Rise and Fall of Medieval Mercenaries - Middle Ages DOCUMENTARY

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🎥 Watch 250+ exclusive videos on ✔ youtube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fw/join and ✔ Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the history of medieval period, Christianity and Roman Empire continues with a video on the rise and fall of Medieval mercenaries in the early middle ages. Medieval Europe was filled with warriors who fought not for king, country, or faith, but for whoever could pay. From the scarlet fields of Italy to the walls of Constantinople, mercenaries shaped the wars of the Middle Ages, serving city-states, crusader lords, kings, popes, and even enemies of their own religion. This video explores the rise, golden age, and decline of medieval mercenaries: the Condottieri of Italy, the Landsknechts of the German lands, the Routiers of France, the Catalan and Navarrese Companies, and legendary figures like John Hawkwood. We examine why small states and wealthy cities relied on hired soldiers, how mercenary contracts worked, why companies often switched sides, and why religious and political thinkers increasingly condemned them as dishonourable “dogs of war.” As centralized kingdoms, standing armies, and national states emerged, the old free companies faded from the battlefield. Yet the profession never truly died. From pirates and colonial soldiers of fortune to modern private military companies, the medieval mercenary’s legacy still survives. Were they villains, professionals, or simply products of a violent age? The answer is far more complicated than legend suggests. How the Popes Survived the Fall of the Western Roman Empire: https://youtu.be/aN58kj_oxIc How Clovis Changed Europe by becoming Christian: https://youtu.be/sQ728X06zhs Early History of the Franks: https://youtu.be/iE4qiwz7_78 How Charlemagne Used Propaganda to Shape the Narrative: https://youtu.be/2m_JUevVzqg Charlemagne's Army - https://youtu.be/PX5W6pA47yw Charlemagne’s Bloody War Against the Saxons - Verden Massacre: https://youtu.be/