The Dutch Army And The Military Revolutions 15881688

"The Dutch Army is absolutely central to all of the debates about tactical, strategic and organizational 'military revolution' in the early modern period, but hitherto there has been no substantial work on the subject in English. This book addresses the changes that occurred in Dutch Army organisation and tactics between 1588 and 1688. It shows that in the early part of the period, especially under the renowned Maurice of Nassau, although the Dutch Army was transformed from an unreliable band of mercenaries into a disciplined fighting force which successfully held its own against the mighty Spanish Army, the organisation of the army was not changed, with reliance on mercenaries and military entrepreneurs continuing, and that it was only under William III of Orange in the later seventeenth century that the Dutch effected an organizational military revolution and created an efficient standing army. This army successfully withstood the attacks of Louis XIV; and the Dutch reforms were copied by the English Army"--Jacket.