What does condottiere mean?
A condottiere was the captain of a company of mercenary soldiers in Renaissance Italy, contracted by city-states, princes, and the papacy to fight their wars. The term derives from the Italian 'condotta', meaning the contract or agreement under which such troops were hired. Condottieri rose to prominence in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when wealthy but militarily weak Italian states preferred to buy military service rather than maintain citizen armies. Some, such as Francesco Sforza, parlayed their command into hereditary power, while others were notorious for changing allegiance or prolonging conflicts for profit. In modern usage the word appears mainly in historical writing about Italy, though it can be applied figuratively to any soldier of fortune. It retains a slightly pejorative shading, suggesting opportunism and loyalty bought rather than earned.
nounA leader of a band of mercenary soldiers in Renaissance Italy, hired by city-states and rulers to fight their wars. More broadly, any military adventurer or mercenary commander.
- A leader or captain of a band of mercenary soldiers in Renaissance Italy, typically under contract (condotta) to a city-state or ruler.
- By extension, any military adventurer or professional soldier who fights for pay rather than loyalty.
"The warring duchies of fifteenth-century Italy relied on the condottiere to supply the armies they could no longer raise themselves."
"Francesco Sforza began his career as a condottiere before seizing the dukedom of Milan for himself."
"Machiavelli distrusted the condottieri, arguing that princes who relied on hired arms were doomed when real war came."
Both the Italian plural 'condottieri' and the anglicized 'condottieres' are accepted; the former is more common in scholarly and historical writing.
"The condottieri of the fifteenth century commanded companies that could number in the thousands."
The condottieri were so notoriously fickle that they would sometimes switch sides mid-battle — for the right price.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of condottiere
Condottiere comes from Italian 'condotta', meaning a contract or agreement, itself from Latin 'condūcere', 'to lead or bring together'. A condottiere was literally one who served under a condotta, the written contract by which Italian states hired mercenary companies. The word entered English during the seventeenth century as interest in Italian Renaissance history grew. Its Latin root also gives English words such as 'conduce' and 'conduct'.
Related word forms
How condottiere is actually used
A formal, historical term; almost always encountered in writing about Italian Renaissance history or military history. The anglicized plural 'condottieres' is acceptable in English, though the Italian plural 'condottieri' is more common. The word carries connotations of opportunism and mercenary self-interest.
Easily confused with condottiere
Despite a superficial visual resemblance, 'condominium' is a form of shared property ownership, while 'condottiere' is a historical term for an Italian mercenary captain.