Werner was born at Irslingen, in Irslingen
Swabia, a member of the family of the dukes of Urslingen, and probably a descendant of the
dukes of Spoleto. In 1338 he fought in the
Scaliger War for the
Republic of Venice against
Mastino II della Scala of
Verona. After the end of that conflict, he entered the
Compagnia di San Giorgio, financed by the Veronese and led by
Lodrisio Visconti, and took part in the
battle of Parabiago. In 1342 Werner joined the service of the
Republic of Pisa in its war against Florence, whose troops were led by Malatesta III Malatesta. After that war he collected a troop of adventurers under the name
Great Company, with which he plundered rural
Tuscany, ==Sources==