[wuhugm]

Originally Posted by dragon1412

but in that case, most of the time the band is breaking apart by the point they started turning banditry, since it mean that the jobs is no longer enough to sustain them

Disbandment/reduction of Mercenary Bands is common
At peace times, they voluntarily disband the group or operating in smaller teams
Not few turned to banditry

Originally Posted by Rasty

Still, my argument of it being just a while after a big war ended stands.

Also, the kingdom is supposed to build a new army from scratch, which means many jobs and which might, in turn, bring many mercenaries and "mercenaries" there.

Also, big mercenary bands were nothing uncommon in middle age (well known white company is recorded to be composed of 3.5k cavalry and 2k infantry). Current ones are smaller mostly because current wars are fought with much smaller numbers, and most of the current ones are pretty new and thus still growing.

The numbers of men in the Company varied over the years. In 1361, it is recorded as having 3,500 cavalry and 2,000 infantry. At its lowest ebb in 1388, it had a mere 250 men.

Mercenary Bands can hire villagers like normal army to bolster their ranks but at peace time they stay small to reduce army upkeep

Famous ones like White Company knows the shit they are getting into so they won't join this kind of suicide mission