Editing Mercenary

{{Hatnote|"Free Company" redirects here. For the named organization, see [[Free Company (sellsword company)]].}}
[[File:Free Cities Mercenaries Andrew Johanson II.png|thumb|Free Cities Mercenaries by Andrew Johanson © Fantasy Flight Games]]

A '''mercenary''' is a soldier who takes temporary assignments fighting for wage. They include '''sellswords''', '''sellsails''', and some '''freeriders'''.<ref name=SSMMercenaries/>

==Types==
===Sellsword===
{{See also|:Category:Images of mercenaries|l1=Images of mercenaries}}
[[File:Hired SwordsYann Tisseron.png|thumb|Hired Swords by Yann Tisseron © Fantasy Flight Games]]
A sellsword is a soldier who hires out his services to the highest bidder. Most sellswords are professionals with some experience in fighting.{{ref|ASOS|67}} Sellswords are more common in [[Essos]] than in [[Westeros]], as Westerosi [[lord]]s are more likely to raise [[feudalism|feudal]] levies.<ref name=SSMMercenaries/> The mercantile cities of [[Lys]], [[Myr]], and [[Tyrosh]] are protected by hired sellswords.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} Some fighting men or exiles who run out of money become sellswords, such as Ser [[Jorah Mormont]].{{ref|ACOK|12}} Many sellswords keep their worldly possessions close at hand, such as expensive weaponry, armor, and silks.{{ref|ADWD|24}}

Sellswords are often viewed negatively by others,{{ref|AGOT|32}}{{ref|ACOK|41}}{{ref|ADWD|25}}{{ref|TPATQ}} with some nobles considering them unchivalrous{{ref|AFFC|24}} and pitiless.{{ref|AFFC|32}} Sellswords are not allowed within the [[Black Walls]] of eastern [[Volantis]].{{ref|ADWD|27}} Sellswords have a reputation for being willing to betray anyone for enough gold.{{ref|ACOK|30}} Sellswords, [[pirates]], and [[slavers]] inhabit the [[Basilisk Isles]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Beyond the Free Cities: The Basilisk Isles}}

===Free Companies===
[[File:Yulia Startsev Mercenary ContractIII.png|thumb|Mercenary Contract by Yulia Startsev © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Many sellswords are organized into [[w:Free company|free companies]]. Some are acclaimed for their loyalty and discipline, such as the [[Golden Company]],{{ref|ADWD|2}}{{ref|ADWD|27}}{{ref|ADWD|61}} while others are nothing but rabble joined together in search of loot, like the [[Brave Companions]].{{ref|ASOS|21}}<ref name=SSMMilitary/> Some captains are alleged to instigate wars during peacetime,{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria}} and some companies attempt to conquer the [[Disputed Lands]] when not under contract.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} Men of the free companies name themselves as they choose, so some exiles from [[Westeros]] might claim the name of extinct Houses.{{ref|ADWD|24}}

;Known companies
{{Columns|3|
* [[Adventurers]]
* [[Brave Companions]]
* [[Bright Banners]]
* [[Company of the Cat]]
* [[Company of the Rose]]
* [[Free Company (sellsword company)|Free Company]]
* [[Gallant Men]]
* [[Golden Company]]
* [[Iron Shields]]
* [[Jolly Fellows]]
* [[Long Lances]]
* [[Maiden's Men]]
* [[Men of Valor]]
* [[Ragged Standard]]
* [[Second Sons]]
* [[Stormbreakers]]
* [[Stormcrows]]
* [[Windblown]]
* [[Wolf Pack]]
}}

===Freerider===
"Freerider" is a broad term, sometimes used to denote a [[Horse|mounted]] sellsword, but more often referring to other mounted fighters who are not part of a [[lord]]'s retinue or [[Feudalism|feudal]] levy. Most do not collect wages, instead fighting for plunder or a hope to be taken into a lord or knight's service. Freeriders are mostly used as scouts, outriders, foragers, and light cavalry.<ref name=SSMMercenaries/>

Some freeriders are similar to [[hedge knight]]s, only lacking [[knight]]hood.<ref name=SSMMercenaries/> Others are green, untrained recruits and farm boys who have nowhere else to go. While some refugees flee to a larger settlement when war sweeps over villages, others become freeriders for a better chance of being fed and thereby avoid becoming outlaws or [[broken men]].<ref name=SSMMercenaries/>

===Sellsail===
A sellsail is a hired sailor who engages in naval battles for pay, including seaborne mercenaries and [[pirate]]s. Most fleets are based in the [[Stepstones]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} Sellsails such as [[Salladhor Saan]] may work as pirates or smugglers when not employed.{{ref|ACOK|10}}

