Yonderian mercenaries

Sixteenth century etching of Yonderian mercenaries

Private military contractor of Intrepid Enterprises covering a road in Cetsencalia with a MAS-12 ATGM, Final War of the Deluge, 2024

The term Yonderian mercenaries (Burgoignesc: Gendarmes voluntaire, Gothic: freie Waffenknechte, both literally "free men-at-arms") is both used to refer to the infamous formations of Yonderian mercenaries employed in wars around Levantia since the Conquest of Joanusterra up until the Great War period and also private military contractors from Yonderre operating worldwide today.

Historically, Yonderian mercenaries were powerful infantry and cavalry forces constituted by professional soldiers originating from the Counties of Yonderre. Drawing their numbers from Bergendii and East Goths alike across social boundaries of peasantry, burghers, noblemen and even clergy, Yonderian mercenaries were well-armed and experienced warriors recruitable in large numbers throughout the Holy Levantine Empire by the Emperor of the Levantines and his vassals; therefore, they guaranteed both quantity and quality to the Imperial military throughout the Medieval and Early Modern periods of Levantine history, from the late fifteenth century into the present. Their service as mercenaries was at its peak during the Great Confessional War where their proven battlefield capabilities made them sought-after mercenary troops. Being foreign mercenaries they were classified as milites gregarii (non-noble cavalrymen) in the Holy Levantine Empire, which helped maintain the fragile balances in the small courts of Dericania as opposed to the milites nobiles (landed noble knights) who were otherwise prone to squabbling over land.

Although already early proponents of firearms in warfare, it was during the Age of Enlightenment that Yonderian mercenaries became famous for their widespread use of firearms, both handheld and as artillery. Noted for their aggressive tactics, Yonderian mercenaries remained a favourite, if expensive, method of settling armed disputes and quelling local uprisings throughout Catholic Levantia into the beginning of the modern period and the Great Wars. During both Great Wars, Yonderian volunteers to Burgundie made up a considerable amount of the Burgoignesc Foreign Legion, forming several brigades and independent regiments, although historians continue to argue whether these can be considered mercenaries as many were motivated by a sort of ethnic and cultural patriotism rather than for personal monetary gain.

In the decades following the Second Great War, Yonderian mercenaries, many of whom were experienced veterans of the Burgoignesc Foreign Legion, were instrumental in the post-colonial conflicts throughout Audonia, notably in Operation Kipling. In modern times, Yonderian private military companies have taken part in the Deluge, Operation Khyzer Rhykh and notably the Final War of the Deluge during which Yonderian private military companies such as Intrepid Enterprises played a notable role in the war in Cetsencalia.