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Marshal Turenne
"Read and re-read the campaigns of the great captains," said the greatest of all captains, and fore-most among those of modern times he placed Turenne. But did he not practically contradict this " Maxim" by gathering in the threads of thought and action of all previous leaders and reweaving them in the loom of his powerful and almost omniscient mind into lessons of warfare for all time? For all time certainly, so far as we can see, as regards the greater lessons of strategy, even allowing for the infinite possibilities of the future. Tactics, however, have altered so much that the Napoleonic battlefields are to us little more instructive than those of the Thirty Years' War and the Fronde, much less so than the battles of Turenne were to
Napoleon himself, who practically swept away the old methods. Even strategy may in some degree now be said to be affected.
Had Turenne undertaken the passage of the Alps, science would have aided him little more than it did Hannibal. When Napoleon performed that wonderful feat, with the exception of rather better roads than Turenne would have had to deal with, the mechanical means at his disposal were little greater than those on which the great Carthaginian could count. Were a general, however, to attempt a like invasion in these days, he would have all the accessories of iron, steam and electricity to materially forward his project.
As regards the weapons and equipment of the Napoleonic wars, armour had practically ceased to be worn. The pike, the harquebuss and the wheel-lock had given place to the musket and bayonet, pike and wheel-lock in one. Cavalry had ceased to charge at the trot, and the firing of "piece and pistol before setting on with the sword" had yielded to shock tactics proper. In fact the highly trained infantry of the age of Napoleon had considerably curtailed the liberties taken by cavalry in the age of Turenne, and certain modifications in mounted tactics were the inevitable consequence. The conqueror of Austerlitz and Jena, the victor on a hundred fields, remodelled the tactics and altered the system of war, from that which had prevailed in the time of his predecessor, to suit the different conditions under which he led the armies of France into nearly every country in Europe.
But although he might alter the conditions of attack and defence, although he no longer laid his armies up in winter quarters, nor sat down before fortresses when there yet remained an army in the field to defeat, still with all the momentous changes he made, he could not alter the great principles of strategy. On the other hand, his campaigns exemplify every principle upon which Turenne acted, and with the wider field in which he exercised his greater ambitions, he not only mirrored to us all that Turenne thought and said and did, but added to them the fire of his own genius for war. But the great principles of strategy as affected by the configuration of frontiers, the necessity for a secure base, the command of the sea, and the strokes of attack and defence, which these demanded, must remain immutable for all time. The great principles of Turenne are the same as those under which Von Moltke and Oyama worked, and although it may be better worth the time and the study of the military student to read and re-read the campaigns of Napoleon and the great masters of the art that have lived since, than to turn to the pages of a biography of Turenne, still there may be much there that even the most advanced of modern soldiers will find of value.
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.
Napoleon himself, who practically swept away the old methods. Even strategy may in some degree now be said to be affected.
Had Turenne undertaken the passage of the Alps, science would have aided him little more than it did Hannibal. When Napoleon performed that wonderful feat, with the exception of rather better roads than Turenne would have had to deal with, the mechanical means at his disposal were little greater than those on which the great Carthaginian could count. Were a general, however, to attempt a like invasion in these days, he would have all the accessories of iron, steam and electricity to materially forward his project.
As regards the weapons and equipment of the Napoleonic wars, armour had practically ceased to be worn. The pike, the harquebuss and the wheel-lock had given place to the musket and bayonet, pike and wheel-lock in one. Cavalry had ceased to charge at the trot, and the firing of "piece and pistol before setting on with the sword" had yielded to shock tactics proper. In fact the highly trained infantry of the age of Napoleon had considerably curtailed the liberties taken by cavalry in the age of Turenne, and certain modifications in mounted tactics were the inevitable consequence. The conqueror of Austerlitz and Jena, the victor on a hundred fields, remodelled the tactics and altered the system of war, from that which had prevailed in the time of his predecessor, to suit the different conditions under which he led the armies of France into nearly every country in Europe.
But although he might alter the conditions of attack and defence, although he no longer laid his armies up in winter quarters, nor sat down before fortresses when there yet remained an army in the field to defeat, still with all the momentous changes he made, he could not alter the great principles of strategy. On the other hand, his campaigns exemplify every principle upon which Turenne acted, and with the wider field in which he exercised his greater ambitions, he not only mirrored to us all that Turenne thought and said and did, but added to them the fire of his own genius for war. But the great principles of strategy as affected by the configuration of frontiers, the necessity for a secure base, the command of the sea, and the strokes of attack and defence, which these demanded, must remain immutable for all time. The great principles of Turenne are the same as those under which Von Moltke and Oyama worked, and although it may be better worth the time and the study of the military student to read and re-read the campaigns of Napoleon and the great masters of the art that have lived since, than to turn to the pages of a biography of Turenne, still there may be much there that even the most advanced of modern soldiers will find of value.
