Böcker i From Reason to Revolution-serien

Covers the full scope of the French East India Company's military prowess and colonial influence, from its global trade dominance to its strategic triumphs in India and Africa.From the early seventeenth century a multitude of French East or West India companies holding overseas trade monopolies and privileges were active in various parts of the world, especially in Africa and Asia. From 1719, they were united into a single vast Compagnie des Indes (Company of the Indies) known to the anglophone world as the French East India Company. In reality it was far more than that, for its trade privileges also covered Africa, other places in Asia from Arabia to China, and North America. Besides a multitude of usually modestly fortified trade lodges and factories, these companies were the actual government representing the Kingdom of France over substantial parts of Africa, India and the Indian Ocean islands as well as Louisiana in America from 1716 to 1731. The profits were expected to cover government operations. The companies had the power to make war where they operated, and thus, private-sector military conflicts often occurred. They, therefore, maintained their own private armies and navies that were totally independent from those of the King of France. These private troops were usually very modest until the formation of the Compagnie des Indes in 1719. Thereafter, as the French company expanded and became involved in the politics of the crumbling Mughal Empire in India, especially during the rule of the imperial visionary Dupleix, the fairly modest number of European soldiers was greatly expanded by enlisting many thousands of Indian soldiers who were given European training, weapons and sometimes uniforms. It was at the 1746 Battle of Aydar that Compagnie des Indes' French soldiers and sepoys utterly defeated a far larger Indian princely army so that dominance of a European nation in India was assured. After a hard fight, though, that nation would be Great Britain thanks to the good and effective support of its government compared to the French disinterest in overseas matters by the late 1750s. Pondicherry fell in 1761, as Senegal in Africa had three years earlier. The Compagnie des Indes, however, went on for another decade until it closed its books in 1770.The monopoly companies had quite a variety of troops posted in many places. The port of Lorient in France was, from the later seventeenth century, the European troops' depot and training center. Some served as marines on the company ships, others in a multitude of forts and trading lodges on three continents. Their recruitment and command are described. In India, their tactical role multiplied and led to the creation of units of gunners, horse grenadiers, dragoons, hussars, and grenadiers, all with very distinct uniforms. There were sepoy, topas and caffre units as well as auxiliary allied princely armies in India, and trained auxiliary soldiers in Africa. The few royal army soldiers sent to India in the late 1750s are also considered. All Indian, African and metropolitan army troops are covered and described in this fully illustrated study.

A diary of a young British officer during the campaigns of the Duke of York against the French between 1793 and 1795.

The proceedings of the 2019 From Reason to Revolution conference, addressing the British soldier 1721-1815.

The 1779 American Revolutionary War campaign leading up to the American assault and capture of Stony Point, New York, led by General Anthony Wayne.

This book deals with the Guerra Fantastica, or 'Fantastical War', a series of military operations that occurred in Portugal during the Seven Years' War.

A series of case studies exploring the experiences of various units deployed to oppose the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

This is the story of how, in 1808, the Royal Navy used its dominance in the Baltic to rescue the Spanish Army of the Marques de La Romana.

Lavishly illustrated by Franco Saudelli, the volume shows the elegance of the Saxon Army, misjudged by Friedrich II of Prussia as "weak".

An analysis and evaluation of the British army sent to Egypt in 1801 to eject the French Army of the Orient.

Scharnhorst: The Formative Years is the first comprehensive study of Gerhard Scharnhorst. It focuses on his service in Hanover, corrects the inaccuracies of previous German editions, and presents many unpublished discoveries.

A detailed account of the Battle of Villamuriel, the largest action during Wellington's retreat from Burgos in 1812, based on extensive use of international archives.

This book provides details of the recruitment, organisation, equipment, logistics, and command of the Army of King George II from 1727 to 1760.

From Napoleon's invasion of 1812 to the Wars of Liberation and beyond, seen from the common Russian soldier's perspective.

The uniforms, organisation and equipment of Napoleon's French army in Egypt.

A memoir from the ranks of the 45th Regiment of Foot for the period of the Peninsula War.

The journal of Paymaster John Harley is an exposé of life in both the British army and civilian life in Georgian times; full of intrigue, scandal and the strange.

Lavishly illustrated by Franco Saudelli, the volume shows the elegance of the Saxon Army, misjudged by Frederick II of Prussia as "weak".

Details the uniforms and service of infantry and specialist troops in the declining years of the Dutch Republic.

The Jacobite Rising of 1745 could not have taken place without French support. French ships carried Charles Edward Stuart to Scotland, French gold financed his campaign, and French weapons equipped many of his troops. Yet the actual French military contribution to the campaign was small, and its role is frequently neglected.This book seeks to redress this balance by looking in detail at the French military contribution to the Jacobite ¿45: the first detachment of troops to sail with the Prince ¿ who instead of landing in Scotland found themselves caught up in an intense naval battle; the staff officers and professionals who helped Charles organise his army on modern European lines; and the Irish and Scots regulars who fought with distinction at Inverurie, Falkrik, and Culloden.As with many aspects of the ¿45, myths and misconceptions aplenty have arisen about the nature and significance of the French contribution. New archival research enables a better picture to be obtained than ever before of the men who made up the rank and file of this contingent, and of the background and fates of those who led them. New analysis is offered, too, as to details of the uniforms worn by the detachments serving in Scotland, re-considering existing sources and also bringing out new information.Taken together, the result is to fill an important gap in our understanding of these dramatic events, one of the last occasions that foreign troops fought on British soil.

The letters written by George Ulrich Barlow to his father George Hilario Barlow, Governor of Madras, whilst serving with Wellington's army in the Peninsula and at Waterloo.

A Military history of the 1793-95 campaign in Flanders and the Netherlands.

A fully illustrated unique record of the uniforms of the Napoleonic Danish and Norwegian armies and their flags in full colour.

From Across the Sea: North American's in Nelson's Navy explores the life and service of North American-born sailors and officers who served in the Royal Navy during the Wars with France.

The Napoleonic Services of John Burgoyne RE who was present at many battles and sieges in the Peninsular War.

A complete and thoroughly researched book about 'The Secret Expedition'; the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland 1799 and the Franco-Batavian defence. Including numerous first-hand accounts.

The story of the mercenary army which gave the future Duke of Wellington the hardest fight of his life at the Battle of Assaye in 1803.

The definitive and illustrated guide to French light infantry through the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon's First Empire, this study details the development of the chasseurs and voltigeurs.

Using new information from British, Portuguese and French sources, this book updates the story of the Lines of Torres Vedras defences and their role in the Peninsular War.

This third volume covers the Norwegian army's flags, jaegers, ski troops, cavalry, and artillery, and Militia forces in Norway and Denmark, through 54 original full colour plates.