Who did the mercenaries fight for and why?

Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rather than for political interests. Beginning in the 20th century, mercenaries have increasingly come to be seen as less entitled to protections by rules of war than non-mercenaries.

What is the difference between a mercenary and a soldier?

A soldier is employed by his national Government, which in a democracy is accountable to the people. A mercenary is hired, often for a short period, by a private individual or company for operations often unconnected with his own country’s operations & activities.

Is it illegal to be a soldier of fortune?

The use and recruitment of mercenaries are legally forbidden by the 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. A mercenary is defined as any person who is specially recruited locally or abroad in order to fight in an armed conflict.

What is a mercenary who were the mercenaries fighting for the British?

Hessians (US: /ˈhɛʃənz/ or UK: /ˈhɛsiənz/) were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The term is an American synecdoche for all Germans who fought on the British side, since 65\% came from the German states of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau.

Who hired the mercenaries?

Since the late 18th century, however, mercenaries have been, for the most part, individual soldiers of fortune. Since World War II they have won some prominence for their exploits in certain Third World countries, especially in Africa, where they were hired both by government and by antigovernment groups.

Who hires mercenaries?

The majority of these mercenaries are experienced ex-military or ex-law enforcement professionals. The government and global corporations hire private military companies to come to war zones to help train troops, provide security, or perform special missions.

Who hired mercenaries during the Revolutionary war?

The term “Hessians” refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. They were principally drawn from the German state of Hesse-Cassel, although soldiers from other German states also saw action in America.

How are mercenaries hired?

Mercenaries are essentially individual soldiers who can be hired by whoever pays them. PMCs, on the other hand, are recruited into an organization (the private military company) that serves as the intermediary between the professional soldiers they employ and the governments that seek their services.