Cover -- Half-title -- Series-title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Maps -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- General introduction 'Absolute monarchy', dynasticism and the standing army -- 'ABSOLUTISM' AND 'ABSOLUTE MONARCHY' -- THE DYNASTIC STATE -- THE ARMY OF LOUIS XIV -- Part I 'Patrimonial bureaucracy': The Le Tellier dynasty and the Ministry of War -- Introduction -- 1 The Secretary of State for War and the dynastic interests of the Le Tellier family -- THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR AND THE ECLIPSE OF THE CHIEF MINISTER -- THE PRESERVATION AND ACCUMULATION OF OFFICE -- THE MARITAL ACTIVITY OF THE LE TELLIER, 1660-1690 -- THE LE TELLIER AS SOLDIERS AND COURTIERS, 1661-1701 -- THE LE TELLIER MATRIMONIAL AND ALLIANCE NETWORK, 1691 TO 1701 -- 2 The ebb and flow of Le Tellier power, 1661-1701 -- THE APEXE OF INFLUENCE, 1675-1688 -- THE WANING OF LE TELLIER POWER, 1689-1691 -- THE SUCCESSION OF THE MARQUIS DE BARBEZIEUX, 1691 -- THE MARQUIS OF BARBEZIEUX AS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR: REPUTATION AND REALITY -- 3 The use and abuse of servants: the Ministry of War, venality and civilian power in the army -- THE WAR MINISTRY IN PARIS AND AT THE COURT -- THE COMMISSAIRES DES GUERRES -- THE REFORM OF THE COMMISSAIRES DES GUERRES THE 1690S: THE EROSION OF MILITARY ADMINISTRATION -- CLIENTAGE, HIERARCHY AND THE COMMISSAIRES DES GUERRES -- THE PROVINCIAL INTENDANTS -- THE ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES OF THE ARMY INTENDANTS -- THE POLITICS OF MILITARY CONTROL: THE ARMY INTENDANTS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR AND THE GENERALS -- THE AMBITION OF INTENDANTS -- 4 Financing war: the treasury of the Extraordinaire des Guerres -- THE FISCO-FINANCIER SYSTEM -- THE INCOME OF LOUIS XIV: A HISTORICAL BELL CURVE -- A SHOW MINISTRY: THE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXTRAORDINAIRE DES GUERRES -- THE INCOME OF THE EXTRAORDINAIRE DES GUERRES.

THE TREASURERS-GENERAL AND THEIR ASSOCIATES -- 5 Corruption and the pursuit of self-interest in the Ministry of War -- THE WAR ON FRAUD IN THE EXRAORDINAIRE DES GUERRES -- THE PERSISTENCE OF FRAUD IN THE MINISTRY OF WAR -- Part II The forging of the French officer corps and the standing army under Louis XIV -- Introduction -- 6 In the name of sustainability: reforming the structure of the standing army and the officer corps -- THE ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE REGIMENTAL OFFICERS -- REGIMENTS AND COMPANIES AS PROPERTY: THE BENEFITS OF MILITARY VENALITY -- THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE STANDING ARMY -- THE OFFICIERS RÉFORMÉS: RETAINING THE SERVICES OF THE NOBILITY -- BRINGING ON THE NEXT GENERATION -- THE FIGHT AGAINST IGORANCE AND DISORDER -- INSPECTION AND OVERSIGHT: THE TRADITIONAL OFFICES OF THE CAVALRY AND DRAGOONS -- INSPECTION AND OVERSIGHT: THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR'S MILITRAY INSPECTORS -- 7 The business of a regiment -- PAYING THE OFFICERS -- THE RECRUITMENTS AND RETENTION OF THE MEN -- THE FUNDING OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT -- ADDITIONAL FINANCIL SUPPORT FROM THE CROWN -- THE ADDITIONAL BURDENS OF SERVICE -- THE CINDERELLA RANKS: THE SUBALTERN'S LOT -- 8 The pressures and temptations of service -- HONNÊTE BEHAVIOUR, OBEDIENCE AND THE RESIDUAL CULTURE OF INDEPENDENCE IN THE OFFICER CORPS -- THE CORROSIVE EFFECTS OF LUXURY AND COMPETITION -- PUMPING PRIVATE MONEY INTO MILITARY SERVICE -- THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES -- FRAUD AND DERELICTION OF DUTY -- Part III The high command of the French armies -- Introduction -- 9 The commanders-in-chief and the delegation of royal authority -- THE ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF ARMY AND CORPS COMMANDERS -- THE PATRONAGE POWER AND 'PROTECTION' OF THE COMMANDEERS-IN-CHIEF -- STRATEGY, OPERATIONAL POLICY AND THE GENERALS: THE MYTH OF THE 'STRATEGIE DE CABINET'.

10 The appointment of general officers -- THE ENFORCEMENTS OF ROYAL PREROGATIVE AND MILITARY HIERACHY -- THE LE TELLIER FAMILY AND THE SUBORDINATE GENERALS -- THE KING AND PRINCES AS COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF -- THE FRENCH GRANDS AS COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF: THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS -- THE FRANCH GRANDS AS COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF: THE POLITICS OF PERSONAL FAVOUR AND DOMESTIC EQUILIBRIUM -- 11 The summits of ambition and the rewards of good service: the bienfaits du roi and the high command -- THE INCENTIVE SYSTEM -- THE MARECHAL DE LUXEMBOURG: THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ROYAL SERVICE AND PRIVATE INTEREST -- Conclusion The preservation of the dynasty -- PRIVATE INTEREST AND THE STANDING ARMY -- THE POLITICS OF PLURALISM: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR THE BOURBON DYNASTY -- THE REFORM OF PATERONAGE PROCEDURE -- THE PERSISTENCE AND DISRUPTION OF CLIENTAGE PATTERNS -- Appendix 1 Defining the grands -- Appendix 2 The proportion of revenue generated by the Extraordinaire des Guerres as a 'primary receiver' -- Bibliography -- ARCHIVAL SOURCES -- PUBLISHED PRIMARY SOURCES -- SECONDARY SOURCES -- UNPUBLISHED THESES -- Index.