Of ancient mercenaries, for example, there are the Carthaginians, who were oppressed by their mercenary soldiers after the first war with the Romans, although the Carthaginians had their own citizens for captains.
A zsoldos haderőre példázatul szolgálhatnak a régi karthágóiak, akik az első római háború végén szinte áldozatul estek zsoldos katonáiknak, habár saját polgáraik vezetése alatt állottak.