In 1988 Jan Peters discovered a diary-like manuscript of a mercenary from the Thirty Years War. In the course of 24 years, this soldier covered 22,400 km across the whole of Europe. He revealed nothing about his name, age or origin. Research on his life is challenging: some things that are of interest today were never recorded. Much has been lost. It was only when a document was found in Mühlhausen, Thuringia, that the name of the mercenary was definitively clarified to be Peter Hagendorf. This volume contains the complete text of his diary. Observations on the author’s journey through life, his way of life and his values put his life into the context of the events of the time and allow access to the everyday world of the mercenary. “Sober, but nevertheless moving, this Peter Hagendorf describes his eventful military and family life. A fascinating authentic account, and a unique one, too.” Antje Zeiger – Museum of the Thirty Years War, Wittstock