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Topics related to "Mercenaries"

Elephantine
Elephantine , island, SE Egypt, in the Nile below the First Cataract, near Aswan. In ancient times it was a military post guarding the southern frontier of Egypt. The Elephantine papyruses, which date from the 5th cent. BC and describe a colony of Jewish mercenaries, were found there. Surviving ruin... Read more
Sir John de Hawkwood
Sir John de Hawkwood d. 1394, English soldier. He fought in the French wars of Edward III and was knighted, although it is not known when or where. With his "white company" of mercenaries, he entered (1362) Italy and became a condottiere . He served sometimes one republic, sometimes another, b... Read more
Rufinus
Rufinus , d. 395, Roman statesman, minister of Theodosius I and Arcadius . After Theodosius' death (395) he virtually ruled the Eastern Empire for Arcadius, but his attempt to marry his daughter to the young emperor was thwarted by Eutropius (d. 399). Rufinus was assassinated by Gothic mercenar... Read more
Eleanor of Provence
Eleanor of Provence , d. 1291, queen consort of Henry III of England. The daughter of Raymond Berengar, count of Provence, she was married to Henry in 1236. She was a vigorous and incisive woman and had much influence on her husband, as did her unpopular relatives and other foreign courtiers who f... Read more
satrap
satrap , governor of a province (satrapy) of the ancient Persian Empire. He was nominated by the king and given extensive powers. Darius I reorganized the privileges and duties of his satraps in the 6th cent. BC; the number of satraps varied from 20 to 28 during his reign. To prevent the concentra... Read more
Swiss Guards
Swiss Guards Swiss mercenaries who fought in various European armies from the 15th cent. until the 19th cent. These mercenaries, who were not volunteers, were put at the disposal of foreign powers by treaties (called capitulations) between the Swiss diet, the separate cantons, and the foreign power... Read more
condottiere
condottiere [Ital.,=leader], leader of mercenary soldiers in Italy in the 14th and 15th cent., when wars were almost incessant there. The condottieri hired and paid the bands who fought under them. They dealt directly with the cities or states that requested their services and were responsible sole... Read more
Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca d. 229 or 228 BC, Carthaginian general. He was assigned the command in Sicily in 247 in the First Punic War (see Punic Wars ). From mountain bases near Palermo he made repeated raids on the Romans and relieved the Punic garrison in Lilybaeum. However, the Carthaginians were defeated... Read more
Jacquerie
Jacquerie [Fr.,=collection of Jacques, which is, like Jacques Bonhomme, a nickname for the French peasant], 1358, revolt of the French peasantry. The uprising was in part a reaction to widespread poverty during the Hundred Years War. Peasants revolted against the écorcheurs (mercenarie... Read more
Varangians
Varangians , name given by Slavs and Byzantine Greeks to Scandinavians who began to raid the eastern shores of the Baltic and penetrate Eastern Europe by the 9th cent. Their leader, Rurik , established himself at Novgorod in 862, thus laying the traditional foundation for Kievan Rus . The Varangia... Read more

Encyclopedia entries related to "Mercenaries"

Mercenaries
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World ...a fortunate few mercenaries, who now sought...granting long-term mercenary contracts and establishing...new generation of mercenary captains was almost...consequence of mercenaries sometimes seizing...Milan in 1450. Mercenaries were hired in Italy...Italian for mercenary captain, ...
Hamilcar Barca
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of World Biography ...command. Revolt of the Mercenaries Upon returning to Africa, Hamilcar's mercenary troops revolted because...Hamilcar surrounded the mercenaries' position at the river...this battle 10, 000 mercenaries were killed and 4, 000...
army
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition ...nations sought the services of Greek mercenaries. In time, a class of professional...became increasingly composed of barbarian mercenaries. The Roman army was divided into legions...National armies, largely composed of mercenaries, reappeared after the introduction...
Early Modern Military Theory
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World ...citizen militias against mercenaries. For Niccol ò Machiavelli...denigration of the effectiveness of mercenary forces, creating a potent...militia in the face of Spanish mercenaries at Prato in 1512 —...ranks of their armies with mercenaries. As mercenaries were in...
Moïse Kapenda Tshombe
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of World Biography ...foreign-interest groups and white mercenaries. Mo ï se Tshombe was born at...abode, but, despite the fact that mercenaries and troops of the former Katanga state...promptly did, and with the help of white mercenaries and some direct intervention by Belgium...
Armies: Recruitment, Organization, and Social Composition
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World ...field, it is assumed that contracts for mercenaries, a feature of the entire early modern...consecutive campaigns. Hiring and firing mercenary forces thus appeared to make military...profiteering officers operating under mercenary contracts rendered military service...
government and administration
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to Irish History ...than one rechtaire , to counsellors and foreign mercenaries, mercenaries of native origin, domestic servants, and maoir...as maoir . As Irish armies became increasingly mercenary, chiefs employed a professional commander or constable...
Frederick William (Brandenburg) (1620–1688; Ruled 1640–1688)
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World ...Schwartzenberg, who had created an army of mercenaries that spent more time terrorizing the...begged him to rid the country of his mercenaries. He also restored the traditional rights...two thousand from Schwartzenberg's mercenaries, but he need more, especially to defend...
Time of Troubles (Russia)
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World ...Cossacks and Polish and Lithuanian mercenaries to form a new army under the nominal...and a large number of Swedish mercenaries. The Second False Dmitrii was...flight. But by inviting in Swedish mercenaries Tsar Vasilii had now given King...
Swiss Guards
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Swiss Guards Swiss mercenaries who fought in various European armies...cent. until the 19th cent. These mercenaries, who were not volunteers, were...Peace of 1516—the Swiss mercenaries played their most important role...

