Condottieri (singular condottiero and condottiere) were the leaders (or warlords) of the professional, military free companies (or mercenaries) contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance. In Renaissance Italian, condottiero meant `contractor`, and was synonymous with the modern .....
• (pl. ) of Condottiere
The Condottieri were mercenaries hired during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries to take part in the wars between the Italian States.