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Episode #65, "Soldier and Fortune" Maps and Sources

  • James Houser
  • Feb 1
  • 1 min read

SOURCES


Caferro, William. John Hawkwood: An English Mercenary in Fourteenth-Century Italy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.


Cooper, Stephen. Sir John Hawkwood: Chivalry and the Art of War. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books, 2008.


Mallett, Michael. Mercenaries and their Masters: Warfare in Renaissance Italy. Totowa, N.J.; Rowman and Littlefield, 1974.


Saunders, Frances Stonor. Hawkwood: The Diabolical Englishman. London: Faber and Faber, 2004.


Tuchman, Barbara. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978.



MAPS


Battles of the Hundred Years' War. John Hawkwood was probably at Crecy in 1346 (close to the top) and Poitiers in 1356 (close to the center).
Battles of the Hundred Years' War. John Hawkwood was probably at Crecy in 1346 (close to the top) and Poitiers in 1356 (close to the center).

A Map of Northern Italy in 1300 - prior to the rapid expansion of Milan under the Visconti.
A Map of Northern Italy in 1300 - prior to the rapid expansion of Milan under the Visconti.

Milanese territories at the height of Giangaleazzo Visconti's power, 1402
Milanese territories at the height of Giangaleazzo Visconti's power, 1402

A very detailed map of Renaissance Italy in 1494, about a century after Hawkwood's death, very good for reference. Note that Venice is much stronger at the expense of Milan by now; Venice had started to conquer what they called "Terrafirma," a more firm foothold in Italy. They had conquered Brescia, Verona, and Padua from Milanese influence.
A very detailed map of Renaissance Italy in 1494, about a century after Hawkwood's death, very good for reference. Note that Venice is much stronger at the expense of Milan by now; Venice had started to conquer what they called "Terrafirma," a more firm foothold in Italy. They had conquered Brescia, Verona, and Padua from Milanese influence.

 
 
 

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coxangus
4 days ago
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Great episode on Soldier of Fortune—your deep dive into those vintage maps and obscure sources really brings the gritty chaos of mercenary ops to life, making history feel raw and immediate. As a history buff juggling research and deadlines, I often turn to digital aids to keep pace, and your post reminded me of the Top 7 Free Apps to Solve Assignments Faster like Photomath for crunching tactical math or Wolfram Alpha for plotting coordinates on historical terrains. Tools like Grammarly polish notes while Brainly crowdsources insights from fellow enthusiasts, turning dense archives into manageable intel—perfect for mapping out episodes like yours without losing the thrill. Loved the fortune maps breakdown; it's inspired me to layer apps over primary sources…

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eliottlawery
Mar 25
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

I just read this post connected to Episode #65: Soldier of Fortune and it’s really interesting how the maps and sources help bring the story to life in a much clearer way, especially when dealing with historical movements like the White Company crossing the Alps and the rise of figures like Sir John Hawkwood, because having visual references alongside the narrative makes it much easier to understand the scale, geography, and strategy behind these events rather than just imagining them abstractly, and I like how the post provides additional context and materials that complement the episode, since deeper sources and maps can really enhance how we engage with history and make it feel more tangible and immersive; it also highlights how…

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