H102RA Rothenberg, Gunther E. "Maurice of Nassau, Gustavus Adolphus, Raimondo Montecuccoli, and the
'Military Revolution' of the Seventeenth Century." In Makers of Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the
Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret, 32-55. [24 pages]
17th Century debate military centers on two related issues:
1. Pace and character of change: (revolution or evolution)
2. Role of technology in driving the process of change:
Technological Change Without Revolution
1. Fusil and bayonet
a. Pikeman: defend from cavalry (long pole with a pointed head)
b. Fusil increase the rate of fire by; 1/3 fewer movements
c. During the integration of the fusil the monarch did not commit with the cost to
transition to a 100% fusil and bayonet. (1670 Louis XIV approved four susiiers in
every infantry company and became standard for grenadier companies.
i. Initially when the "plug" Bayonet was integrated you could not load
the weapon system. (1687 Vauben created the socket bayonet)
ii. Formations had to change before the attack
2. Cannon de nouvelle invention (Antonio Gonzalez)
3. Due to economic constraints French ordered smaller pieces (de nouvelle, invention)
a. Two principle Draw back
i. Spherical chamber: hard to clean out and created accidents by lighting the next
charge when getting ready for the next round (when firing rapidly).
ii. Violent jerk that damaged carriages, battered embrasures, and hampered
accuracy (less mass to consume the recoil).
b. Major difference from the Cannon de nouvelle and Gribeauval pieces was that #1 did not
mesh easily with 17th century and early 18th century seige warfare. New model was heavier
and stable.
i. Gun production at those times hinder the development
Thee 17th Century Changes that mattered
1. The battle culture of forbearance
a. Forebearance is the act of voluntarily refraining from enforcing a right or claim
b. Hold orders (discipline) during charges infantry mean were directed to not
speak: silence, order, solidity
2. Drill: with new tactics (linear formations contrasting heavy infantry squares) demanded high
level skills. Adoption of Dutch and Swedish formation my the French was evolutionary.
a. Drill developed by Maurice of Nassau and extended by Gustavus Adolphys made
speedy maneuver and unknown rate of fire.
b. Louis XIV was a believer of drill. Rehearsals of (mag changes, rate of fire, actions
on the objective) Muscle memory
3. The creation of a modern military community
a. European regiments were established making a great impact in the force.
Regiments found their identifies (Champagne, piedmont, and Navarre)
, b. Standardization force was also introduced; officers clearly defined a military
hierarchy.
c. Regimental culture was created; through esprit de corp a military community
was born.
i. 16th and early 17th century Geoffrey Parker describes the force
being accompanied by non-combatants (wives, concubines, and
children)
4. Sir James Turner describes the wives as "husband's mules" during the siege of Bred (1624-
25) married soldiers did better than the bachelors (they had someone they were fighting
for).
5. Louis XIV eliminated the masses and permitted 20 women (married) of good repute. Late
17th century men were self-sustaining.
The insight should caution Revolutionary Military Affairs enthusiast who exalt in technology
advancements!
H102RB Palmer, R. R. "Frederick the Great, Guibert, Bülow: From Dynastic to National War." In Makers of
Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret, 91-105. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press, 1986. [15 pages]
Frederick The Great (INDOCTRINATED) Loved art!
Born a soldier and forged by his father as a adolescent:
o Chose tutors (veteran soldiers who distinguished themselves):
Duhan (Freds favorite tutor): not content to force his pupil to learn
by rote certain works as a means of training his memory, undertook
to cultivate Frederick’s ability to reason. Replaced with one legged
veteran Marlboroughs
Marlborough was to keep a closer pulse on the price's education.
Attempted to escape in 1730 to england; sent to prison
for six months
o At the Age of 14 he became a captain and later a major that commanded
"Regiment of Guards
Recruit or stolen
Tallest
Magnificent
o 1734 He accompanied the Prussian troops to reinforce the imperial army.
Learned a lot of siege warfare, gained perspective of logistics
o Constantly learning from others and campaigns (lessons learned) learned a lot
from books before 1740.
o He took education of lessons learned and enforced the reading on subordinates
(leadership development).
o Minimally exposed to war but took the science and applied it across the force to
better his force.
o With the limited numbers of personnel in this country you had the opportunity
to promote within regardless if you were a noble or peasant.
o Creates a military academy.
