What is a mercenary army and when did it appear?

From time immemorial, dust on the military roads of many countries of the world forged boots of desperate soldiers of luck - mercenaries. There were also those in their ranks who were fed up with the monotonous life, and the poor, driven to the extreme, and simply adventurers - seekers of easy prey. In this article we will try to get to know them closer and understand what a mercenary army is.

Definition

They were special troops. They consisted exclusively of professionals, who were hired by states, cities, and sometimes individual individuals who had big money and needed brave thugs who were ready to execute any order and did not ask unnecessary questions. Their services were widely used in most countries of the Ancient World, and especially in Rome and Egypt.

What is a mercenary army in ancient Egypt?

In the period of the Old Kingdom, whose time boundaries are defined as 3200-2400, BC, on the banks of the Nile was very troubled. The invasion of detachments of neighboring Asian states was frequent. Even military settlements settled in dangerous places did not save. Yes, and a large army was difficult to assemble: we needed workers' hands in the fields. At that time, they did not yet know what a mercenary army was, but the wise pharaohs found a way out.

They began to hire soldiers from neighboring states. For a monetary reward and a well-fed life, they were ready to substitute the chest for enemy arrows and spears. When there were major wars and the army went on long voyages, its ranks were replenished at the expense of the conquered peoples, from which wage units were also formed. This tradition was preserved in the following centuries, until the collapse of Egyptian civilization.

Roman mercenaries

But what is a mercenary army in Ancient Egypt in comparison with its counterpart in the highly organized Roman army. At the end of the 3rd century BC, the Second Punic War ended, which resulted in the ruin of free peasants. To somehow feed themselves and their families, they massively poured into the army of the Roman emperor. But unlike former militiamen agreed to shed their own and others' blood exclusively for money. And what is a mercenary army without a profit? The state went to meet them, and for the service recruits received a decent salary, and after a certain period (16 years) also a land allotment. In addition, they were supposed to have weapons, clothing and much that is necessary in everyday life. In general, there was something to risk your head.

Indian sepoys

The hired troops in India are also of some interest. They were formed in the XVIII century and survived until the beginning of the XX century. The initiators of their creation were the English, who colonized India and needed relatively inexpensive military units, formed from local residents. These mercenaries were called sepoys, and in history they entered mainly as organizers and main participants in the uprising against their enslavers, which occurred in 1857.

Soldiers of Fortune in the European Continent

What is a mercenary army, Europe learned in the XI century, after the practice of attracting feudal lords to their service of foreigners was established. When, three hundred years later, large centralized states began to form , their monarchs, not trusting the militia of their subjects, attracted foreigners. In addition to foreigners, the townspeople, free peasants, ruined artisans and just random people were also recruited. Over time, in a number of states, units formed from them became the main military force.

In the early stages of their existence, such structures were created only during the war. For the recruitment of mercenaries by the king or feudal lord, an authorized person was appointed. He was given the appropriate patent and the necessary amount. After the end of hostilities, all were dismissed. The transition to permanent mercenary armies was realized in Europe in the 16th century, together with the establishment of absolute monarchies in most countries. These permanent military formations underwent a training course based on drill and blind obedience.

Modern mercenary troops

In the modern world, the formation of hired units involved in commercial structures, the main business of which is the extraction of profits from orders associated with the performance of certain military tasks. There are about 3,000 such private companies in the world today, and they operate in one hundred countries of the world, covering all continents except Antarctica. The annual turnover of this "death industry" is equal to one hundred billion dollars.

The story of what a mercenary army in the modern world is, will be incomplete, if you do not remember some additional functions. This is primarily the exploitation of modern military equipment. For example, in Afghanistan, private companies serve military drones engaged in reconnaissance for the US Armed Forces. In a number of hot spots they act as instructors, as well as supplying troops with fuel and ammunition. But whatever these people do, the result of their activities is always death, destruction and grief of people.