Guy Rowlands was lecturer in early modern history at Exeter College, Oxford, 1995-98, and is now Pybus lecturer in European history at Newnham College, Cambridge. This is his first book.
General introduction: 'Absolute monarchy', dynasticism and the standing army
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
2. The ebb and flow of Le Tellier power, 1661-1701
3. The use and abuse of servants: the Ministry of War, venality and civilian power in the army
4. Financing war: the treasury of the Extraordinaire des guerres
5. Corruption and the pursuit of self-interest 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
7. The business of a regiment
8. The pressures and temptations of service
Part III. The High Command of the French Armies: Introduction
9. The commanders-in-chief and the delegation of royal authority
10. The appointment of general officers
11. The summits of ambition and the rewards of good service: the bienfaits du roi and the high command
Conclusion: the preservation of the dynasty
Appendix 1: Defining the grands
Appendix 2: The proportion of revenue generated by the Extraordinaire des guerres as a 'primary receiver'
Bibliography.
