The High Cost of Mercenaries

[Salamander]

Heh... It would be an interesting exercise trying to tell the victorious soldiers to stop raping the women and looting the houses. You would need some seriously scary-ass (and well paid) sergants and captains for that to work...

Brian.

Brian, mate! Who do you think ORGANIZED the raping and pillaging?
;)

[Ashton]

Heh... It would be an interesting exercise trying to tell the victorious soldiers to stop raping the women and looting the houses. You would need some seriously scary-ass (and well paid) sergants and captains for that to work...

Brian.

I'm saying that the guilds would frown on it, not that it wouldn't happen anyway. However, get a few scary ass captians and sergeants who also happen to have the SA: Conscience....

[Ashton]

Brian, mate! Who do you think ORGANIZED the raping and pillaging?
;)

Organized raping and pillaging? That has got to be a contradiction in terms. as an aside, the best way for the guilds to reduce the impact of said looting and pillaging would be to issue orders that kept the companies(and battles) away from the more densely populated areas. Brings up the problem of supply again, though doesn't it?

[Mike Holmes]

If the Guilds don't want this to happen, they had better pay the troops pretty darm well. I am talking about 2-3 times the pay listed for a Merc in the book. Otherwise these guys will not really feel compelled to keep hands off.

Yeah, but contrary to what others imply, this did happen. I mean, what if you're hiring the mercenary army to retake your home city? You're going to do what it takes to have pillaging not happen.

In these cases, the rule was simple. The captian put out work that anyone caught looting would be hanged for it. This probably wasn't 100% effective, but it was used because it worked. Especially after the first soldier caught was made an example to the others.

But, yes, there has to be appropriate remuneration at some point, or the attack isn't going to happen.

Mike

[Salamander]

Yeah, but contrary to what others imply, this did happen. I mean, what if you're hiring the mercenary army to retake your home city? You're going to do what it takes to have pillaging not happen.

I am not aware of any cases where this did happen.  Most of the time, if you, the ruler of the city lost, you were imprisoned or killed outright. If you managed to get away, you were more interested in getting your lands back than in the safety of your vassals. Most nobility of the time basically considered commoners as money generating vermin. If the Mercs were coming in to take the town, they would either get paid in full NOW or they would loot and pillage. Most often the client would just let them loot, it wasn't their money and the townsfolk had a habit of rebuilding...

In these cases, the rule was simple. The captian put out work that anyone caught looting would be hanged for it. This probably wasn't 100% effective, but it was used because it worked. Especially after the first soldier caught was made an example to the others.

The Captain would most likely do no such thing. He was just as bad. These guys would usually make ends meet by claiming dead soldier's wages until the campaign was ended. He would only see a profit out of looting. Besides, a Captain whose company made no profit would have no recruits next season. People became mercenaries to make a quick buck. If they did not, why be a mercenary?
 

But, yes, there has to be appropriate remuneration at some point, or the attack isn't going to happen.

Mike

Often the renumeration was at the cost of the folk who were left behind when the fighting was over. The concepts we have of nobility having honour and chivalry were extended only to fellow nobility. And that was because they had money...

[Ashton]

Salamander:

This being the case of Fauth though, where its the guilds are hiring and not the main government, the danger is that the official Fauth army, for whatever it is worth, might get involved, especially with guild armies doing more than fighting the other guild. Wholesale destruction might be a very good way of the mercenary armies finding themselves on the most wanted list, or for bounties being placed on the heads of the commanders.

[Salamander]

Salamander:

This being the case of Fauth though, where its the guilds are hiring and not the main government, the danger is that the official Fauth army, for whatever it is worth, might get involved, especially with guild armies doing more than fighting the other guild. Wholesale destruction might be a very good way of the mercenary armies finding themselves on the most wanted list, or for bounties being placed on the heads of the commanders.

Ah! Missed that part. Just basing it off of what I have heard about our own Renaissance... Sorry! Never mind! We found what we were looking for! And it wasn't here! Imagine that.... *sound of running*

[toli]

I believe that pillage was a pretty common form of payemnt for mercenary troops.  Armies also generally had 'rules' as to how loot would be divided.  I think a pretty common rule was for each soldier to give 1/3 of his loot to his superior, who also gave 1/3 of his....

Also, if I remember correctly, cities that fell to assault were generally pillaged (often for 3 days).  Cities that surrendered paid a randsom instead.

NT

[Brian Leybourne]

Also, if I remember correctly, cities that fell to assault were generally pillaged (often for 3 days).  Cities that surrendered paid a randsom instead.

Yes, now that you mention it, that does ring a bell. Kind of a "this is your last chance..." thing.

Brian.