Why did you hire mercenaries?

[Skutai]

To anyone who has ever hired a mercenary unit in the SCA, why did you do it?

How do you feel it jives with your kingdom loyalty (assuming you're not a mercenary hiring more mercenaries)?

Did your king tell you to hire them?

[Leo Medii]

I once considered hiring mercs for an event where there is no "evening out" of the sides. You got what you came with.
It was rumored that the other barony was going to come in force because we had won six years straight.
I changed my mind when I decided that losing with the loyal ban of the baronies men was more fitting than winning with the help of those who only cared for our cause because they were paid to.
We lost.
Bad.

Still the right choice for me.

I have many frenids who are from merc groups. I sometimes envy that they get paid in goods and beer. However, I do not envy the choice to do so, nor do I discount it.
It is a lonely road to fight against the land you live in, and I wouldn't walk it myself.

[jester]

I've tried to hire Anglesey a couple of times. But they never took my bid. I thought it would be fun to swell the number of fighters the Outlands had at Pennsic and would neatly solve my allegiance issues.

Hiring troops to do military service in support of my King. How can anyone consider that disloyal? (Unless He had forbidden the practice, of course.)

No.

[Corwin of ArgentLupe]

You guys get paid?

I thought it was all make-believe?

[Maeryk]

You guys get paid?

Some get paid in beer and rattan.

Some on the "other side' get paid by being invited to special royal-thrown parties and "closed camp" events at Pennsic.

It just depends on which side of hte fish-eye lens you seem to be looking from.

Maeryk

[Corwin of ArgentLupe]

Damn, we've been doing it wrong all along. We always open our bar to BOTH sides.

You guys get paid?

Some get paid in beer and rattan.

Some on the "other side' get paid by being invited to special royal-thrown parties and "closed camp" events at Pennsic.

It just depends on which side of hte fish-eye lens you seem to be looking from.

Maeryk

[Valstarr Hawkwind]

I have thought that, if I made it to Pennsic (hundreds of leaguws from my home,) it would be interesting to hire a grop of mercs so I could command a unit there.

I have had one or more (Carlyle is one I seem to recall,) eloquently speak of the, words fail me, power that comes from even a handful of people from the same area (as in non-mercs.) I hope I did no misjustice to what he said; it has been a couple of yeasr ago.

I was not there but have read how Ansteorra hired the Mountain Confederation for a memorable Pennsic withni the past several years.


Val

[Alric]

I hired a mercenary unit once and gave them to my baron as an investiture gift, and also since I had been squired and would not be fighting with his Baronial troops I thought it was only right to replace the loss of my sword.
Alric

[Pietro da San Tebaldo]

Many years ago, before I'd authorized, I was part of an all-artisans household. We thought we should do our part to swell our Barony's martial prowess, so we advertised for a "military subcontractor".

In return for fighting under our barony's standard and tabard (not their own), we promised an ounce of silver, a home-cooked meal, a post-battle hour with a massotherapist (another friend) and an honourable burial following their inevitable demise (since the Baronial unit's mission was almost always "charge where they're thickest").

We interviewed three applicants and hired the one who impressed us most.

[Rev. George]

Just a thought- If mercenaries are so bad, and should not be used, to what end does the Scutage go?

-+G