If you can be a soldier or a mercenary in any empire throughout history...

If you can be a soldier or a mercenary in any empire throughout history, which empire's military do you want to serve the most?

The one with the biggest glory, reward and of course, survival rate! What's the point of dying in my first battle and not living to retirement as a mercenary?! To that, I say I would want to join the ranks of the Varangian Guard!


The descendants of Norsemen who originally ventured south as pirates and traders, the Varangian Guard were a band of Viking mercenaries paid to serve as the personal bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor. The Guard first took up their post in the late 10th century for the Emperor Basil II, who preferred the axe-wielding barbarians to his more easily corruptible countrymen. The unit immediately proved useful in putting down a rebellion, and they went on to serve as the protectors of Constantinople for over two hundred years.

At first, the Varangian Guard was almost entirely composed of hard-fighting, hard-drinking Vikings, but by the late 11th century their ranks began to be filled out by Englishmen, Normans and Danes. Winning entrance into the unit was no easy task. Initiates had to demonstrate their prowess in battle, and were forced to pay a small fortune in gold as an entrance fee. Still, the gifts showered on the Varangians ensured that its members left extremely wealthy, and some even went on to achieve positions of immense power. One of the most famous guardsmen was Harald Hardrada, who later claimed the throne of Norway.

That guy probably earned the best retirement present ever!

Source: 6 Legendary Mercenary Armies From History - History Lists


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From Quora:
https://www.quora.com/If-you-can-be...-to-serve-the-most/answer/Daryl-Tew?srid=zfqv

 

The US military. Worked out ok for me, all things considered.

 

Pppfff dare to dream.


The empire that uses giant robots.

 

I've always wanted to be Ronin. Roving Samurai helping out the little people from the roving warbands who aren't trained or as well equipped. Able to walk into any shop or inn, my armor and weapons are my pay. While I'm there everybody is safe.

Derp, thanks Hollister

 

Ronin.


Just saying

 

japan?

 

Pfff

Only if I'm the senpai.

 

weren't Ronin usually KoS to most other Samurai, since they were effectively lordless soldiers that quite frequently should have been dead either defending their lord or, having failed their lord, honorable suicide? They often became worse than simple bandits because they had better equipment and noone to answer to.

 

Probally.

 

Depends on the era for ronin and how they were seen in public eye.

Normally hara kiri was performed if the lord ever died.

Depending on the era they performed hara kiri if they failed to keep the lord safe in battle or became mercenaries.

As a merc it would be for another lord, wealthy merchants, gangs, or bandit hunting.

Also woman can't be samurai if memory serves.

They can become a soldier of sorts but never called samurai.

 

Easy. A Gundam pilot.

Edit: If I have to go with non-fictional. I chose this dude --

 

Onna-bugeisha
Onna-bugeisha (女武芸者?) was a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility. Many women engaged in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onna-bugeisha

 

Belonging to nobility is the catch, as all nobility were expected to protect ones homeland. With that being said I can't see it being very popular because most woman of nobility weren't even allowed to be seen by men from outside the family without there full geisha stuff on. And we're supposed to be kept hidden until married. It's more complicated then this but that's the basic idea.

Edit this probably also has to do with ones family ranking in the nobility. A lesser nobiles daughter would have a higher chance of being a warrior then one of high nobility.

Most people regardless of gender were taught with weapons at a young age in Japan. Invasions could happen at any moment and a trained commons people is one that doesn't need a army to protect itself. This was more in the country side or what would be considered country compared to a major city.

In England in the medieval times it was law for a man to own a sword and be trained in it as well as archery.

 

you also have to look at a woman's role in ancient times. Men in ancient times were considered disposable. Mainly because men cant give birth. A woman can. if you have 20 men and 20 women. You could send 10 of each and be fair or have gender equality and loose 10 of each gender. Or on the other hand send 18 men off to war and loose 18 men. You would have 2 men and 20 women who could then recover from the looses much faster then if you had sent 10 each. This is why woman soldiers are almost never seen in ancient times. Women were a valuable resource while men were consider a disposable resource.

 

men are still a disposable resource.

 

i wouldnt know, ive never used one.

 

I have. Hence 2 children / slaves now. (fyi this is a joke)

 

Honestly I would have to pick being a merc from 2001 to present. The pay some of my friends received at the start of the wars was unreal. I'm talking $350k for entry level positions. Even until 2011 there were stupidly high paying security contracts out there. Unfortunately I didn't become a merc (defense contractor for you pc types) until late 2012. Even then, I was hired for a contract in Afghanistan that paid $220k but it was cancelled while I was in pre-deployment training. And that was for an office job. The only warfare I have to worry about involves nerf guns. Some of the guys I work with literally have millions stashed away and are only doing this because they got bored after retiring at 45. When it comes down to it...its all about the money and being able to set yourself up for later in life and this was the best time to be a merc. You have better standard of living than the military and are treated and paid better. Also you usually have better equipment.

 

Modern day mercs are an extremely touchy subject for me because of things I'm not going to talk about here.

 

On the other hand I doubt 15,000 samurai ever to commit hara kiri even if their lord died and clan was destroyed.
More likely the retainers + some of the more closer ones while the rest would be "huh what happened" and like the Minoan fleet after their civilization was destroyed - "huh, we have no home now? Wtf.."