John Hawkwood : An English Mercenary in Fourteenth-Century Italy

Winner, 2008 Otto Gründler Book Prize, The Medieval Institute Winner, 2008 Otto Gründler Book Prize, The Medieval Institute Notorious for his cleverness and daring, John Hawkwood was the most feared mercenary in early Renaissance Italy. Born in England, Hawkwood began his career in France during the Hundred Years' War and crossed into Italy with the famed White Company in 1361. From that time until his death in 1394, Hawkwood fought throughout the peninsula as a captain of armies in times of war and as a commander of marauding bands during times of peace. He achieved international fame, and city-states constantly tried to outbid each other for his services, for which he received money, land, and, in the case of Florence, citizenship—a most unusual honor for an Englishman. When Hawkwood died, the Florentines buried him with great ceremony in their cathedral, an honor denied their greatest poet, Dante. William Caferro's ambitious account of Hawkwood is both a biography and a study of warfare and statecraft. Caferro has mined more than twenty archives in Britain and Italy, creating an authoritative portrait of Hawkwood as an extraordinary military leader, if not always an admirable human being. John Hawkwood Was Fourteenth-century Italy's Most Notorious And Successful Soldier. A Man Known For Cleverness And Daring, He Was The Most Feared Mercenary In Renaissance Italy. Born In England, Hawkwood Began His Career In France During The Hundred Years' War And Crossed Into Italy With The Famed White Company In 1361. From That Time Until His Death In 1394, Hawkwood Fought Throughout The Peninsula As A Captain Of Armies In Times Of War And As A Commander Of Marauding Bands During Times Of Peace. He Achieved International Fame, And His Acquaintances Included Such Prominent People As Geoffrey Chaucer, Catherine Of Siena, Jean Froissart, And Francis Petrarch. City-states Constantly Tried To Outbid Each Other For His Services, For Which He Received Money, Land, And In The Case Of Florence, Citizenship - A Most Unusual Honor For An Englishman. When Hawkwood Died, The Florentines Buried Him With Great Ceremony In Their Cathedral, An Honor Denied Their Greatest Poet, Dante. His Final Resting Place, However, Is Disputed. Historian William Caferro's Account Of Hawkwood Is Both A Biography And A Study Of Warfare And Statecraft. Caferro Has Mined Than Twenty Archives In England And Italy, Creating An Authoritative Portrait Of Hawkwood As An Extraordinary Military Leader, If Not Always An Admirable Human Being. Caferro's Hawkwood Possessed A Talent For Dissimulation And Craft Both On The Battlefield And At The Negotiating Table, And, Ironically, Managed To Gain A Reputation For Honesty While Beating His Italian Hosts At Their Own Game Of Duplicity And Manipulation. In Addition To A Thorough Account Of Hawkwood's Life And Career, Caferro's Study Offers A Fundamental Reassessment Of The Italian Military Situation And Of The Mercenary System. Hawkwood's Career Is Treated Not In Isolation But Firmly Within The Context Of Italian Society, Against The Backdrop Of Unfolding Crises: Famine, Plague, Popular Unrest, And Religious Schism. Indeed, Hawkwood's Life And Career Offer A Unique Vantage Point From Which We Can Study The Economic, Social, And Political Impacts Of War.--jacket. Hawkwood In Perspective, The Man And The Myth -- Part I: Making Of A Soldier -- Essex Lad, King's Soldier And Member Of The White Company -- Italy And The Profession Of Arms -- Part Ii. Rise Of A Mercenary Captain -- The Lion And The Fox: The Pisan-florentine War -- John Hawkwood Of Pisa And Milan -- In The Service Of God And Mammon -- Part Iii. The Most Sought-after Captain In Italy -- The Most Sought-after Captain In Italy -- Love And Diplomacy -- At Home In The Romagna -- Neapolitan Soldier And Tuscan Lord -- Part Iv. Veteran Captain And Florentine Hero -- The Deal With The Devil, The Birth Of A Son And A Victory At Castagnaro -- At The Center Of The Storm: Florence And The Military Buildup -- The War Against Milan -- Two Weddings, A Funeral And A Disputed Legacy. William Caferro. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [417]-447) And Index. John Hawkwood was fourteenth-century Italy's most notorious and successful soldier. A man known for cleverness and daring, he was the most feared mercenary in Renaissance Italy. Born in England, Hawkood began his career in France during the Hundred Years' War and crossed into Italy with the famed White Company in 1361. From that time until his death in 1394, Hawkwood fought throughout the peninsula as a captain of armies in times of war and as a commander of marauding bands during times of peace. He achieved international fame, and his acquaintances included such prominent people as Geoffrey Chaucer, Catherine of Siena, Jean Froissart, and Francis Petrarch. City-states constantly tried to outbid each other for his services, for which he received money, land, and in the case of Florence, citizenship—a most unusual honor for an Englishman. When Hawkwood died, the Florentines buried him with great ceremony in their cathedral, an honor denied their greatest poet, Dante. His final resting place, however, is disputed. Historian William Caferro's ambitious account of Hawkwood is both a biography and a study of warfare and statecraft. Caferro has mined more than twenty archives in England and Italy, creating an authoritative portrait of Hawkwood as an extraordinary military leader, if not always an admirable human being. Caferro's Hawkwood possessed a talent for dissimulation and craft both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, and, ironically, managed to gain a reputation for "honesty" while beating his Italian hosts at their own game of duplicity and manipulation. In addition to a thorough account of Hawkwood's life and career, Caferro's study offers a fundamental reassessment of the Italian military situation and of the mercenary system. Hawkwood's career is treated not in isolation but firmly within the context of Italian society, against the backdrop of unfolding crises: famine, plague, popular unrest, and religious schism. Indeed, Hawkwood's life and career offer a unique vantage point from which we can study the economic, social, and political impacts of war.

Winner, 2008 Otto Gründler Book Prize, The Medieval Institute

Notorious for his cleverness and daring, John Hawkwood was the most feared mercenary in early Renaissance Italy. Born in England, Hawkwood began his career in France during the Hundred Years' War and crossed into Italy with the famed White Company in 1361. From that time until his death in 1394, Hawkwood fought throughout the peninsula as a captain of armies in times of war and as a commander of marauding bands during times of peace. He achieved international fame, and city-states constantly tried to outbid each other for his services, for which he received money, land, and, in the case of Florence, citizenship—a most unusual honor for an Englishman. When Hawkwood died, the Florentines buried him with great ceremony in their cathedral, an honor denied their greatest poet, Dante.

William Caferro's ambitious account of Hawkwood is both a biography and a study of warfare and statecraft. Caferro has mined more than twenty archives in Britain and Italy, creating an authoritative portrait of Hawkwood as an extraordinary military leader, if not always an admirable human being.

"Notorious for his cleverness and daring, John Hawkwood was the most feared mercenary in Renaissance Italy. Born in England, Hawkwood began his career in France during the Hundred Years' War and crossed into Italy with the famed White Company in 1361. From that time until his death in 1394, Hawkwood fought throughout the peninsula as a captain of armies in times of war and as a commander of marauding bands during times of peace. He achieved international fame, and city-states constantly tried to outbid each other for his services, for which he received money, land, and in the case of Florence, citizenship - a most unusual honor for an Englishman. When Hawkwood died, the Florentines buried him with great ceremony in their cathedral, an honor denied their greatest poet, Dante. William Caferro's ambitious account of Hawkwood is both a biography and a study of warfare and statecraft. Caferro has mined archives in Britain and Italy, creating an authoritative portrait of Hawkwood as an extraordinary military leader, if not always an admirable human being."--Publisher