Dictionary entries related to "Mercenaries"

mercenary
Book article from: The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English ...making money at the expense of ethics: she's nothing but a mercenary little gold digger. • n. ( pl. -nar·...reward at the expense of ethics: the sport's most infamous mercenary. DERIVATIVES: mer·ce·nar·i...
German Mercenaries
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History GERMAN MERCENARIES GERMAN MERCENARIES were troops hired to fight the rebellious American colonies. Given England's shortage of trained soldiers, its slow enlistments, and the political impossibility of conscription, the ministry tapped the...
condottiere
Book article from: A Dictionary of World History ...contract’) The leader of a medieval mercenary band of soldiers. Mercenaries flourished in the climate of economic prosperity...mercenaries were recruited from the unemployed mercenary ‘free companies’ of the...
army
Book article from: A Dictionary of World History ...Carthage, especially HANNIBAL , hired mercenaries to great effect in their forces, but...infantry armed with longbows. The use of mercenaries (see CONDOTTIERE ) again became commonplace...century, European armies were mainly of mercenaries recruited (often under pressure) and...
Bugis
Book article from: A Dictionary of World History Bugis Muslim mercenaries and traders of south-east Asia. They were enterprising seamen...they lost their livelihood. Thereafter they sought employment as mercenaries and engaged in piracy in Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Malaya...
Palance, Jack
Dictionary entry from: International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers ...Justine and Juliet ) (Franco) 1969 Il mercenario (The Mercenary ; A Professional Gun ) (Corbucci) (as Ricciolo); The...Deuces (Bushnell); Africa Express (Lupo); The Diamond Mercenaries (Killer Force ) (Guest) 1976 The Great Adventure (Baldanello...
Hessians
Book article from: The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military Hessians German mercenaries who fought with the British forces in North America during the Revolutionary War . The 29,000 German mercenaries represented about one-third of all British forces in America. Only some 17,000 were actually subjects...
Henningsen, Charles Frederick
Book article from: The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military Henningsen, Charles Frederick (1815–77) mercenary, filibuster, and munitions expert. Henningsen, who had come to the United States in 1851 after fighting as a mercenary in various European nationalist movements, was among those...
Comoros
Book article from: A Dictionary of Contemporary World History ...who proclaimed a secular, socialist republic. Foreign mercenaries led by Robert Denard overthrew Ali Soilih in 1978, and reinstalled...Abdallah. In 1989 the latter was assassinated by Denard's mercenaries, who made Ali Soilih's half-brother, Mohamed Djohar...
Herr Arnes Pengar
Dictionary entry from: International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers ...Sweden in the reign of John the Third. Set in a ravaged landscape during a severe winter, it tells of the activities of three mercenary Scottish officers who have escaped from prison after their armies have been banished by the king. Crazed by hunger and drink...

Thesaurus entries related to "Mercenaries"

