A., (2025) “Fighting Businessmen: The Social and Monetary Economy of Mercenaries in Northern Italy (1368-1559)”, Footnotes: A Journal of History 7, 65-80.