Many [[ironborn]], including [[Harwyn Hoare]] and [[Dalton Greyjoy]], have worked as sellsails,{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Black Blood}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Red Kraken}} as have [[Summer Isles|Summer Islanders]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}}

==History==
[[File:Ian Kirkpatrick sellswords.jpg|thumb|Island Mercenaries by Ian Kirkpatrick © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Sellswords helped the [[Golden Empire of Yi Ti]] conquer [[Leng]] centuries ago.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond: leng}}

During the [[coming of the Andals]] to [[Westeros]], some [[Andals]] were hired as mercenaries by [[First Men]] to fight their rivals, only to betray their patrons.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Vale}} Andals and sellswords helped to bring down [[House Greyiron]] in the [[Iron Islands]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings}} Lord [[Torrence Teague]] used wealth raided from the [[westerlands]] to hire sellswords from [[Essos]], allowing him to eventually become [[King of the Trident]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}

Many free companies were formed during the [[Century of Blood]], the aftermath of the [[Doom of Valyria]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria}} The [[Free Cities]] often hired the companies for their endless wars in the [[Disputed Lands]] and the [[Stepstones]].<ref name=SSMMercenaries/> Likewise, most sellsail fleets were formed during the wars of [[Lys]], [[Myr]], and [[Tyrosh]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}}

The [[Bright Banners]] and the [[Second Sons]] fled instead of facing the ''[[khalasar]]'' of Khal [[Temmo]], but the [[Three Thousand of Qohor]] held off the [[Dothraki]].{{ref|ASOS|8}}

Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] hired sellswords for his [[war for the Stepstones]].{{ref|TRP}} During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Ser [[Perkin the Flea]] granted [[knight]]hood to any sellswords who supported [[Trystane Truefyre]], and mercenaries flocked to support [[Hugh Hammer]].{{ref|TPATQ}} The collapse of the [[Triarchy]] greatly increased demand for mercenaries in Essos, causing surplus [[northmen]] after the [[Hour of the Wolf]] and other Westerosi to found new free companies.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

The [[Golden Company]] was founded by Ser [[Aegor Rivers]] and other [[Westeros]]i exiles in the aftermath of the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} Ser [[Lucas Inchfield]] considered Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and Ser [[Bennis of the Brown Shield]] to have been sellswords when they served Ser [[Eustace Osgrey]] as sworn swords.{{ref|TSS}}

The peace between [[Braavos]] and [[Pentos]] prohibits the Pentoshi from hiring sellswords or free companies.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: Pentos}} [[House Baelish]] descends from a Braavosi sellsword.{{ref|ASOS|68}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
King [[Robert I Baratheon]] ponders abdicating the [[Iron Throne]] and fighting as a sellsword.{{ref|AGOT|30}} Hiring an army of sellswords is not as expensive as hiring a [[Faceless Man]] to kill a merchant.{{ref|AGOT|33}}

The sellswords [[Bronn]] and [[Chiggen]] help [[Catelyn Stark]] arrest [[Tyrion Lannister]] in hope of reward, and Bronn defends Tyrion in his [[trial by combat]] in hope of gold from [[Casterly Rock]].{{ref|AGOT|42}}

Sellswords and freeriders flock to the service of Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] at the Rock as tensions rise in the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{ref|AGOT|45}} Similar men join the host of [[Robb Stark]].{{ref|AGOT|55}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[Stannis Baratheon]] hires sellswords and sellsails from [[Lys]] and [[Myr]] in preparation for the [[War of the Five Kings]].{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}}{{ref|ACOK|17}}

Ser [[Stafford Lannister]] raises a new host from sellswords, freeriders, and boys from [[Lannisport]].{{ref|ACOK|7}} The host is destroyed by Robb in the [[Battle of Oxcross]], however.{{ref|ACOK|32}}

Tywin employs the [[Brave Companions]] as reavers and foragers in the [[riverlands]].{{ref|ACOK|30}} [[Vargo Hoat]] betrays the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], however, and his Bloody Mummers aid in the [[fall of Harrenhal]].{{ref|ACOK|47}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
The Mummers abandon the wounded Vargo almost to a man, allowing Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] to easily [[capture of Harrenhal|take Harrenhal]].{{ref|ASOS|62}}

