The Hessians are eighteenth-century German soldiers hired through their rulers by the British Empire.

About half of the German soldiers are actually from the Hesse region of Germany; the others come from similar small German states though they are still referred to as Hessians in the context of their British service.

They are hired in units, not as individual mercenaries.

They receive wages but the prince of their respective states receives most of the funds because Britain finds it easier to borrow money than recruit its own soldiers.

They are used in several conflicts including in Ireland, but are most widely associated with combat operations in the American Revolutionary War.

They provide extensive manpower to support the American loyalist cause.

Several German units are placed on garrison duty on British islands to free up British regulars for service in North America