The Catalan Company mercenaries left their mark in folklore of the Balkans because of their ferocious reputation. For example in Albanian folklore there is a man eating giant called called Katallani, after the Catalans!
But there are more examples of this. (Thread)
But there are more examples of this. (Thread)
In the folklore of the Balkans, the associations with Catalans are always negative, as the mercenaries of the Catalan Company were very feared and raided the Byzantine lands in their vengeance after their commander Roger de Flor was betrayed and killed by the Byzantines.
Thus it's no wonder that in some Greek regions curses like "may the revenge of the Catalans fall on you" were introduced. In some remote regions a proverb "I escaped from the Turks to fall into the hands of the Catalans" was recorded.
"May I see you under the sword of a Catalan!"
This reputation of the Catalan mercenaries reached lands as far away as Bulgaria where the term "Catalan" or "son of Catalan" was used to describe an evil person!
This reputation of the Catalan mercenaries reached lands as far away as Bulgaria where the term "Catalan" or "son of Catalan" was used to describe an evil person!
However it was the monks of Mount Athos who held the Catalans in worst memory as the Catalan Company raided the monasteries there in 1308. Because of this Catalan people were even banned to enter Mount Athos all the way until 2005 when a symbolic reconciliation was achieved.
The story of the Catalan Company and why they achieved such brutal reputation.
They were one of the best warriors in European history.
They were one of the best warriors in European history.
https://twitter.com/LandsknechtPike/status/1412256796752887810
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