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“With the raiders of the Turkic Beyliks encroaching ever closer on his capital, the Byzantine Emperor agreed to hire the Catalan Company. The force of Almogavars, estimated at anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 men by various sources, left Sicily and arrived in Constantinople in 1303 CE.”
“With the raiders of the Turkic Beyliks encroaching ever closer on his capital, the Byzantine Emperor agreed to hire the Catalan Company. The force of Almogavars, estimated at anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 men by various sources, left Sicily and arrived in Constantinople in 1303 CE.”
“The Catalan Company was composed predominantly of light infantry forces, called the Almogavars. Through versatile, asymmetrical light infantry tactics, the Catalans often managed to defeat opposing forces which far outnumbered them.”
“Despite being there to ostensibly protect Byzantine domains, the Company routinely pillaged Byzantine towns and villages, and the Greek locals had grown tired of the Almogavars after two years of their presence in their realm.”
“They would eventually fight and defeat the Byzantines in the Battle of Apros in 1305 CE, while gaining many allies among the Turkic mercenaries in the Byzantine Army, who defected to their side.”