mercenary-companies
Groups of professional soldiers who, during the truce, reverted to plundering and were difficult to control despite royal ordinances.
2 chapters across 1 book
A Distant Mirror (1600)Barbara Tuchman
Chapter 13 chronicles the failure of peace negotiations between England and France in 1375, leading to a truce that failed to restrain mercenary companies, which resumed devastating plundering under the leadership of the Sire de Coucy. Leopold's scorched-earth tactics and reliance on Swiss defense met fierce local resistance, culminating in significant Swiss victories such as the surprise attack on the Abbey of Fraubrunnen. Coucy's shifting allegiances and the mercenary campaign's brutal impact catalyzed Swiss national identity and highlighted the complex interplay of feudal loyalties, military strategy, and medieval diplomacy.
Chapter 13, titled 'Coucy’s War,' details the military and political activities of Enguerrand VII de Coucy during the late 14th century, focusing on his leadership of mercenary companies, financial dealings, and involvement in various conflicts including the Swiss campaigns and sieges. The chapter also examines Coucy's complex loyalties between France and England, his interactions with the Pope and other political figures, and the cultural memory of battles such as Morgarten and Fraubrunnen through chronicles and ballads.