Series in Netherlands
Books in Netherlands
For Orange and the States Part I
The Dutch Republic was one of the great European powers during the 17th and 18th Centuries. Generally, the Dutch Republic was considered to have lost that status after the 1713 Peace of Utrecht; however, when the Republic entered the War of Austrian Succession in 1740, it was able to field an army of over 80,000 men. This expanded to over 110,000 men during the war, demonstrating that the Republic was still a European power to be reckoned with. The losses suffered in that conflict led to a period of decline, which in the end would result in the end of the Republic in 1795. But despite the years of neutrality, shortages, budget cuts and reorganizations, the army was still quite a formidable force. The purpose of this book is to focus on the uniforms and organization of that army, from the Peace of Utrecht until the reforms of 1772. The army of the Dutch Republic is a subject that sounds familiar, but is yet greatly undiscovered; little of it is known, unlike the armies of Britain, France, Prussia, and even the lesser powers like Sweden and Denmark. Historical sources of it, be it surviving items of uniform and equipment or paintings and prints, are unfortunately scarce. This study brings to light much material previously unseen.
Maurice de Saxe and the Conquest of the Austrian Netherlands 1744-1748: Volume 1 - The Ghosts of Dettingen
The world’s first truly global conflict erupted in 1740 over the question as to who would rule the Holy Roman Empire, with Europe divided between those who supported the Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria and those who endorsed the claim of Charles-Albert of Bavaria. As Europe divided, allies would become enemies and enemies, allies; with the conflict ultimately stretching from Europe, to India and the Americas. Lasting for eight years, the fighting ultimately escalated into an undeclared war between Europe’s two superpowers – France and Great Britain – and by its end in 1748, with the loss of her bases at Louisbourg in New France and Pondichéry in India it looked as if France would end up the loser, her influence in Europe curtailed and her plans for colonial expansion dead in the water. That she avoided this fate was down to the actions of the ‘least of Her generals’ – Armand Maurice de Saxe – the illegitimate son of King August ‘the strong’ of Saxony-Poland who, having defeated the Allied invasion of northern France in 1744, used this as a springboard to then conquer the Austrian Netherlands, defeating the Allies in three set piece battles (Fontenoy, 1745, Rocoux, 1746 and Lauffeld, 1747) and numerous sieges. Fortified by Saxe’s victories, France went into the eventual peace negotiations in the ascendant and was able to secure a favourable treaty which ensured the return of her overseas colonies. Using both modern and contemporary sources, Michael McNally sets Saxe’s achievement in its true context, not merely choosing to deal with the events of single battles or sieges, but instead illustrating the circumstances which led firstly to his appointment to the command of the French forces in the Low Countries and then the development and execution of a strategic plan which ultimately led to the capture of Maastricht in May 1748, almost three years to the day of his first great victory.
No Want of Courage: The British Army in Flanders, 1793-1795
The historiography of eighteenth and early nineteenth century campaigns is dominated by operational narratives and biographies of senior officers. How armies were staffed, fed and medically provisioned was critical to their successful performance in the field, yet much less is known of these key issues. Eyewitness accounts highlight instances of mismanagement, but by ignoring the ordinary they can provide a distorted view of reality, while published information on the organization of the British Army at this period is confined to home administration, not that of an expeditionary force overseas. By using predominantly unpublished sources, including the General Orders issued by the Duke of York’s headquarters, it has been possible to provide considerable detail on the structures necessary for the daily functioning of an army on campaign. Integral to this were the men engaged in staff positions, the commissariat and the medical department, their suitability, how they were appointed, and their day-to-day responsibilities. The internal organization of the British Army’s fighting units is often taken for granted, but the start of any war during the eighteenth century inevitably led to rapid expansion and major developments in recruiting methods. As the proportion of recruits increased, unit cohesion and experience declined for both officers and men, affecting discipline, operational capability, and health; all factors which tend to be overlooked in standard campaign narratives. A key component of the fighting troops in Flanders were the Ordnance units, comprising the artillery and engineers, which are so often neglected but so critical in providing firepower support and technical expertise. Similarly forgotten are the considerable numbers of women and children who officially accompanied forces in the field, all of whom came under military discipline and received their subsistence from the army. Their numbers, the roles they fulfilled and their experiences in Flanders are discussed in detail. Underpinning the entire administrative structure of the army on campaign was its relationship with corresponding organizations at home. Performance in the field was heavily dependent on the effectiveness of working relationships on both sides. Structures evolved throughout the eighteenth century, becoming gradually more formalized with increased definition of the duties performed in each role, a process that was to continue until the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. The Flanders campaign represented a key point in this evolutionary process at the start of the French Wars.
The Secret Expedition: The Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland 1799
In 1799, as part of the Second Coalition against France, an Anglo-Russian army landed in Holland to overthrow the Batavian Republic and to reinstate the Stadtholder William V of Orange. Initially called ‘The Secret Expedition’, although not really a secret for both sides, the description of the invasion reads like a novel. Five major battles were fought between armies of four different nations, with unexpected deeds of heroism and unexpected defeats. There were secret negotiations and rumors of bribery. More than enough ingredients for biased opinions, historical errors, and incorrect information copied from historians up to this day. The aim of this book is to give a balanced, detailed, and complete account of the events taking place during the invasion: the preparations on both sides, detailed descriptions of the battles as well as the events taking place at sea and in the eastern provinces of the Batavian Republic. Also giving new opinions on questions like: What were the causes of ‘The Secret Expedition’? Did Brune indeed delay reinforcing the Batavians? What caused the frequent panics in the participating armies? Were the French veteran troops and the Batavians soldiers unreliable? How was the treaty closed? The book is based on source material from all participating countries, including numerous firsthand accounts of eyewitnesses and contemporaries, providing the reader with a mirror to the past.