"Military notes from Delbruck" Topic

I recently started reading Hans Delbruck's 1920 "The Dawn of Modern Warfare", covering Swiss pikes up through Napoleon and thought I'd share tidbits as I go.

In 1509 the Emperor Maximilian wanted to storm Padua. The lansquenets insisted that nobles participate in the attack. The famed Bayard said "Are we supposed to risk our lives at the side of tailors and shoemakers?" German knights said they were there to fight on horseback, not to storm walls. The Emperor gave up the siege.

Monthly pay for a soldier in the 16th Century was 4 guilders. (Another book I have says that was for a musketeer/arquebusier and a pikeman got 3.) But soldiers reckoned that a new month started each time they fought a battle or stormed a city. Put that into your campaign rules. In 1619 Bohemian soldiers refused to dig entrenchments because they hadn't been paid. Tilly would soon exploit their laxness. During the winter of 1618-19 the Bohemian army in front of Budweis lost 2/3 of their number to disease, some 8,000 troops.

The Duke of Alba's army moved from Italy to Flanders in 1567, followed by 400 prostitutes on horseback.

Delbrück's book is an intersting work but one that needs to be read with care since he had the bad habit of manipulating the sources when they did not fit with his theories. More than once he misrepresents the content of a source, particularly when writing about the works of Giorgio Basta and he flat out lies about the content of Davila's history of the French wars of religion. He was also fond of cuting and pasting together the content of sources in a way that would not be accepted today. For example he takes entries from Tavannes memoirs which are from several diffrent decades and present them as a single cohesive text.

Daniel, I defer to your superior knowledge. I have already seen things I disagree with. Delbruck needs a peck of salt.

Making the sources fit his theories? Certainly no one does that these days.

OK Daniel, is there an English-language source you recommend for Renaissance military matters? I know your views on Guthrie's two books and now know your views on Delbruck. Who would you prefer?

I have conflicting feelings regarding Delbrück, on one hand he and his students pioneered the scientific study of military history and their thesis and monographs are often my first stop when studying many of the 'classic' 16th Century battles. On the other hand not only were some of his theories not based on facts but they have also survived long past their due date. A good example of this is his rigid separation of "fire" and "shock" and the misunderstandings this creates regarding how pistol armed cavalry fought.

Delbrück is still usefull due to the large numbers of quoted and footnoted sources. In particular the chapter on the transformation of cavalry is full of valuable information. Particularly if you follow up the quotes to help get them in the correct context.

That would depend on just what part of this huge period you are interested in? For example James B Wood's "The King's Army" is a superb study of the French Royal army in 1560-1576 but will be of limited use to the student of the Italian Wars or the Armada campaign.

I am either an omnivore or have no discretion. I am interested in the entire period covered by the book, Swiss pikes through Bonaparte – and after.

In terms of what our group can field, so far we have Swiss and Burgundians for those wars, and a mix of ECW and Thirty Years War troops that we press into service for both conflicts, all in 15mm. We are more interested in getting the tactical feel for each period than the absolute correct figures.

Thanks, I will look for "The King's Army". My book shelves are so full that I have to cull the lesser ones to make room for new ones.

It's always a pleasure to read Daniel's posts and I must say I put great weight on his recommendations. I've had "The King's Army" on my Amazon Wishlist for a couple of years now but haven't purchased it only because I have so many other books to get through. Perhaps it's time now.

For some free reading on diffren Renaissance subjects I recomend the free theses provided by British Library, two lists of which can be found here TMP link

Myself I particularly enjoyed Arfaioli's about the Black Bands, Fallon's about the Scots mercenaries during the TYW and Borman's on Sir Francis Vere.

"The King's army" is one of my favorite books, not only is it well researched but it also includes stuff which is of particular interest to wargamers (unit weapons & armour, tactics and a chapter each which studies a battle and a siege as a sample of the Royal armys experience of war) Many academics would ignore such things and focus on organisation, administration, social subjects and so on.

Almost continuing where "The King's Army" ends "Giant of the Grand Siecle" by John Lynn is a massive study of the French army between 1610 and 1715. Lynn looks at just about evrything, from command, supply and administration to the recruitment and life of the rank & file. One part is dedicated to "The practice of War" and covers weaponry, tactics, positional warfare and field warfare.
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Mallet & Shaw's "The Italian Wars 1494-1559" is a excellent starting point for that classical gaming period and provides an upto date account of the wars free from the bias and narrow source selection that plagued Oman in particular
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Thanks for the tips. I shall update my list of books to be acquired, or read in the library if they are dear.