2 - Soldiers and civilians

Summary

The seasonal rhythm of warfare and politics in Europe at this period was rarely broken. Year after year armies had to wait for the thaw to dry out, and the earth to grow fresh forage, before they could move. The great majority of battles and sieges took place in summer and autumn. If in Spain fighting paused in the July heat, if in Poland Swedish commanders manoeuvred with remarkable speed across snow-covered plains in winter, the normal timetable nevertheless repeated itself in most areas with monotonous punctuality. By late November armies were going into winter quarters. The political season now began, of diplomatic and financial preparation for the next campaign. In the English House of Commons detailed estimates of the cost of land and sea forces for the following year—a new device in 1690—were introduced in November or December. In a dozen assemblies of Estates in the Habsburg lands, the ritual bargaining over war-taxation took place between December and March. At the same time, the size of the forces to be hired from smaller States by the principal belligerents was with more or less difficulty settled. Many French officers returned to Paris where Louis XIV's quartermaster-general, the marquis de Chamlay, set about his annual task of drafting Bourbon plans for the next year's campaign.

Equally, winter was the main recruiting season. From the widely scattered quarters of many armies, often from each troop or company in a regiment, an officer or two came home to find recruits; they were due back punctually in the spring with contingents of fresh manpower. By then, in the Spanish Succession War, Scotsmen had joined the Scots brigade in Dutch employ, Brandenburgers had reached Frederick I's troops in Flanders or Italy, and more Englishmen were expected in Spain.