A mercenary (from Latin mercenarius, “hired for pay,” from merces “wages,” “reward”) is a soldier who fights for money (cf. French mercenaire; German Söldner, from Sold, MHG solt, “wage,” from the Italian soldo, “coin”, “recompense”; War). Unlike native recruits, who served on the basis of an obligation to their ruler that was effectively public service (Conscription), the mercenary wa…