After the Peace of Westphalia, several German states developed a disciplined 'military' that produced outstanding armies. Germany supplied mercenary troops to major and minor powers across Europe, and the military state, usually exemplified by Prussia, became a crucial part of German history. However, 'Germany' appeared weak and was divided into a multitude of states that constantly faced a hostile environment created by belligerent great powers. Additionally, the German 'militaries' were the result of a system of collective security, internal conflict and resolution that allowed a rich variety of political traditions to coexist relatively harmoniously. This system tried to preserve 'Germany' against formidable attacks without making it a threat to the security of its neighbours. In contrast to the political culture of later German states, that of the Reich was inherently defensive, preferring peace to war in both domestic politics and external relations. This study deals with the armies of the Holy Roman Empire for the first time in a single book from extensive research in archives across Germany and using previously unpublished iconography. This third and final volume of Bruno Mugnai's monumental work on the German armies of the late seventeenth century explores how armies recruited troops and further reviews the armed forces of the myriad of states within 'Germany'. The author examines the conflicts that involved the German armies during the second half of the seventeenth century. The book concludes with extensive appendices that contain a wealth of material on orders of battle, regiments, and the specifics of armies hiring troops to foreign states. AUTHOR: Bruno Mugnai was born in Florence in 1962 and still lives there with Silvia, Chiara and Eugenio. Active for years as a divulger of history and illustrator, he has published several titles for publishers such as the Historical Office of the Italian Army and Helion & Company in the UK, concerning to the periods and geographical areas of his interest, as the Ancient Italian States, central and eastern Europe in 16th, 17th and 18th century and South America after the conquest. As an illustrator he is collaborating with important Italian and foreign specialists and with the Stibbert Museum of Florence. Bruno is a Rugby Football Union enthusiast, who is still trusting in the Italian Grand Slam in the Six Nations Tournament. 10 colour plates, 60 b/w illustrations, 4 b/w maps
