Hawkwood, Sir John

Hawkwood, Sir John or Acuto, Giovanni (c. 1320-1394), English soldier of fortune, was born at Sible Hedingham, Essex, the son of a tanner. He fought at Crecy and Poiters for Edward III, who knighted him. When hostilities ended he led a troop of mercenaries, at first around Gascony, then in 1362 into Italy and the service of the Pisan Marquis of Monferrato. His force of 3,000, known as the White Company, were well drilled, well armed, skilled with lance and longbow, and famous for speed of action and tactics learned in France. Constantly changing masters—between 1372 and 1378 they alternately served the Duke of Milan and the pope—they ravaged Lombardy for years. Hawkwood was made captain-general by the Florentines in 1378 and served that city until 1392, defeating the Milanese in 1390, and fighting elsewhere when his services were not needed. In 1391 he was made a citizen of Florence, but although he had been paid a great amount over the years by the Italian powers, little had been saved. He decided to sell his estates and return to England, but died in Florence before his plans could be executed.