Following the [[fall of Astapor]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]], [[Yunkai]] hires the [[Second Sons]] and the [[Stormcrows]].{{ref|ASOS|42}} [[Daario Naharis]] brings the Stormcrows to Daenerys's side, however, and they are victorious in the [[battle near Yunkai]].{{ref|ASOS|42}} [[Ben Plumm]] leads the defeated Second Sons who join Daenerys after the battle.{{ref|ASOS|57}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[File:HBO free cities sellswords.png|thumb|Exiled Westerosi sometimes become mercenaries, screencap from ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' Bluray]]
The [[Golden Company]] breaks its contract with [[Myr]], the first time it has ever done so.{{ref|AFFC|13}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
After the [[siege of Meereen|fall of Meereen]] to Daenerys, Yunkai hires several free companies to defeat her.{{ref|ADWD|16}} [[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], sends his son, Prince [[Quentyn Martell|Quentyn]], to [[Essos]] to ally with and wed Daenerys.{{ref|ADWD|6}} Quentyn and his companions, Ser [[Gerris Drinkwater]] and Ser [[Archibald Yronwood]], join the [[Windblown]] during their journey.{{ref|ADWD|25}}

Ben leads the Seconds Sons from Daenerys's service over to the Yunkai'i.{{ref|ADWD|36}} Tyrion and Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] join the company during the [[second siege of Meereen]].{{ref|ADWD|66}} After Daenerys disappears from Meereen, Quentyn allies with the [[Tattered Prince]] in a failed scheme to claim [[dragon]]s.{{ref|ADWD|60}}{{ref|ADWD|68}}

Supporting [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], [[Jon Connington]] and [[Harry Strickland]] lead the [[landing of the Golden Company]] in the [[stormlands]].{{ref|ADWD|61}} There are reports of sellswords landing throughout southern Westeros.{{ref|ADWD|54}}

===''The Winds of Winter''===
{{Warning/twow}}
Stannis orders Ser [[Justin Massey]] to sail to [[Braavos]] and use the [[Iron Bank of Braavos|Iron Bank's]] gold to hire a reputable company.<ref>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]</ref>

==Quotes==
[[File:Mercenaries from Pyke Tyler Jacobson.jpg|thumb|Mercenaries from Pyke by Tyler Jacobson © Fantasy Flight Games]]
{{quote|A mounted man who fights for pay could be called either a freerider or a sellsword. Both terms carry a certain stigma in [[Westeros]]. Sellswords are said to have no loyalty, and freeriders no discipline.<ref name=SSMMercenaries/>|[[George R. R. Martin]]}}

{{quote|More than once, I have dreamed of giving up the crown. Take ship for the [[Free Cities]] with my horse and my hammer, spend my time warring and whoring, that's what I was made for. The sellsword king, how the singers would love me.{{ref|AGOT|30}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{quote|The scent of blood or the scent of gold, they smell the same in the end.{{ref|AGOT|32}}|[[Yoren]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{Quote|A man who fights for coin is loyal only to his purse.{{ref|AGOT|69}}|[[Kevan Lannister]] to a courier}}

{{Quote|Loyal sellswords are rare as [[Maiden|virgin]] [[whore]]s.{{Ref|ACOK|57}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] to [[Sansa Stark]]}}

{{Quote|There are old sellswords and bold sellswords but there are no old bold sellswords.{{Ref|aSoS|57}}|[[Brown Ben Plumm]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|Sellswords were seldom the most honorable of men, but they had to have a certain skill at arms to stay alive.{{ref|ASOS|67}}|[[Jaime Lannister]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|Whatever their sires or their grandsires might have been back in [[Westeros]] before their exile, the men of the [[Golden Company]] were sellswords now, and no sellsword could be trusted.{{ref|ADWD|24}}|[[Jon Connington]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|Wealthy [[knight]]s from Houses old in honor did not cross the [[narrow sea]] to sell their swords, unless exiled for some infamy.{{Ref|ADWD|25}}|[[Quentyn Martell]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|'''Tyrion''': In [[Westeros]], the word of a [[House Lannister|Lannister]] is considered good as gold.<br>'''Tybero''': This is not Westeros. [[Essos|On this side]] of the [[narrow sea]], we put our promises on paper. Debts written on the wind tend to be ... forgotten, shall we say?{{ref|ADWD|66}}|[[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Tybero Istarion]]}}

==References==
{{References|2|refs=
  <ref name=SSMMercenaries>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Mercenaries/ Mercenaries], May 13, 2000</ref>
  <ref name=SSMMilitary>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1174/ Military Questions], June 21, 2001</ref>
}}

{{Sellsword companies}}

[[Category:Mercenaries| ]]
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