'Military Revolution' of the Seventeenth Century." In Makers of Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the
Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret, 32-55. [24 pages]
17th Century debate military centers on two related issues:
1. Pace and character of change: (revolution or evolution)
2. Role of technology in driving the process of change:
Technological Change Without Revolution
1. Fusil and bayonet
a. Pikeman: defend from cavalry (long pole with a pointed head)
b. Fusil increase the rate of fire by; 1/3 fewer movements
c. During the integration of the fusil the monarch did not commit with the cost to
transition to a 100% fusil and bayonet. (1670 Louis XIV approved four susiiers in
every infantry company and became standard for grenadier companies.
i. Initially when the "plug" Bayonet was integrated you could not load
the weapon system. (1687 Vauben created the socket bayonet)
ii. Formations had to change before the attack
2. Cannon de nouvelle invention (Antonio Gonzalez)
3. Due to economic constraints French ordered smaller pieces (de nouvelle, invention)
a. Two principle Draw back
i. Spherical chamber: hard to clean out and created accidents by lighting the next
charge when getting ready for the next round (when firing rapidly).
ii. Violent jerk that damaged carriages, battered embrasures, and hampered
accuracy (less mass to consume the recoil).
b. Major difference from the Cannon de nouvelle and Gribeauval pieces was that #1 did not
mesh easily with 17th century and early 18th century seige warfare. New model was heavier
and stable.
i. Gun production at those times hinder the development
Thee 17th Century Changes that mattered
1. The battle culture of forbearance
a. Forebearance is the act of voluntarily refraining from enforcing a right or claim
b. Hold orders (discipline) during charges infantry mean were directed to not
speak: silence, order, solidity
2. Drill: with new tactics (linear formations contrasting heavy infantry squares) demanded high
level skills. Adoption of Dutch and Swedish formation my the French was evolutionary.
a. Drill developed by Maurice of Nassau and extended by Gustavus Adolphys made
speedy maneuver and unknown rate of fire.
b. Louis XIV was a believer of drill. Rehearsals of (mag changes, rate of fire, actions
on the objective) Muscle memory
3. The creation of a modern military community
a. European regiments were established making a great impact in the force.
Regiments found their identifies (Champagne, piedmont, and Navarre)
, b. Standardization force was also introduced; officers clearly defined a military
hierarchy.
c. Regimental culture was created; through esprit de corp a military community
was born.
i. 16th and early 17th century Geoffrey Parker describes the force
being accompanied by non-combatants (wives, concubines, and
children)
4. Sir James Turner describes the wives as "husband's mules" during the siege of Bred (1624-
25) married soldiers did better than the bachelors (they had someone they were fighting
for).
5. Louis XIV eliminated the masses and permitted 20 women (married) of good repute. Late
17th century men were self-sustaining.
The insight should caution Revolutionary Military Affairs enthusiast who exalt in technology
advancements!
H102RB Palmer, R. R. "Frederick the Great, Guibert, Bülow: From Dynastic to National War." In Makers of
Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret, 91-105. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press, 1986. [15 pages]
Frederick The Great (INDOCTRINATED) Loved art!
Born a soldier and forged by his father as a adolescent:
o Chose tutors (veteran soldiers who distinguished themselves):
Duhan (Freds favorite tutor): not content to force his pupil to learn
by rote certain works as a means of training his memory, undertook
to cultivate Frederick’s ability to reason. Replaced with one legged
veteran Marlboroughs
Marlborough was to keep a closer pulse on the price's education.
Attempted to escape in 1730 to england; sent to prison
for six months
o At the Age of 14 he became a captain and later a major that commanded
"Regiment of Guards
Recruit or stolen
Tallest
Magnificent
o 1734 He accompanied the Prussian troops to reinforce the imperial army.
Learned a lot of siege warfare, gained perspective of logistics
o Constantly learning from others and campaigns (lessons learned) learned a lot
from books before 1740.
o He took education of lessons learned and enforced the reading on subordinates
(leadership development).
o Minimally exposed to war but took the science and applied it across the force to
better his force.
o With the limited numbers of personnel in this country you had the opportunity
to promote within regardless if you were a noble or peasant.
o Creates a military academy.
