From the Greek professional armies of Alexander, through the Hundred Years War, to today, mercenaries have been ever-present, their role constantly evolving. In this compelling new history William Urban takes up their captivating and turbulent story from 1550 to 1789: from the Wars of Religion to the eve of the French Revolution.

Pennant, Forces Pension Society

First published in 2007, this new paperback edition is published this year (2016).
From the Greek professional armies of Alexander, right up to the present day, mercenaries have been ever present, their role constantly evolving. In this book the author takes up their history and turbulent story from the Wars of Religion to the eve of the French Revolution.

The author demonstrates that the mercenaries as military professionals contributed significantly to the development of the modern state. Increasingly it was not just individuals who became mercenaries, but entire armies of well equipped, well trained, and, in time, experienced soldiers were available to friends and allies. By the late 1600s these armies had evolved into large and efficient fighting forces, but nothing could be achieved without money. With money, anything was possible - buying cannons and the neutrality of neighbours, providing troops with food and clothing, satisfying fashion-conscious mistresses. For money, anything was possible. 

This really is a fascinating scholarly work, two maps and over 30 monochrome illustrations accompany the text, which is preceded by a detailed timeline 1500-1795 and rounded off with a suggested list of further reading/sources and an index.

Stuart Asquith, Author

Mercenaries are, of course, still prevalent in some of the modern-day conflicts we hear about on the news, but William Urban focuses on their deployment and employment during the middle years of the second millennium.

Books Monthly, May 2016 - Paul Norman

This is the third volume in a trilogy that is an extended reflection on the changing nature of early modern war. Its ideas and concepts reflect Urban’s long and distinguished career as a scholar of warfare on Europe’s northern and eastern margins.

Dennis Showalter

Urban gives a careful and highly readable survey of the highways and byways of18th century warfare, with an enjoyable and arresting emphasis on the individual's experience of war.

John France