mercenary
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus mercenary • adjective   1. mercenary self-interest synonyms : money...money-grubbing.   2. mercenary soldiers synonyms : hired...noun  a group of mercenaries synonyms : soldier of fortune...
fighter
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus ...guerrilla fighter synonyms : soldier, fighting man/woman, warrior, combatant, serviceman, servicewoman, trooper, mercenary; archaic man-at-arms.   2. the fighter was knocked to the ground synonyms : boxer, pugilist, prizefighter...
grasping
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus ...x2022; adjective  a grasping corporate executive synonyms : avaricious, acquisitive, greedy, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic; mean, miserly, parsimonious, niggardly, hoarding, selfish, possessive, close; informal tightfisted...
acquisitive
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus ...acquisitive wife has left him for a Denver architect synonyms : greedy, covetous, avaricious, possessive, grasping, grabbing, predatory, avid, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic; informal money-grubbing. See note at greedy.
rapacious
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus ...xA0;poor Tom has fallen for a rapacious gold digger synonyms : grasping, greedy, avaricious, acquisitive, covetous; mercenary, materialistic; insatiable, predatory; informal money-grubbing, grabby. See note at greedy. antonym: generous.
venal
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus ...corrupt, corruptible, bribable, open to bribery; dishonest, dishonorable, untrustworthy, unscrupulous, unprincipled; mercenary, greedy; informal crooked. antonyms: honorable, honest.   CONFUSABLES   venal, venial Venal and venial...
money-grubbing
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus money-grubbing • adjective informal  his money-grubbing ex-wife will be collecting alimony until he drops dead synonyms : acquisitive, avaricious, grasping, money-grabbing, gold-digging, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic.
irregular
Book article from: The Oxford Pocket Thesaurus of Current English ...dissipated, intemperate, immoderate, lascivious, licentious, degenerate, wanton, improper, indecent, lawless, wild, unruly, disorderly.   9. an irregular army synonyms : guerrilla, underground, resistance, mercenary.
commercial
Book article from: The Oxford Pocket Thesaurus of Current English ...mercantile.   2. not a commercial proposition synonyms : profitable, profit-making, business.   3. town becoming too commercial synonyms : profit-oriented, money-oriented, mercantile, materialistic, mercenary.
commercialized
Book article from: The Oxford American Writers Thesaurus commercialized • adjective  the art world became increasingly commercialized synonyms : profit-oriented, money-oriented, commercial, materialistic, mercenary.

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

Mercenaries in warfare.
Magazine article from: Contemporary Review; 7/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...defence exhibition and trade fairs business. Mercenaries in History The traditional view of a 'mercenary' was that the person fought for personal...factor in determining a 'mercenary'. Mercenaries used to be very important in warfare. They...
Mercenaries and the law: Ron Smith criticises plans to criminalise mercenary activity and to enable New Zealand to ratify the Anti-Mercenary Convention.
Newspaper article from: New Zealand International Review; 7/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...states of the Anti-Mercenary Convention would also...persons deemed to be mercenaries and, thus, undermine...The definition of 'mercenary', as amended in the...exactly that of the 1989 Mercenaries Convention, which...distinguishes two categories of mercenary, depending on whether...
Mercenaries are not the answer. (Letters to the Editor).
Magazine article from: Harvard International Review; 9/22/2002; 700+ words ; ...external aid of mercenary forces and becomes...payments to the mercenaries, but should financial...moral issue." Mercenaries by their nature...basic moral level, mercenary organizations are...is no reason why mercenaries would be more likely...these tendencies of mercenary forces can ...
Mercenaries are much misunderstood men
Newspaper article from: The Sunday Telegraph London; 2/17/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...contemplate giving mercenaries "a veneer of respectability...whom the word "mercenary" is a trigger...they were all mercenary; and all honourable...were fought with mercenaries, either from India...not expendable. Mercenaries are - that's...recognising a truth. The mercenary is ...
Mercenaries cashing in on booming global industry
Newspaper article from: Scotland on Sunday; 8/29/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...breeding grounds for mercenaries. In the 1970s its...government set up a mercenary unit called the "Buffalo...South Africa sees mercenaries as one of the blights...trying to stop all mercenary recruiting on its territory...success. For would-be mercenaries doors are opening elsewhere...
Mercenaries: what is the problem?
Newspaper article from: New Zealand International Review; 9/1/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...disparagement of the use of mercenaries may be misplaced...understanding of `mercenary' and its cognates...recruitment or use of mercenaries for any purpose...condemned? Has the mercenary no part to play...also described as mercenaries by their Viet Cong...with the concept ...
Mercenaries play key role in insurgency
Newspaper article from: India Abroad; 7/4/1997; 700+ words ; ...election. The influx of foreign mercenaries, who live in the mountains...a 24-year-old Afghan mercenary told India Abroad. "I have...this summer. Around 1,000 mercenaries, many of them veterans of...without at least one foreign mercenary getting killed in an encounter...
Percy, Sarah: Mercenaries: The History of a Norm in International Relations.(Book review)
Magazine article from: History: Review of New Books; 1/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...definition of mercenary, the norm...hatred of mercenaries from the Middle...defines the term mercenary--for example...considered mercenaries since they...while 1970s mercenaries are described...206). A mercenary contractor...
UNITED NATIONS: MERCENARIES SEEK STAKE IN DIAMOND MINES
News Wire article from: Inter Press Service English News Wire; 11/6/1996; ; 700+ words ; ...governments hiring mercenaries to provide security...To suggest that some mercenary activities are illegal...was a base for many mercenary operations." The...the recruitment of mercenaries legal is "a grave...in order to counter mercenary activities," it added...
Contract Warriors, How Mercenaries Changed History and the War on Terrorism.
Magazine article from: Infantry Magazine; 5/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...historical anecdotes of mercenaries through the ages...the collection of mercenary stories in the...parameters of modern mercenaries affecting the world...Japan outlining mercenary activity around...how the use of mercenaries changed history...advertisement for mercenary training ...