Read e-book online War, Religion and Service: Huguenot Soldiering, 1685–1713 PDF

throughout the wonderful Revolution of 1688 Huguenot squaddies have been on the vanguard of William of Orange's military. Their position used to be a major one and they're, with justification, top remembered for this act between British historians and the general public alike. but Huguenot soldiering existed lengthy ahead of this occasion, and French Protestants and their descendants featured prominently in eu armies lengthy afterwards. This quantity is the 1st try to assemble in a scholarly learn essays treating the Huguenots as infantrymen in Europe and globally. Their tale is usually attention-grabbing and occasionally poignant as they aided overseas Protestantism opposed to Catholic foes throughout Europe and within the New international, whereas last 'under the go' of their place of birth of France. The e-book is split into 3 sections, the 1st analysing the interval sooner than the 1685 Revocation of the Edict of Nantes which sealed their destiny in France. Their function as mercenaries and freedom warring parties gets recognition, as does the advanced political motivation that underscored their involvements in a foreign country within the pre-Revocation period. Chapters learn the Huguenot reason for international provider and the dynamics of the Protestant foreign of which they have been this kind of trendy half. Their function in ecu armies after that date is roofed within the moment component of the amount with a few specialist reviews of Huguenot refugees within the armies of england, the Netherlands and Russia. a 3rd part treats the Huguenot legacy, targeting the getting older iteration of refugees and their descendants' contributions to the international locations in their adoption. This publication includes stories of the Huguenots serving in armies in quite a few international locations, and examines the lives and activities of a few person French refugee commanders who led armies together with their compatriots. via combining biographical stories of eminent figures with broader issues of workforce event, the amount offers a wide-ranging and notion upsetting number of fabric, making this the 1st research of its style to constantly deal with the army contribution made via the Huguenots to Europe on the excessive aspect in their significance as a historic group.