Size of Armies (in Size of Armies (in thousands)thousands)

datdatee

SpaiSpainn

DutcDutch h Rep. Rep.

FrancFrancee

EnglaEnglandnd

SwedeSwedenn

RussiRussiaa

1471470s0s

2020 -- 4040 2525 -- --

1551550s0s

150150 -- 5050 2020 -- --

1591590s0s

200200 2020 8080 3030 1515 --

1631630s0s

300300 5050 150150 -- 4545 3535

1651650s0s

100100 -- 100100 7070 7070 --

1671670s0s

7070 110110 120120 -- 6363 130130

1701700s0s

5050 100100 400400 8787 100100 170170

By 2d half of 17th c. the trend toward standing armies was growing .

The Life of a 17The Life of a 17thth c. c. SoldierSoldier

Harsh and dangerous circumstances must be put into Harsh and dangerous circumstances must be put into the context of the civilian experiencethe context of the civilian experience Most soldiers no worse off in pay & living conditionsMost soldiers no worse off in pay & living conditions

certain duties received supplemental paycertain duties received supplemental pay soldiers could “moonlight” for extra pay since campaigns soldiers could “moonlight” for extra pay since campaigns

were limited to the growing season [grass for horses factor] were limited to the growing season [grass for horses factor] typically used for “public works” projectstypically used for “public works” projects

Soldiering was only marginally more dangerous than Soldiering was only marginally more dangerous than being a civilian being a civilian

many times more likely to die of disease than from battlemany times more likely to die of disease than from battle many served for an entire war w/o engaging in a pitched many served for an entire war w/o engaging in a pitched

battle, although avoiding a siege was more difficult battle, although avoiding a siege was more difficult Kings frequently provided living subsistence for Kings frequently provided living subsistence for

aged or wounded soldiersaged or wounded soldiers

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Emergence of the “state commission Emergence of the “state commission army” [or “state mercenary army”]army” [or “state mercenary army”] Hybrid between “private contracting” and Hybrid between “private contracting” and

state recruitment/training of armiesstate recruitment/training of armies Dual chain of command – one military; one Dual chain of command – one military; one

civiliancivilian Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the

sword) who swore personal loyalty to himsword) who swore personal loyalty to him Officers (captains and colonels) recruited Officers (captains and colonels) recruited

companies (c. 100 men) and regiments (700-1,000 companies (c. 100 men) and regiments (700-1,000 men) and bore the initial costs of training and men) and bore the initial costs of training and equipping troops, who then received regular pay equipping troops, who then received regular pay from Crown from Crown

Prestige of command, rather than profit Prestige of command, rather than profit opportunities, most important incentive for nobilityopportunities, most important incentive for nobility

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Emergence of the “state commission army” [or “state Emergence of the “state commission army” [or “state mercenary army”]mercenary army”] Hybrid between “private contracting” and state Hybrid between “private contracting” and state

recruitment/training of armiesrecruitment/training of armies Dual chain of command – one military; one civilianDual chain of command – one military; one civilian

Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the sword) who swore Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the sword) who swore personal loyalty to himpersonal loyalty to him

Officers (captains and colonels) recruited companies (c. 100 men) Officers (captains and colonels) recruited companies (c. 100 men) and regiments (700-1,000 men) and bore the initial costs of training and regiments (700-1,000 men) and bore the initial costs of training and equipping troops, who then received regular pay from Crown and equipping troops, who then received regular pay from Crown

Prestige of command, rather than profit opportunities, most Prestige of command, rather than profit opportunities, most important incentive for nobilityimportant incentive for nobility

““state mercenary armies” consisting of state mercenary armies” consisting of volunteers, conscripts, “pressed,” foreign volunteers, conscripts, “pressed,” foreign mercenary units; use of mercenaries now mercenary units; use of mercenaries now negotiated with governments, rather than negotiated with governments, rather than entrepreneurs; represented a step in entrepreneurs; represented a step in direction of true “national armies”direction of true “national armies”

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Emergence of the “state commission army” [or “state Emergence of the “state commission army” [or “state mercenary army”]mercenary army”] Hybrid between “private contracting” and state Hybrid between “private contracting” and state

recruitment/training of armiesrecruitment/training of armies Dual chain of command – one military; one civilianDual chain of command – one military; one civilian

Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the sword) who swore Military: King appointed officers (nobles of the sword) who swore personal loyalty to himpersonal loyalty to him

Civilian: Nobles of the robe (as royal Civilian: Nobles of the robe (as royal bureaucrats) arrange with civilian bureaucrats) arrange with civilian contractors to provide suppliescontractors to provide supplies

Logistics/supply issues come to foreLogistics/supply issues come to fore Logistics network begins reduction of the Logistics network begins reduction of the

“tax of violence” on civilian populations, “tax of violence” on civilian populations, especially “friends” especially “friends”

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments Emergence of the “state commission army”Emergence of the “state commission army”

Hybrid between “private contracting” and state Hybrid between “private contracting” and state recruitment/training of armiesrecruitment/training of armies

Dual chain of command – one military; one civilianDual chain of command – one military; one civilian

Direction of military operations Direction of military operations exclusively vested in monarchexclusively vested in monarch

Trend to standardization of drill, Trend to standardization of drill, weaponry, and clothing (uniforms) – weaponry, and clothing (uniforms) – model regiment of Col. Martinetmodel regiment of Col. Martinet

Role of “financiers”, foreign and Role of “financiers”, foreign and domestic, to fund the costs of the domestic, to fund the costs of the new militarized statenew militarized state

““Development of this semi-professional state Development of this semi-professional state military establishment was the major military establishment was the major

accomplishment of the absolute state.” accomplishment of the absolute state.” Upton, p. 124Upton, p. 124

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Revival of fortifications and Revival of fortifications and siege warfaresiege warfare Marshal Vauban – “poacher Marshal Vauban – “poacher

turned gamekeeper”turned gamekeeper” Conducted 53 sieges from 1658-Conducted 53 sieges from 1658-

17061706 Constructed line of 33 fortresses Constructed line of 33 fortresses

on France’s expanding on France’s expanding northeastern and southern northeastern and southern borders and strengthened borders and strengthened defenses of 300 othersdefenses of 300 others

Fell from grace and exiled from Fell from grace and exiled from Versailles a year before his death Versailles a year before his death for proposing “tax reform”for proposing “tax reform”

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Emergence of the “state commission army”Emergence of the “state commission army” Revival of fortifications and siege warfareRevival of fortifications and siege warfare Weapons changeWeapons change

flintlock replacing matchlockflintlock replacing matchlock socket bayonet replacing pikesocket bayonet replacing pike

1717thth Century Military Century Military DevelopmentsDevelopments

Emergence of the “state commission army”Emergence of the “state commission army” Revival of fortifications and siege warfareRevival of fortifications and siege warfare Weapons changesWeapons changes

Tactical changesTactical changes Pike squares give way to linear battalions Pike squares give way to linear battalions

(700-1,000 men arranged into 6 rows (700-1,000 men arranged into 6 rows (ranks) covering a 200 m. front)(ranks) covering a 200 m. front)

Cavalry re-emerge as significant military Cavalry re-emerge as significant military componentcomponent

Had declined from between 1/3Had declined from between 1/3rdrd to to ½ ½ of of military elements in late 15military elements in late 15thth c. to 10% by mid- c. to 10% by mid-1616thth c. . . . Now back to 1/3rd by end of 17 c. . . . Now back to 1/3rd by end of 17thth c. c.

Role changed from primary “shock weapon” to Role changed from primary “shock weapon” to reconnaissance and pursuit of broken reconnaissance and pursuit of broken formationsformations