Niccolò Machiavelli in The Prince talks about mercenary armies. Briefly, as ever... | Hacker News

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		catlikesshrimp on May 12, 2024 \| parent \| context \| favorite \| on: Germany may introduce conscription for all 18-year... Niccolò Machiavelli in The Prince talks about mercenary armies. Briefly, as everything in that book. Russia has a huge army. Its use of mercenaries is not brandishing the russian flag for invasions

AlbertCory on May 12, 2024 [–]

"Mercenaries" in pre-modern times were people whose career was soldiering. They were available to any principality that would pay them. Not the same as volunteer military now who only fight for their own country.

Russia is a different case altogether.

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