War is a drug. Heavy drug, but it is not prescribed by doctors on prescription. She kills, and when she is not there, the person who fell ill with her begins to break. And such people spin between a boring peaceful life and a war that gives this life a taste .. After all, every day spent in the war is worth a few on a citizen, especially if you are fighting in PMCs!Few people know that PMCs exist as much as there are wars. From ancient times to the present day . This edition covers the history and evolution of mercenary armies. The military skills of private armies have been valued for centuries. Greek soldiers in the service of the ancient Persian monarchy; harsh Varangians-guards who guarded the Byzantine emperors; medieval Italian condottieri, who shaved and handed over the cities; Germanic Landsknechts of the Reformation era, drawn together in dashing detachments . To become them "soldiers of luck" of the XX century, who participated in the invisible war of superpowers - the United States and the USSR, as well as the soldiers of Modern Time, united in private military companies - PMCs, which now have units of all branches of the armed forces. Over the centuries, interest in the profession of a warrior does not fade, and the ranks of PMCs around the world are regularly replenished. Why is this happening? In this book, the reader will find the answer to this and other questions.