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by Giancarlo Boeri (Author)
This book provides an overview of the composition of the armies of this Monarchy. The term "armies" is used in the plural because each kingdom, province, or principality within the Monarchy maintained its own military force, militia, and budget, despite constant interaction between these territories. Each territory was governed by a viceroy or governor, appointed by the king, who also served as the captain-general-the supreme commander of he armed forces in that region. However, funding and strategic decisions remained partially dependent on the king, who alone had the authority to move troops between territories when necessary. This power was exercised through various councils, where political intrigue and factional struggles were common. The most important of these, in matters of military operations, was the Council of War. The book focuses on the War of the League of Augsburg, also known as the Nine Years' War (1688-1697), which marked the close of the 17th century. In Spain, this conflict culminated in the 1697 siege and fall of Barcelona, effectively bringing the war to an end. The geographical scope is limited to Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Where possible, we have reconstructed the succession of field masters and colonels of various military units, a crucial element for tracing their actions, as historical sources often mention only their names at specific moments. Finally, as a deliberate choice by the authors, special attention has been given to the study of uniforms and flags-an aspect of military history that has been largely overlooked by previous authors.