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.
- GenresMilitary HistoryHistory
401 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1907
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 21, 2013
Good but not great. Needs analysis. Kinda sad this is the best English book we have on such an amazing general :(
January 30, 2012
This book; “Marshal Turenne” by Thomas Longueville was first published in 1907 and offers the reader an interesting and engrossing account of the life of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, who many believe, after Napoleon, is one of the greatest French generals in history.
We follow the career and life of Marshal Turenne, who was sent by his mother after his father’s death to the Low Countries, to learn the art of war under his uncle, Maurice of Nassau, commander of the troops of Holland in their protracted struggle against Spain.
From there we follow his campaigns and battles during the Thirty Years War and into the political machinations of France under Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. The book continues with the Marshal’s career during the reign of Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin and the many battles that occurred during this period when France extended its power throughout Europe.
Beside reading about Turenne we also have the added benefit of reading about another great French military leader, the celebrated Prince de Condé who’s career is intertwined with Turenne’s throughout their lives.
Marshal Turenne died during the battle of Sasbach in July 1675, when he was struck by a cannon ball. The same shot that killed the Marshal also carried off the arm of St. Hilaire, commander-in-chief of the artillery. His young son, who was with him, thinking that his father was mortally wounded, began to cry.
"Hold your peace, my child," said St. Hilaire in his agony, as he pointed with his remaining arm to the body of Turenne. “See! There is something for which the whole would should weep – and weep for ever.”
We follow the career and life of Marshal Turenne, who was sent by his mother after his father’s death to the Low Countries, to learn the art of war under his uncle, Maurice of Nassau, commander of the troops of Holland in their protracted struggle against Spain.
From there we follow his campaigns and battles during the Thirty Years War and into the political machinations of France under Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. The book continues with the Marshal’s career during the reign of Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin and the many battles that occurred during this period when France extended its power throughout Europe.
Beside reading about Turenne we also have the added benefit of reading about another great French military leader, the celebrated Prince de Condé who’s career is intertwined with Turenne’s throughout their lives.
Marshal Turenne died during the battle of Sasbach in July 1675, when he was struck by a cannon ball. The same shot that killed the Marshal also carried off the arm of St. Hilaire, commander-in-chief of the artillery. His young son, who was with him, thinking that his father was mortally wounded, began to cry.
"Hold your peace, my child," said St. Hilaire in his agony, as he pointed with his remaining arm to the body of Turenne. “See! There is something for which the whole would should weep – and weep for ever.”
October 20, 2013
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne is regarded as one of the greatest commanders in Western history. Attaining the rank of general at the tender age of 24, he led French forces successfully in the Thirty Years War, the Franco-Spanish War, the Fronde, and Louis XIV's early wars before being killed on the eve of the battle of Salzbach. Yet despite his illustrious record and the praise accorded him there are frustratingly few books about Turenne in the English language, which forces English-language readers to turn to Thomas de Longueville's biography by default. First written in 1907, it is in many ways the best English-language biography of the great marshal-general available.
Yet being the best available doesn't necessarily make it a good book. Longueville's account of Turenne's life generally consists of a narrative of his activities that is heavy on anecdotes and short on analysis. There is little in the way of context, and even less on his personal life; instead the text is thick with battles and campaigns the assessment of which relies heavily on the judgments of others (most notably Napoleon Bonaparte. That it is still relied upon for understanding Turenne's life only speaks to the lack of anything better available in English, and the crying need for someone to step up and provide the biography that Turenne so richly deserves.
Yet being the best available doesn't necessarily make it a good book. Longueville's account of Turenne's life generally consists of a narrative of his activities that is heavy on anecdotes and short on analysis. There is little in the way of context, and even less on his personal life; instead the text is thick with battles and campaigns the assessment of which relies heavily on the judgments of others (most notably Napoleon Bonaparte. That it is still relied upon for understanding Turenne's life only speaks to the lack of anything better available in English, and the crying need for someone to step up and provide the biography that Turenne so richly deserves.
July 7, 2021
anazin book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews