medioevo, ricostruzione medievale, compagnia del leone, ricostruzione storica, reenactement, medioevale, rinascimento italiano, gruppo storico, scherma medievale, eventi storici, cultura materiale,COMPAGNIA DEL LEONE, associazione culturale che si occupa di ricostruzione storica periodo tardo medioevo e primo rinascimento italiano. Creazione di spaccati di vita medievale civile e militare, scherma medievale, archeologia sperimentale.
compagnia del leone, ricostruzione medievale, scherma, medioevo, eventi storici, condottieri, medioevale, rinascimento italiano, ricostruzione storica, scherma, forli, gruppo storico, flos duellatorum, spada, ewart oakeshott, oakeshott, crollalanza, polibio, elso, pomo, lama,lancia, cavalleria pesante, lanza, barbuta, palvesai, schioppettieri, Muzio Attendolo, Braccio da Montone, quattrocento, quattrocentesco, rinascimentale, soldo, aragona, stato della chiesa, repubblica di firenze, repubblica di venezia, ducato di milano, condotta, prestanza, colaterali, compagnie di ventura, provisionati, lanze spezzate,
flos duellatorum, roberto da san severino, ricostruzioni storiche, fotografie medievali, armature, armatura, celata, scudi, rotelle, 1475, 1495, forl', forum livii, caterina sforza, sforza.
History Research - The "CONDOTTIERI"
The word “CONDOTTIERO” comes from CONDOTTA, or the contract by which a commander or captain of a division of soldiers and spearmen was hired (condotto) by a city-state for a certain period of time. The first few examples of such contracts date back to the first half of the 14th century, and among the greatest condottieri of the time is the renowned Alberico Da Barbiano. He was the first condottiero to form a company by recruiting his soldiers among old comrades, new trainees, friends and relatives in an effort to encourage team unity. On the other hand, the soldiers themselves depended strictly on their Captain, as he was the sole provider of weapons and salaries for the company.
Overall, there were two distinct types of Companies at the time, depending on the kind of contract given to the captain. According to “a soldo disteso” contracts, the captain was under the command of either the city captain or lord, while with “a mezzo soldo” contracts, the captain was more independent, was not paid a full salary and was generally required to take less chances.
However, Companies could be subject to different contract and size conditions in periods of peace or during wars: in Venice, for example, compensations were higher for campaigns in war zones.
In terms of length, the average contract lasted about half a year – plus an optional six months, which could be granted by approval of the hiring party. Contracts would basically bind the two parties – condottiero on one hand and city-state/lord on the other – for six months, a period which would often be called ferma and used as a synonym of condotta. The ferma was followed by the aspetto, a period of time during which the condottiero was still bound to the hiring party, who at this point had the option of either renewing the contract or canceling it.
Most of the times, however, contracts were extended to periods of peace, too, and the condottiero would be paid a monthly salary (raccomandigia) to protect local territories. In many cases, the raccomandigia was used also in periods of war.
The most important section of a contract concerned the soldo (compensation). All contracts provided for a pay advance (called prestanza), which generally amounted to a fourth or a third of the total, and was supposed to cover moving expenses for the army, as well as further adjustments to the new place.
The prestanza was also used as collateral for the hiring party. Once the contract had been signed, the captain was required to “show” his men, who were checked and registered by government officials. The officials were also responsible for the assessment of arms, horses and supplies. New professional figures were thus created within the army: the notary public, who supervised all written documents and their drafting; suppliers, who were in charge of provisions, and many more professionals, depending on the size of the company. Another crucial section of the contract concerned the distribution of booty and prisoners.
The condottiero and his men were usually allowed to keep the goods they had plundered, while lands, castles and fortresses were always conquered on behalf of the city-state. The same rule applied to prisoners: the opposing army and their captains had to be handed over to the authorities, while everyone else could stay with their captors.
This trend generated a number of dynasties of condottieri, as well as of small lords who were willing to invest their money in the training of such armies. Their ultimate goal was to make profits from more influential rulers who may need the services of these soldiers, or would be willing to award them (for lack of money) with titles and land.
Self-importance was definitely a distinctive feature of 15th-century condottieri, who liked to show off their status with heraldry and slogans. In fact this unique trait of their personality encouraged many contemporary writers to compare condottieri to classical heroes, turning them from mere late 14th-century mercenaries into larger-than-life protectors and symbols of their lands.
