Condottieri waren de aanvoerders van legers huurlingen ("condotte") die werden ingehuurd door de Italiaanse stadstaten van de late Middeleeuwen tot halverwege de 15e eeuw. ###>Condottieri (singular condottiero and condottiere) were the leaders (or warlords) of the professional, military free companies (or mercenaries) contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance.