Post
by Captain of Dragoons » Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:20 am
To be considered a great Captain-General in my view is how did they apply/advance the art of war.
Speaking of the TMP i recall a thread in which posters were comparing Conde and Turenne. One interesting comment from a poster was, and i am paraphrasing: "If I want a battle won I would pick Conde, if I want a campaign won I would pick Turenne".
I have a book on my ereader by Theodore Ayrault Dodge (later 19th Century Writer) titled 'GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS: A History of the Art of War from its Revival After the Middle Ages to the End of the Spanish Succession War, with a Detailed Account of the Campaigns of the Great Swede, and of the Most Famous Campaigns of Turenne, Conde, Eugene and Marlborough.'
Dodge considers Eugene greater then Marlborough. However he considers Eugene, Marlborough, Conde and Turenne in the second rank behind Adolphus, Frederick the Great and Napoleon.
But for our period, from reading the book, believe Dodge would rank them like this: Eugene, Marlborough, Turenne, Conde, and Luxembourg. There are also chapters on Charles XII, Montecuculi, and Catinat.
A very interesting book.
I would say our period (1660ish to 1721ish) was more evolutionary then revolutionary. The destruction of the Thirty Years War promoted wars of manoeuvre and sieges vice big battles however Conde and Turenne did fight battles during the Fronde and Dutch War scoring victories but conditions/tactics/army organization/etc did not lead to the pursuit of a defeated foe. Armies grew so large during the League of Augsburg War that William and Luxembourg were unable bring total force to bear in battle, sieges being prefered after Neerwinden. Marlborough and Eugene activity sought battle and were able to bring maximum force to battle. Blenheim was decisive in that it saved Austria and Ramillies in that the whole of the Spanish Netherlands fell but neither won the war. Oudenarde, a good example of a meeting engagement and Malplaquet was how to lose a battle but keep an army in being to stalemate the enemy. Charles XII was a bold commander but overextended himself leading to defeat at Poltava.
cheers,
Edward
Captain of Dragoons