Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV

Explores the evolution of the German military system post-Peace of Westphalia, detailing its development, role in Europe, and the unique defensive political culture of the German states.

After the Peace of Westphalia, several German states developed a disciplined ‘military’ that produced outstanding armies. Germany supplied mercenary troops to major and minor powers across Europe, and the military state, usually exemplified by Prussia, became a crucial part of German history.

However, ‘Germany’ appeared weak and was divided into a multitude of states that constantly faced a hostile environment created by belligerent great powers. Additionally, the German ‘militaries’ were the result of a system of collective security, internal conflict and resolution that allowed a rich variety of political traditions to coexist relatively harmoniously. This system tried to preserve ‘Germany’ against formidable attacks without making it a threat to the security of its neighbours. In contrast to the political culture of later German states, that of the Reich was inherently defensive, preferring peace to war in both domestic politics and external relations. This study deals with the armies of the Holy Roman Empire for the first time in a single book from extensive research in archives across Germany and using previously unpublished iconography.

This, the second of three volumes, examines the armies of the German states of the Prince-Archbishoprics, The Palatinate, the ‘Three’ Brunswicks of Wolfenbüttel, Lüneburg and Lüneburg-Celle, and the forces of Hessen-Kassel and Hessen-Darmstadt. The author also examines the German ‘trade’ in soldiers, and the political and diplomatic structure and practice within the Holy Roman Empire in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia of 1648.