Vauban and the French Military Under Louis XIV

Historian, writer and illustrator Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage is the author of numerous books. His interests include World War II and medieval and French history. He lives in Groningen, Netherlands.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      Introduction      1. The Reign of Louis XIV and Vauban’s Life and Career      Vauban’s Personality      Youth (1633–1651)      The Rebellious Frondeur (1651–1653)      Captain Vauban (1653–1659)      King’s Engineer (1659–1667)      War of Devolution (1667–1668)      Four Years of Peace (1668–1672)      Dutch War (1672–1678)      Commissioner General of Fortifications (1678–1688)      Nine Years’ War (1688–1697)      War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1714)      Marshal Vauban’s Last Combats (1700–1707)      Louis XIV’s Death (1714)      2. Artillery and Engineering Corps      Artillery      Matchlock Musket      Engineering Corps      3. Siege Warfare      Siege Warfare Advocated by Vauban      Advantages and Disadvantages of Vauban’s Method      Sieges Directed by Vauban      4. Vauban’s Bastioned Fortifications      Italian Bastioned Fortifications      Vauban’s Predecessors      Vauban’s Three “Systems”      Bastioned Front      Bastion      Curtain      Ditch      Gatehouse      Outworks      Covered Way and Place of Arms      Advance Works      Detached Works      Flooding      Entrenched Camp      Military Buildings      Design of Fortifications      Construction of Fortifications      The Relief Maps Collection      5. France Fortified by Vauban      Northeast Frontier      Ardennes and Lorraine      Alsace      Franche-Comté      Dauphiné and Savoy      Mediterranean Coast      Roussillon      Western Pyrenees      Defenses of Bordeaux      Defenses of the Pertuis      Bretagne (Brittany) and Normandy      6. Vauban’s Oisivetés      Agriculture and Inland Navigation      Colonies      Religion      Politics and Organization of the State      Fiscal Considerations      List of Vauban’s Written Works      Conclusion      Vauban’s Legacy in France 282 Vauban’s Influence Abroad      Bibliography      Index

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