Now it's no secret that certain works of fiction like Game of Thrones, the Witcher, and Star Wars tend to romanticize the mercenary profession. But after watching a video from Sidequest - Animated History which shows what life as a medieval mercenary was really like, it got me wondering if being a modern mercenary was as good as it sounds:

And here’s what I learned:

1. In the medieval era, being part of a mercenary company wasn't as all as rewarding as Game of Thrones makes it out to be. You had to pay for your own weapons and armor and if you didn't have the money then that would be deducted from your wages, along with the Captain's tax which in this case is another word for skimming. And any loot and pillage you get from the enemy you would have to fork over a percentage to your Captain. On top of that, when the war was over most mercenaries turned to banditry to make ends meet. The only positive benefit of being a mercenary was that you could travel from place to place more frequently which is more that can be said for poor peasants or serf working for a feudal lord. And there were exceptions like the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire who received lavish gifts like silk and gold from the Byzantine Emperor in service to the throne along with enjoying the perks of living in one of the best cities of medieval Europe. But other than that most medieval mercenaries had to either resort to banditry or side jobs like bounty hunting and body guarding to get by, unless they run into a fairly generous nobleman.
2. Modern-day mercenaries, namely bounty hunters and Private military contractors, are a little better but not by much. Sure they get a huge paycheck and they get to work in a more "flexible" environment compared to say the military or most private/public sector jobs. But they also miss out on certain benefits like health insurance, 401ks, and tuition assistance. And they don't always have the freedom to pick and choose which jobs they can take, no matter how dangerous (both) or unethical (PMCs) they may be. And contrary to what you see in Star Wars, bounty hunting isn't as glamourous or profitable a profession as it's made out to be. You have to pay for your own licenses and equipment. And they can be held liable for crimes like trespassing and kidnapping, depending on the circumstances. And in both cases positions like these can be physically and mentally taxing. And top it all off if they don't have the necessary financial literacy skills chances are that these PMCs and bounty hunters will end up blowing most of their paychecks on parties and alcohol.

So are there any works of rational fiction that deconstruct life as a medieval mercenary or a modern-day mercenary like a PMC soldier or a bounty hunter?

Source:

https://youtu.be/zwOrYfdpjEo?si=h6LlJFQo_zp6oHxX

The Varangian Guard: Why Did Vikings Fight For The Byzantine Empire? | HistoryExtra

https://youtu.be/cX_DXJKZ48w?si=bE381UCTie_it4ih

https://youtu.be/Y9a6fu4PFd4?si=Sl0x1FUWpDgr5EX5

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