LOUVOIS' WORK The artillery had been an industrial concern rather than an arm of the service. In sieges a sum of money was paid for each piece put in battery, and the grand master was not subordinated to the war office. But Louvois adroitly filled the post with his own nominee, and eventually formed companies of artillerymen. The engineer service, as organized by Vauban, was composed of engineers "in ordinary," and of line officers especially employed in war. Louvois further introduced the system of magazines. To ensure the regular working of supply and transport, he instituted direct control by the central executive, and stored great quantities of food in the fortresses, thereby securing for the French armies a precision and certainty in military operations which had hitherto been wanting. The higher administration of the army, under the minister of war, fell into two branches, that of the commissaries and that of the inspecting officers. The duties of the former resembled those of a modern "routine" staff—issue of equipment, checking of returns, etc. The latter exercised functions analogous to those of a general staff, super vising the training and general efficiency of the troops. Louvois also created an excellent hospital service, mobile and stationary, founded the Hotel des Invalides in Paris for the maintenance of old soldiers, established cadet schools for the training of young officers, and stimulated bravery and good conduct by reviving and creating military orders of merit.
The last half of the 17th century is a brilliant period in the annals of the French armies. Thoroughly organized, and led by such generals as Conde, Turenne, Luxembourg, Catinat and Ven dome, they made head against coalitions which embraced nearly all the powers of Europe, and made France the first military nation of Europe. The reverses of the latter part of Louis XIV.'s reign were not of course without result upon the tone of the French army, and the campaigns of Marlborough and Eugene for a time diminished the repute in which the troops of Louis were held by other powers. Nevertheless the War of the Spanish Succession closed with French victories. The War of the Polish Succession in Germany and Italy reflected no discredit upon the French arms ; and in 174o the French army was still regarded as the first in Europe. Since the death of Louvois very little had changed. A royal regiment of artillery had come into existence, and the engineers were justly regarded as the most skilful in Europe. The total strength of the French in peace was somewhat less than 200,000, but relatively to the numbers maintained in other states, it was as powerful as before. But its officers were not the equals of their predecessors of the time of Turenne or Luxembourg. Louvois' principle of employing professional sol diers for command and wealthy men for colonelcies and cap taincies answered fairly whilst continual wars gave the profes sional soldiers opportunities for distinction and advancement. But in a long peace the captains of eighteen and colonels of twenty-three blocked all promotion, and there was no work save that of routine to be done. Under these conditions the best soldiers sought service in other countries, the remainder lived only for pleasure, whilst the titular chiefs of regiments and com panies rarely appeared on parade.
On the other hand, the fact that the French armies required large drafts of militia to bring up their regular forces to war strength gave them a vitality which was unusual in armies of the time. But in the wars of 174o-63, the superior leaders proved themselves incompetent, except for Marshal Saxe and some others of the younger generals, and defeats were the product of in competency. The administration, too, was corrupt and inefficient.
Under Louis XVI. things improved somewhat; the American War and the successes of Lafayette and Rochambeau revived a more warlike spirit. Instruction was more carefully attended to, and attempts were made to reform the administration. Ar tillery and engineer schools had come into existence, and the intellectual activity of the best officers was remarkable (see Max Jahns, Gesch. der Kriegswissensclia ften, vol. iii. passim) . But the Revolution soon broke over France, and the history of the royal army was henceforward carried on by that revolu tionary army, which, under a new flag, was destined to raise the military fame of France to its greatest height.