Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction: war, government and society in France, 1624–1642; Part I. The Military Context: 1. The French art of war during Richelieu's ministry; 2. France at war, 1624–1642; 3. The size of the French army; Part II. The Administrative Context: 4. Paying for war; 5. Recruiting and maintaining armies during the Thirty Years War: military enterprise; 6. The French rejection of entrepreneurship; 7. The civil administration of the army: the structures; Part III. Responses and Reactions: 8. The management of the war effort, 1635–1642: commissaires de guerres and intendants; 9. The ministry and the high command; 10. The army and the civilian population; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Promotional Information

A definitive reinterpretation of the role and influence of the French army during Richelieu's ministry.

Reviews

'This book bucks the trend. Most books promise far lass than their titles, but Parrott delivers more ... a major work for those interested in early-modern military history.' History Today 'This is a monumental study, which not only puts a definitive stamp on its subject but sets a high standard for all future military historians.' Theodore K Rabb, The Times Literary Supplement 'No previous study has lavished such attention on this chapter in military history ... This is a monumental study, which not only puts a definite stamp on its subject but sets a high standard for all future military historians.' European History 'The originality of this book lies in Parrott's mastery of the literature on seventeenth-century warfare written in all the major Western European languages. It is a triumph of scholarship that, by placing French developments in a wider European context, will have an impact well beyond the hexagon ... We can only congratulate David Parrott on producing such a fine monument.' H-FRANCE 'This is a book that beautifully illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of institutional history.' History 'It is one of the most important studies of early modern warfare since the revival of that subject in the 1970s, as well as being an important contribution to seventeenth-century French and European history.' War in History