HESSIAN
Hessian
The Hessians were 18th-century German auxiliaries contracted for service under The Crown of the British Empire. About 30,000 German soldiers served in the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War; nearly half were from the Hesse region of Germany; the others came from similar small German states. In the context of the British service, they were all referred to as "Hessians." The American colonists and many historians called them mercenaries. They were regular members of the armies of their German princes who hired them out in units, not as individuals. They received wages, but the prince received most of the funds; Britain found it easier ...The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Hessian (soldiers)
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