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160 KEY FIGURE KEY DEVELOPMENT

ONET 1680–1815 FREDERICK 18TH-CENTURY

THE GREAT
1740–86
UNIFORMED ARMIES
Frederick the Great (Frederick II,
King of Prussia) was the most
admired commander of his time.
His greatest battles were at Rossbach
December, 1757, during the Seven
(1701–14) and Austrian Succession (1740–48), the Seven Years’ War (1756–63),
Years’ War. He won each victory
and the American Revolutionary War (1775–83), followed the tradition of
Y and Leuthen, in November and The armies that fought such conflicts as the wars of the Spanish Succession
against far larger forces, through
AND BA Permanent regiments, identified by banners, Alongside the line infantry, European armies
aggressive battlefield maneuvers.
uniformed regular forces, with a formal hierarchy of ranks.
uniforms, and other symbols, provided a focus
deployed light infantry, who were supposed to take
for loyalty. Cavalry retained high status and were
on a freer role. Some of these light troops, notably
FLINTLOCK reconnaissance and raids, while heavy cavalry were rifles. Line infantry were not trained in aimed fire,
given important tasks: light horsemen carried out
the Austrian and Prussian Jäger, were armed with
used in field battles to charge with sabres drawn.
which was hardly possible with the inherently
Although field artillery was growing in use, muzzle-
inaccurate smoothbore musket. The Jäger were
accomplished sharpshooters, however, capable
loaded smoothbore cannon as yet played only a
supporting role. Consequently, the success or failure of accurate sniping and skilled in the use of cover.
Elsewhere, rifle-armed American frontiersmen
of an army depended mainly upon its infantry.
gained a legendary reputation for success against the
MUSKETS AND RIFLES British Army in the American Revolutionary War,
Around the start of the 18th century, European although the reality was not as clearly defined.
▲ Frederick commanded his army
in person, priding himself upon his infantry adopted the flintlock musket and socket
tactical handling of artillery, cavalry, bayonet. The bayonet replaced the pike, in effect HEAVY LOSSES
and the disciplined Prussian infantry.
making every foot soldier a musketeer. Usually The level of combat casualties during this period
recruited from the lowest levels of society, was often astonishingly high. At the Battle of
▶ CUIRASSIER’S infantry were subject to brutal discipline Zorndorf in 1758, during the Seven Years’ War,
UNIFORM
Cuirassiers were and relentlessly drilled to execute the Prussians suffered 11,000 casualties out
French heavy orders without question. They of an army of 36,000, while the Russians lost
cavalry who were trained to maneuver with 22,000 men out of 43,000. Commanders such
wore plumed mechanical precision, marching in as Frederick the Great aspired to battles of
helmets. Their
tunics were columns and deploying in lines sweeping maneuver, making coordinated use
less spectacular for combat, to bring maximum of infantry, cavalry, and artillery to achieve
than those of firepower to bear. Since armor victories. Some battles, however, simply
the light cavalry, was no longer used, soldiers walked degenerated into incoherent mêlées, obscured
but they were
usually covered unprotected into enemy muskets and by great clouds of gunpowder smoke. Although
by armor— cannon, while maintaining close formation. many European armies had developed into highly
a cuirass and They shot their muskets in controlled efficient killing machines, commanders typically
back plate.
volleys, relying on volume of fire rather found it difficult to translate successes on the
than individual marksmanship. battlefield into permanent strategic gains.

▶ THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM
A British army led by the Duke of
Marlborough, and Austrian forces
under Eugene of Savoy, defeated
Franco-Bavarian forces at Blenheim,
in 1704, during the War of Spanish
Succession. More than 30,000
soldiers were killed or wounded
in the day’s fighting.