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les soudards des "Grandes compagnies"

English translation: the ruffians of the "Great Companies"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:les soudards des "Grandes compagnies"
English translation:the ruffians of the "Great Companies"
Entered by: Mary Barattucci

08:23 Apr 3, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
History
French term or phrase: les soudards des "Grandes compagnies"
This is related to the history of Alsace during the Hundred Years War

Trois chapelles seront construites, que les soudards des "Grandes compagnies" du XVème s. (Guerre de Cent Ans) ravageront.
Mary Barattucci
United States
Local time: 04:23
the ruffians of the "Great Companies"
Explanation:
"After Charles was assassinated by ruffians hired by the Charles the Bad in ... In 1365, he received payment to lead remnants of the Great Company out of ..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaud_de_Cervole

"Calais was, at the close of the great Hundred Years' War, ... Charles VII. by thus retaining companies of hired troops in his pay laid the foundation of the ..."
www.online-literature.com/charlotte-yonge/history-of-france



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Note added at 6 mins (2009-04-03 08:29:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"... ruffians, pimps and sinners in various other {46} respects. ...... held by England since the Hundred Years War, was an especially bitter blow to the islanders. ...... The shares in these great companies were, like the "Fugger letters," or .... faithfully enough to try their best to bridle the great companies. ..."
infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/8/8/7/18879/18879.htm -
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 10:23
Grading comment
Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1the ruffians of the "Great Companies"
B D Finch
5mercenaries
Svetlana Hure
4 -1the mercenary troops of the "Free Companies"
hodierne


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the ruffians of the "Great Companies"


Explanation:
"After Charles was assassinated by ruffians hired by the Charles the Bad in ... In 1365, he received payment to lead remnants of the Great Company out of ..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaud_de_Cervole

"Calais was, at the close of the great Hundred Years' War, ... Charles VII. by thus retaining companies of hired troops in his pay laid the foundation of the ..."
www.online-literature.com/charlotte-yonge/history-of-france



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2009-04-03 08:29:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"... ruffians, pimps and sinners in various other {46} respects. ...... held by England since the Hundred Years War, was an especially bitter blow to the islanders. ...... The shares in these great companies were, like the "Fugger letters," or .... faithfully enough to try their best to bridle the great companies. ..."
infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/8/8/7/18879/18879.htm -

B D Finch
France
Local time: 10:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 35
Grading comment
Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Linda Sansome (X): Or 'roughnecks'?
16 mins
  -> Thanks Linda. I went for "ruffian" because it is an older term, though post 14th century.
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
mercenaries


Explanation:
I would say mercenaries instead of ruffians, because the Great Company were made up of soldier's for hire.

Svetlana Hure
Local time: 10:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Linda Sansome (X): yes, a much better word!
4 hrs
disagree  B D Finch: The French used "soudard", which is a violent person or ruffian. Mercenary has a French equivalent, "mercenaire".
1 day 7 hrs
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1 day 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
the mercenary troops of the "Free Companies"


Explanation:
In 1366, the King placed him at the head of the "free companies," the marauding soldiers who pillaged France after the Treaty of Brétigny, and sent him to Spain to aid Henry of Trastamara against Pedro the Cruel.

The Free Companies were one of the worst side effects of the Hundred Years War. ... The Free Companies only disappeared with the end of the war. ...
www.historyofwar.org/articles/concepts_freecompanies.html

During the later Middle Ages, Free Companies (or Free Lances) were formed, consisting of companies of mercenary troops. Nation-states lacked the funds ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercenary

hodierne
France
Local time: 10:23
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  B D Finch: The French used "soudard", which is a violent person or ruffian. Mercenary has a French equivalent, "mercenaire". Yes, they were mercenaries, but that does not translate the word "soudard" and why change rather than translate "Grandes compagnies"?
7 hrs
  -> hello, my concern was more about finding another term for les grandes compagnies, but you're right about soudard, even though i originally meant soldier (soudoier, solde, paie)
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