In the ranks
The war saw highly professional European forces lay the foundations for modern warfare
With greater firepower than ever, these 17thcentury armies were professional and deadly
The late 17th century was an era where the professionalisation of national armed forces became recognisably modern. European armies and navies were now highly structured and equipped, but fighting on the battlefield was still a tough experience. Any unit that was not disciplined enough to resist these competent and experienced forces would likely suffer ignominious defeats.
ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH REDCOAT
Once William III had become king of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1688 he exploited the new armies at his disposal to wage the War of the Grand Alliance against Louis XIV. His timing was excellent because, although he had deposed James II, his predecessor had made serious efforts to increase the power of his armed forces. The size of British armies had increased fourfold between 1685-88, although English, Scottish and Irish armies remained separate institutions until the early 18th century.
By the 1680s, British armies had become highly professional and fully equipped compared to the largely ceremonial and policing role they played during Charles II’S reign. There were political complaints that James’s standing army was reminiscent of a “new Cromwellian dictatorship” but the king had no qualms about resurrecting the
New Model Army. James was particularly proud of his
English army and said it had “the reputation of being the best paid, the best equipped and the most sightly troops of any in Europe.”
It was under James and William that the famous ‘Redcoats’ arguably came into their own and learned many lessons between 168897. These experiences would successfully bear fruit shortly afterwards between 1701-14, when the duke of Marlborough led them in several dazzling victories during the War of the Spanish Succession.