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The dutch army and the military revolutions, 1588-1688

VAN NIMWEGEN Olaf

The dutch army and the military revolutions, 1588-1688

Woodbridge : Boydell press, 2010, XX-577 p.

Collection Warfare in history

ISBN 978-1-84383-575-2

Résumé :

The Dutch army is central to all discussions about the tactical, strategic and organisational military revolution of the early modern period, but this is the first substantial work on the subject in English. This book addresses the changes that were effected in the tactics and organisation of the Dutch armed forces between 1588 and 1688. It shows how in the first decades of this period the Dutch army was transformed from an unreliable band of mercenaries into a disciplined force that could hold its own against the might of Spain. Under the leadership of Maurits of Nassau and his cousin Willem Lodewijk a tactical revolution was achieved that had a profound impact on battle. However, the Dutch army’s organisational structure remained unchanged and the Dutch Republic continued to rely on mercenaries and military entrepreneurs. It was not until the latter half of the seventeenth century that the Dutch, under William III of Orange, Captain-General of the Union, introduced revolutionary changes in military organisation and established an efficient standing army. This army withstood attacks by Louis XIV and the Dutch reforms were copied by the English.

OLAF VAN NIMWEGEN has held a number of research posts in the Netherlands. He has an extensive publication record in Dutch and has published several articles on the Dutch army in English. In 2004 he was awarded the Schouwenburg Prize for an outstanding publication on Dutch military history for De Republiek der Verenigde Nederlanden als grote mogendheid [The Republic of the United Netherlands as a great power], about the role and position of the Dutch Republic in the European system of states in the period 1713 to 1756.

Contents
1  Introduction. The Notion of a Military Revolution in the Early Modern Era
2  The organisation and remuneration of the Dutch army (1588-1648)
3  The Dutch army and the revolution infantry tactics (1592-1618)
4  Field operations (1590-1648)
5  The Dutch offensive and the Spanish counter-offensive (1590-1609)
6  The Republic escalates her war effort (1640-1634)
7  Warfare hits a strategic ceiling (1635-1648)
8  The Dutch army under Johan de Witt and William III (1648-1688)
9  The conduct of war (1650-1688)
10  War on two fronts against England and Münster: the Dutch army falls short (1650-1667)
11  The dawn of large-scale land-based warfare: the War of Devolution and the ‘Guerre de Hollande’ (1667-1674)
12  War in the Spanish Netherlands: the Republic is still ill-equipped for the new, large-scale manner of warfare (1674-1678)

Axe de recherches :

  • ANR – CIRCULATION ET CONSTRUCTION DES SAVOIRS POLICIERS EUROPÉENS (1650-1850)

OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Corinne HÉLIN (19 octobre 2011). The dutch army and the military revolutions, 1588-1688. Regards sur HARTIS : le carnet des doctorant·e·s. Consulté le 24 janvier 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/qfo2


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