In 1555, Georg von Holle's successful recruitment of mercenaries illustrated a shift in military recruitment practices. Rather than compelling individuals, commanders in maritime towns negotiated with councils for groups of trained sailors. This collective bargaining enabled towns to provide required numbers with specific skill sets, making naval service more appealing by negotiating shorter service periods and securing tax concessions. These practices transformed naval recruitment from a desperate endeavor into a systematic process, fostering skilled maritime service despite societal reluctance toward naval duties.
In the face of such clear hostility to naval service, how did recruiters work this sorcery? Collective Bargaining and Town Contributions formed the backbone of recruitment.
In strong maritime areas, commanders successfully bypassed individual recruitment by negotiating with town councils, ensuring skilled sailors and favorable terms for service.
#medieval-history #naval-recruitment #collective-bargaining #maritime-traditions #military-commanders
Collection
[
|
...
]