Black Company - how many soldiers?

[Quasqueton]

I'm maybe mid-way through the first book. How many soldiers are in the Black Company? Croaker has never really given even a ballpark figure. Are they 100, 200, 1,000, 10,000?

Quasqueton

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

It goes up and down wildly depending on the fortunes of the Black Company.


Regards,
Eric Anondson

 

[drothgery]

In the run-up to the battle at Charm, the Lady lets the Captain recruit from among the Guard to bring the Company's strength up to 1,000. Less than 200 became the core of the White Rose's rebellion. Less than a dozen went south after the Dominator was defeated, including Lady. Somewhere between fifty and a hundred entered Taglios. About 10,000 soldiers crossed from Hsien under Sleepy's command, though fewer than 1,000 were sworn brothers of the Black Company; I'm not sure how many returned under Survin's command.

 

[Quasqueton]

Thanks for the info. Does Croaker ever actually say these numbers in the books? Or are you getting this info from other sources? It just kind of irks me when I don't know if 20, 200, or 20,000 are around.

Quasqueton

 

[Rackhir]

Drothgery's numbers sound familiar to me. So I'd say they are correct.They get mentioned at various times in the novels. Though numbers really aren't that important. The Black Company isn't selling masses, they are selling experience, skill and determination. If you know anything about medieval combat and troops, the Black Company is more like a modern military force in training and profesionalisim than the barely trained masses that were more typical of those times.

 

[drothgery]

Yeah, Croaker does actually mention the numbers; I was going to say "... or Lady or Murgen or Sleepy did" but it looks like I never gave numbers from the books with other narrators. Though the "company-in-exile" that Sleepy ran between the Kiaulane wars and freeing the Captured was tiny; certainly less than 200, even counting the Nyung Bao bodyguards. Lady's "company" built from the ashes of Jaicur started from just her and ended up with several thousand men. Should Mogaba's men and the Taglian First Division be counted as Company? Maybe; the latter are about the same as the mercenaries from Hsien. It's kind of messy.