DBA Armies

IV/61 ITALIAN CONDOTTA 1320 AD - 1515 AD

This list covers the armies of Italian city states (primarily Milan, Florence, Pisa, Padua, Naples, Siena, Venice and Genoa) and of the Pope, from the rise of the mercenary companies until the mass use of arquebusiers. Condottieri were capable mercenary leaders hired by a state to provide an army on short or (especially where rulers mistrusted political rivals) long term contracts. Their disciplined men-at-arms “elmetti” could be supported by city militias and sometimes local gentry. Their reputation was wrecked by the French at Fornovo in 1495. References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 1 & (for Venice) Vol 2 I. Heath, Mercenaries and their Masters M. Mallett, History of the Art of War in the 1696 Century C. Oman, Hawkwood and the Towers of Pisa H. Cole (novel).

IV/61 — Italian Condotta Army 1320 AD - 1515 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 4 x elmetti (3Kn), 1 x mounted crossbowmen or Hungarian horse archers or Albanian stradiots (LH), 2 x militia crossbowmen (4/8Cb or Ps), 2 x militia (Sp or 4Pk), 1 x Aragonese targeteers (4Ax) or sword-and-buckler men (3Bd) or armed peasants (7Hd), 1 x feudal elmetti (3Kn) or English (4Lb) or bombards (Art)
Terrain: Littoral if Venice or Genoa, Arable if not Venice or Genoa
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: IV/61 or IV/69 or IV/74 or IV/79b