The French Wars 1667-1714

by LYNN, JOHN

• ISBN13: 9781841763613
• ISBN10: 1841763616
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-09-18
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

Campaigns fought by Louis XIV, the Sun King, shaped the borders of European states, the destinies of royal dynasties, and even the patterns of absolutist government. This book presents the most authoritative yet accessible and succinct account of these all-important struggles available today, covering every aspect of the wars from decisions made by the king at his palace at Versailles to the life of the troops encamped in the field. Focusing on the French army, the greatest military force of the age, this tale of violence, victory, and victims balances siege and battle in a way that tells us much that is new about the Sun King and his adversaries.

Author Biography

Dr John A Lynn, Professor of History at the University of Illinois, has written or edited six books, including ‘Giant of the Grand Siecle: The French Army, 1610-1715’ (Cambridge University Press, 1997) and ‘The Wars of Louis XIV, 1667-1714’ (Longman, 1999). He is currently working on ‘The Mind of War: A History of Combat and Culture’ for Westview Press.

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(2)
Chronology	9	(4)
Background to war
Themes of Louis's international policy	13	(6)
Warring sides
States, armies, navies, and warfare	19	(16)
Outbreak
Drawing the sword	35	(5)
The fighting
The campaigns for gloire	40	(36)
Portrait of a soldier
Marie Magdelaine Mouron	76	(4)
The world around war
Predatory armies	80	(4)
Portrait of a civilian
Mme. De Sevigne	84	(4)
How the war ended
Peace by exhaustion	88	(2)
Conclusion and consequences
The legacies of war	90	(3)
Further reading	93	(1)
Index	94