Žoldnieri v Bratislave v polovici 15. storočia

Mercenaries in Bratislava in the Mid 15th Century

Autor: SEDLÁČEK Peter

SEDLÁČEK, Peter: Žoldnieri v Bratislave v polovici 15. storočia 

SEDLÁČEK, Peter: Mercenaries in Bratislava in the Mid 15th Century.

Vojenská história, 1, 17, 2013, pp. 6-32.

The author of the study addresses the major military component ofurban defence over the given period - mercenaries. It is demonstrated that their primary role was to defend the city from the enemy, but in the case of a military expedition, led by monarchs, they were also deemed compulsory conscripts to be sent to fight upon receiving orders from towns. The hiring of mercenaries fell under the responsibility of the town council or town captain. The numbers of hired mercenaries depended on the then political and security situation, as well as on the financial capacity of the town. A regular soldiers pay was around 100 denars, while a sergeant earned a pound or half a pound of denars. It is further noted that any additional activity or task for which the town council wanted to use the mercenaries had to be paid extra. These activities included such services as guarding gates and towers, providing services outside the town, spying on or lurking for the enemy, guarding domestic workers while at work, escorting town envoys, and executing a messenger‘s tasks. In any such extraordinary role the town council arranged for rations. The author of the study also analyzes the issue of costs. Virtually all expenses (except for food) and materials for the mercenaries were funded by the town. Mercenaries were accommodated in town’s halls and, in the case of a large number ofhired mercenaries, inside towers and bastions. Replacements ofbroken or destroyed weapons represented frequent expenses for the towns treasury. The town‘s council provided mercenaries with some form of social welfare. Financial compensation was provided for combat injuries, work-related accidents, and even for damage sustained in captivity. Moreover, at the time of illness or temporary incapacity active duty received their salary. When ill or temporarily unable to be on active duty, they received the same pay. Any termination of service was executed upon personal request or that of the municipal council, depending on the town‘s treasury and political situation. Dismissal was usually carried out on the same day of the week when the mercenary was hired. Among the non-standard forms of termination of military service was a mercenary‘s escape or death.

Keywords: Military History. Hungary. Mercenaries. Bratislava. 15th Century.

Ročník: 17 | Číslo: 1/2013 | Stránky: 6-32