[Michael Parker]

While researching my paper about condottiere companies and Italian warfare in the 14th century, mostly from 1360-1390, I turned up the fact that Hungarians were one of the nationalities found in mercenary groups and that they fought in a different manner than the English, Germans, etc. I am under the impression that they were predominantly some kind of light cavalry, but I was wondering if someone knowledgeable could tell me about the equipment and tactics that they used, how they were integrated into more typically Western European mercenary companies, and what kinds of events going on at home caused the to seek employment in Italy. What kind of men were Hungarian captains? I haven't heard of an predominantly Hungarian companies comparable to the German Great Company, the English White Company, or the Italian Company of Saint George, etc., but were there some particularly prominent Hungarians in the business? I know nothing at all about 14th century Hungary, so maybe some context would help me understand.

[David Gaál]

[David Jenkins]

Would have to look it up, but I think by this time a lot of the Hungarians were armed mostly in typical western style and trained in western tactics. But still used the horse bow and tactics as well.

[Henrik Zoltan Toth]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...u06_04.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ATEkb3Ljo/TrWz1C2...Avio+2.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4137939563_72b20fe548.jpg

The men with the white tall caps and other eastern hats and long kaftans are mostly cumans and/or hungarians from the hungarian army.

Just to compare, the Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle from Vienna, from the 14 th Century:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magyarok-Be...Pictum.jpg


Their tactics are written in Matteo Villani's Chronicle. The most famous people who were involved from the Hungarian site, are from the Lackfi family and Toldi Miklós, he was (if it's true) one of the minor commanders of the White Company for some years. The groundconstruct of the hungarian rider-army was the "Lance". One armoured rider and tho mounted archers (in hung: "tegzes" = those with quviers=pharetarii).