- The Varangian Guard
- The flamboyant landsknecht
- The Naga warrior-mystics
- The Swiss Guard of Vatican City
- Privateers of all nations
- The Flying Tigers
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| The Varangian Guard were Scandinavian mercenaries employed by the Byzantine Empire... (ValeriiIavtushenko) |
The Varangian Guard
The Byzantine Empire was the Middle-Eastern remnants of Imperial Rome. Whilst the Empire was a melting pot of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures, it also played host to a Viking presence.
Byzantine Emperor Basil II was plagued by rebellious generals that intended to topple him from power - but he was able to survive via an alliance with Vladimir I, a Russian ruler of Viking descent. Around 6000 north-men carved a path of ruin through the rebels, prompting the Emperor to hire as many as could - these mercenaries were called the Varangian Guard.
These warriors would have been terrifying to the Rome-influenced people of the Byzantine Empire - though to be fair, the hulking pale-skinned and fair-haired berserkers wielding massive axes with no regard for their own safety would give anyone pause. The Emperor paid well for their services, even granting them the right to take whatever they wanted from the palace when an Emperor died.
The Flamboyant Landsknecht
The landsknecht were pike-and-shot mercenary formations fronted by zweihander wielding warriors, founded by Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I as an alternative to Swiss soldiers-of-fortune. One perk was exemption from sumptuary laws (i.e. class restrictions on colors, outfits etc.) leading to flamboyant outfits, often favoring large feathers and fancy hats whilst relying on "half armors" for protection.
Though fearsomely effective, the landsknecht were something of a law unto themselves. They used their own forms of military justice... and were quick to mutiny, swap sides or go pillaging when gold was not forthcoming from an employer!
The Naga Warrior-Mystics
The British invasion of India gave rise to some exotic mercenaries, one of whom was Anupgiri Gosain. This warrior-mystic and his men struck a fearsome sight, naked save for a weapon belt and smeared in ash with styled and matted hair... because Gosain was a Naga sadhu, an aesthetic dedicated to Shiva. His mysticism gave him a measure of spiritual authority that he combined with shrewd cunning to navigate both sides of the conflict.
Despite their exotic appearance, these troops were equipped with muskets and cannon. Gosain was a clever commander who combined flexibility with shock tactics. Contemporaries described him as being like a man who crosses a river with a foot in two different boats, ready to abandon one as soon as it falters. He fought on pretty much every side in the conflicts of his time, even helping the British topple Delhi.
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| The Swiss Guard defend the Vatican... (Neijhof) |
The Swiss Guard of Vatican City
Sometimes considered the world's smallest army, the Swiss Guard defend Vatican City in Italy. They were established in 1506 and wear a ceremonial uniform striped with the colors of House Medici. They traditionally carry polearms and swords, but are actually equipped with pistols, rifles and sub-machine guns for practical purposes in the modern era.
In 1527 a force of 189 Swiss Guard held off the army of Emperor Charles V as his forces attempted to kill Pope Clement VII. The guard suffered around 150 deaths at St Peter's Basilica, but succeeded in allowing the Pope to escape.
Swiss Guards must meet a number of physical, spiritual and mental requirements to serve including being at least 5'8" and being an unmarried catholic with a higher education.
Privateers of all Nations
Piracy has been an issue since humans first took to the water - one most countries take a dim view of. Some nations were a bit more flexible though, semi-legitimizing pirates with contracts.
Privateers were captains granted papers or a letter of marque, empowered by a nation to capture ships and cargo on behalf of their sponsor. They were not officially pirates and had safe-haven in their home ports... in exchange for a cut of the wealth.
There have been a large number of privateers throughout history... but one example would be Sir Frances Drake of England, who raided Spanish settlements and shipping in America on behalf of queen Elizabeth I.
The Flying Tigers
Known first as the American Volunteer Group and then as The Flying Tigers, these American mercenaries fought for China against the Japanese in WWII. Japan and China had been at war since 1937, with China having serious problems dealing with the air-superiority of Japanese forces. They were all too keen to snap up retired American airman Claire Lee Chennault as a military advisor.
Chennault used fear of a victorious Japan possibly setting sights on the USA to get cut-price Curtiss P-40 planes, along with tacit approval to recruit mercenaries from American airbases to operate them - after all, America couldn't officially intervene, but private citizens didn't have to worry about those pesky international treaties.
The Flying Tigers saw action shortly after Pearl Harbor, destroying 9 of the 10 Japanese bombers attacking Kunming airbase. Their focus then switched to Rangoon in Burma, where they aided the British and helped keep supply lines to China open. The airmen were viewed as heroes by the locals - many took great risks to protect pilots when they were downed.
Though the Curtiss P-40 planes were technically outmatched by Japanese fighters, a steep climb-and-dive tactic used by the pilots allowed them to down 299 aircraft with a similar number of unconfirmed kills... in exchange for only 12 combat losses!
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