Which famous historical military unit operated under a subscription model where wealthy merchants paid for its maintenance in exchange for trade route protection?

Before modern military forces became government institutions, many armies operated on subscription-like models where wealthy patrons, kingdoms, or even private citizens would fund military campaigns and units. This poll tests your knowledge of these historical military subscription and patronage systems that shaped warfare throughout history.

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The Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire
The Hanseatic League's Privateers
The Swiss Guard of the Vatican
The Samurai of Feudal Japan