WDF Xtra #15: Louis XIV's Arms & Armies IX
Added 2017-08-27 23:10:15 +0000 UTC[PATRONS] In this episode we conclude our examination of the French navy for now, as we investigate the significant shift in French naval policy from that of fighting its enemies to essentially serving as a mass privateer force. How this force operated, the conditions of service and what made it so attractive for would be pirates and lucrative for the state are issues which come under our microscope here. I hope you enjoy the episode history friends, remember to let me know what you thought @wdfpodcast and I'll see you all in one week's time when we begin our coverage of WDF 30: The Long War
Comments
Yeah that's what I figured. Not exactly a king reaching view by Louis. I especially liked your point about naval officers and the lack of nobles interested position. At least in Louis' time. Very different from the British and Spanish navies from what I remember. However the private and blockade runner strategy is very similar to the US naval strategy during the American Revolution. I'd liked that parallel.
Holly M
2017-08-29 13:34:56 +0000 UTCAw yay thanksss Holly! Glad I was able to tickle your naval interests! On your question, for the most part the French engaged in the home seas of the Med and North, but detachments of privateers and occasional warships were deployed to the New World to guard the Canadian territories, and to the east when Indian possessions became more important. There was no hard and fast rule, but generally the colonial lands were neglected for the sake of home waters, to the extent that the French would really pay for this strategy when they fought colonial wars against Britain later in 18th c.
When Diplomacy Fails Podcast
2017-08-29 10:20:27 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this extra series on Louis's Armies, etc. I totally geek out on this military stuff, logistics, equipment, manpower, etc. and I'm a big naval history fan so I loved getting that in detail. One question. In Louis's day was the naval strategy, for what it was worth, solely focused on the North Sea and Mediterranean? Or was there a more global perspective in bringing the war to far off shores around the world like across the Atlantic or in the Indian Ocean? I know naval warfare stretched around the globe by the 18th century, but I'm not sure if that was a concern in the 17th century. Were French privateers focused on taking prizes primarily near home waters?
Holly M
2017-08-29 03:34:15 +0000 UTC
