An Italian military leader or captain of mercenaries, especially during the Renaissance; a soldier of fortune.
From Italian 'condottiere,' derived from 'condotta' (a contract or agreement). The word comes from 'conducere' (to lead/conduct), related to the Latin 'conducere.' Renaissance Italy had many independent military commanders who contracted their services to city-states.
Condottieri were the ultimate freelance soldiers—they'd fight for whoever paid them, leading to a fascinating but chaotic period in Italian history where military loyalty followed money rather than nationality, which actually accelerated artistic patronage as warring city-states competed for talent.
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