A profile of an outstanding military commander of the Seven Years War

The principal subject of this book, Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, is a particularly fascinating character for students of military history on several counts. Not least among these is that the highly regarded military historian Sir John Fortescue, judged that Ferdinand was ‘the finest commander of British troops in the field between the periods of Marlborough and Wellington.’ These notable commanders epitomise the highest of military achievements, and it is rare for another commander to be well enough regarded to be compared to them. It is noteworthy, therefore, that unlike these other great soldiers so little has been written about Ferdinand. Though a commander of British troops Ferdinand was not an Englishman but, perhaps tellingly in terms of his comparative neglect by British historians, a Prussian. Nevertheless, the battles he fought brought honours–which abide to this day–to the colours of British regiments under his command. This special Leonaur book includes the writings of several authors, and contains biographical details of Ferdinand, an interesting overview of his battles and campaigns, a summary of the British regiments he commanded and a fascinating and insightful personal account by one of his senior officers. The text of our edition further benefits from the inclusion of several campaign and battlefield maps, plus illustrations, which were not present in any original publication of the texts.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.