Giant of the grand siècle : the French Army, 1610-1715

An "invisible giant," the seventeeth-century French army was the largest and hungriest institution of the Bourbon monarchy; yet it has received incomplete treatment and is poorly understood. Combining social and cultural emphases with more traditional institutional and operational concerns, this book examines the army in depth, studying recruitment, composition, discipline, motivation, selection of officers, leadership, administration, logistics, weaponry, tactics, field warfare, and siegecraft. The portrait that emerges differs from what current scholarship might have predicted. Instead of claiming that a "military revolution" transformed warfare, Lynn stresses evolutionary change. Questioning widely-held assumptions about state formation and coercion, he argues that this standing army was primarily devoted to border defense, and only rarely to internal repression. An Invisible Giant According To John Lynn, The Seventeenth-century French Army Was The Largest And Hungriest Institution Of The Bourbon Monarchy, Then The Most Powerful State In Europe, Yet It Has Received Incomplete Treatment And Is Only Partly Understood. Combining The Social And Cultural Emphases Of The New Military History With The More Traditional Institutional And Operational Concerns, This Book Examines The Army In Depth. The Portrait That Emerges Differs From What Current Scholarship Might Have Predicted. Instead Of Claiming That A Military Revolution Transformed Warfare, Lynn Stresses Evolutionary Change. This Work Also Offers Surprising Insights Into Absolutism And The Relationship Between The Monarchy And Aristocracy. Questioning Widely Held Assumptions About State Formation And Coercion, This Book Argues That This Standing Army Was Primarily Devoted To Border Defense, And Only Rarely To Internal Repression.--book Jacket. Part I. Context And Parameters: 1. Contexts Of Military Change In The Grand Si?cle -- 2. Army Growth -- Part Ii. Administration And Supply: 3. The Military Administration -- 4. Food And Fodder -- 5. Providing Other Essentials -- 6. The Tax Of Violence And Contributions -- Part Iii. Command: 7. The Costs Of Regimental Command 8. The Culture Of Command -- 9. The High Command -- Part Iv. The Rank And File: 10. Composition Of The Army -- 11. Recruitment -- 12. Discipline And Desertion -- 13. Elements Of Morale And Motivation -- Part V. The Practice Of War: 14. Tactics And Weaponry -- 15. Learning And Practicing The Art Of Field Warfare -- 16. Positional Warfare Epilogue: Insights On State Formation. John A. Lynn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 611-628) And Index. An 'invisible giant', the seventeenth-century French army was the largest and hungriest institution of the Bourbon monarchy. Combining social and cultural emphases with more traditional institutional and operational concerns, this book examines the army in depth, studying recruitment, composition, discipline, motivation, selection of officers, leadership, administration, logistics, weaponry, tactics, field warfare and siegecraft. The portrait that emerges differs from what current scholarship might have predicted. Instead of claiming that a 'military revolution' transformed warfare, Lynn stresses evolutionary change. This work also offers surprising insights into absolutism and the relationship between the monarchy and aristocracy. Questioning widely held assumptions about state formation and coercion, Lynn argues that this standing army was primarily devoted to border defence and only rarely to internal repression Context and parameters.1.1.Contexts of Military Change in the Grand Siecle. 1.2.Army Growth.2.Administration and supply.2.1.The Military Administration. 2.2. Food and Fodder. 2.3.Providing Other Essentials. 6.The Tax of Violence and Contributions.3.Command.3.1.The Costs of Regimental Command. 3.2.The Culture of Command. 3.3.The High Command.4.The Rank and File.4.1.Army composition. 4.2.Recruitment. 4.3.Discipline and Desertion. 4.4.Elements of Morale and Motivation: Dependence and Loyality.5.The Practice of War.5.1.Weapons and Tactics. 5.2.Learning and Practicing the Art of Field Warfare. 5.3.Positional Warfare. Epilogue: Insights on State Formations Combining social and cultural emphases with institutional and operational concerns, this book provides a detailed revisionist analysis of the army of the Bourbon state. THE classical facade of Versailles faces the gardens decorated with statues and fountains, traversed by gravel paths.