The Age of Battles The Quest for Decisive Warfare from Breitenfeld to Waterloo [Paperback]

Here is narrative history in the grand manner, deeply and passionately informed by a wide understanding of every aspect of the topic: the historical circumstances and political conditions of the contending adversaries, the strategic thinking and the personalities of the military commanders, the tactical maneuvering on the field of battle, the role of armaments and technology, and the performance of the soldiers.

Russell F. Weigley (1930-2004) was Professor of History at Temple University and author of A Great Civil War (winner of the Lincoln Prize); The American Way of War; History of the United States Army; and Eisenhower's Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany, 1944-1945 (all published by IUP). He lived in Philadelphia.

Introduction

Note on Dates

Part One The Profession of Officership and the Birth of Modern War

Chapter One The Return of the Legions: Gustavus Adolphus and Breitenfeld

Chapter Two The Limits of the New Legions: Lutzen and After

Chapter Three Under the Lily Banners: Rocroi

Chapter Four The Army of the Sun King

Chapter Five Marlboroughs Battles: Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet

Chapter Six The Emergence of the Great Powers of Eastern Europe

Chapter Seven The Rise of Naval Power

Part Two The Eighteenth Century: The Classical Epoch of Modern War

Chapter Eight The Battles of Frederick the Great

Chapter Nine The French and British Armed Forces from the Rhine to the St. Lawrence

Chapter Ten Toward Wars of Nations: The War of American Independence

Chapter Eleven Prelude to Revolution

Part Three Thunderstrokes of Battle: The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Chapter Twelve The French Revolution: Transformation and Continuity in War

Chapter Thirteen Sea Power and Empire

Chapter Fourteen The Climax of Napoleonic War: To Austerlitz and Jena-Auerstadt

Chapter Fiftl“Y