Mercenaries are soldiers of fortune who fight in wars and conflicts for profit. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the fascinating history of mercenaries past and present in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.
AI Summary
Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating and often controversial world of mercenaries - soldiers for hire who have played significant roles in conflicts throughout history. They trace mercenary warfare from ancient times through the French Foreign Legion to modern private military contractors like Blackwater, examining why these fighters are generally viewed with suspicion and how the Geneva Convention defines them. The hosts discuss the complex ethical questions surrounding mercenaries while covering some wild historical stories and the practical realities of being a professional soldier of fortune.
"I've seen the movie 300. So, I bet the 10,000 were pretty tough. — Chuck references 300 when discussing ancient Greek mercenaries and wondering if the 10,000 were related to the 300 Spartans."
— Chuck
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
2008
1h 31m
★ 5.4
"Chuck's a Beverly Hills Chihuahua fan, by the way. — Josh mentions this after Chuck speaks German, apparently referencing the movie which features Spanish-speaking chihuahuas."
— Josh
Blazing Saddles
1974
1h 33m
★ 7.2
"I think fans of Blazing Saddles might know that better as the number six. — Josh references Blazing Saddles when explaining the term 'chevauchée' (burn, pillage, loot and rape)."
— Josh
Sleepy Hollow
1999
1h 45m
★ 7.2
"one of those mercenaries, German mercenaries, I think they're called Hessians, turned out to be the headless horsemen. — Josh connects Revolutionary War Hessian mercenaries to the headless horseman character, likely referencing the Tim Burton film adaptation."
— Josh
"You're like Krusty the Clown when he comes in to do the recording for Krusty at all. — Josh compares Chuck's entrance to Krusty the Clown from The Simpsons doing a recording session."
— Josh
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