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MilArt Lessons 1-24
Lessons 1-24 of History of the Military Art, as taught by the United States Military Academy at West Point. Terms and Definitions written by Salcedo -- put on this medium by Prince.
105
History
Undergraduate 4
10/28/2013

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Term
Polis
Definition
Greek city state
Term
Hoplite
Definition
Greek Infantry
Term
Phalanx
Definition
Battle formation for hoplites
Term
Greco-Persian Wars
Definition
Conflicts between the Greek and Persians. Caused by Persian desire to expand into areas where Athens had vital grain sources. Greeks win due to stronger navy (Athens’ navy). Post war, sailors and hoplites to gain political status/influence for their service.
Term
Peloponnesian Wars
Definition
Fought between Greek polis states (typically Sparta and Athens). These wars illustrate issues in foreign and domestic policies in belligerent states, costs of drawn out conflicts, and ideological sacrifices needed to achieve victory. Athens lose when they supply lines are cut and are starved to death.
Term
Punic Wars
Definition
3 series of war between Carthage and Rome
Term
1st Punic War
Definition
Rome intervenes with Carthaginian affairs, Rome also demands their withdrawal from Sicily. Carthage loses when the Romans isolate their city and starve them.
Term
2nd Punic War
Definition
makes too many demands of Carthage, instigating the 2nd war. Carthaginians army spearheaded by Hannibal. Later defeated by Romes’ Scipio when he turns Carthages allies against them.
Term
3rd Punic War
Definition
Rome decides to eliminate Carthage to prevent future conflicts.
Term
Roman Legions
Definition
consisted of 30 maniples (120-160 armored infantry) arranged to have recruits up front, veterans in the middle, and oldest in the back.
Term
Fall of the Western Empire
Definition
Rome falls.This is due to their empire allowing Visigoths to settle in their empire and join their army; soon after they turned on them while Goths attacked Italy. By 476, Rome was no more.
Term
Carolingian Empire (8th-10th century)
Definition
Empire under the Franks. Used predatory conquest to build an empire under Charlemagne. Originated somewhere between France and Germany. Failed due to family disputes during war. Created a feudal system.
Term
Fiefs and Vassals
Definition
Part of a feudal system, Vassals were given land for serving lords. Vassals then let fiefs live on the land in exchange for working on and maintaining the land.
Term
William I of England “The Conqueror”
Definition
duke of Normans from 1035-1087 and king of England from 1066-1087. Fought various wars to solidify his power. Typically used a strategy of exhaustion, waged war through alliances.
Term
Battle of Hastings
Definition
William I fights against Harold’s forces. William (English) win since they can mobilize resources better (logistically proficient). Somehow managed to catch harold’s army at the right time and decisively engage and destroy them.
Term
First Crusade
Definition
war fought to reclaim the holy lands from non-Christians. Used an appeal to religion by offering redemption for service.
Term
Castles
Definition
defensive structures that serve as a home and base of operations for a royal families military.
Term
Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)
Definition
war mainly waged between the English and French. Several basic warfare concepts changed, such as: infantry being on par with cavalry in terms of effectiveness, concept of a standing army, and artillery revolutions. Charles VII ultimately wins (for France... King Henry VI was king of England, who lost)
Term
Battle Of Crecy (1346)
Definition
Decisive engagement where the English infantrymen (bowmen) proved better than French Cavalry.
Term
Battle of Agincourt (1415)
Definition
Decisive engagement where France had more soldiers and still lost. English were able to envelop the French while they charged into a hail of arrows.
Term
Infantry Revolution of the 14th Century
Definition
Infantry become better armed and able to fend off cavalry. Mastered tactics of halting cavalry charge and counter-attacking. Small use of guerilla tactics and raiding.
Term
Military Revolution
Definition
changes began during the dutch revolt against Catholic Spain. Infantry begins to fire successively by rank to mass firepower. Emphasis on revolution in tactics and technology. Expansion of armies. Also marked beginning of siege warfare and standing armies.
Term
Revolution in Military Affairs
Definition
Iot to sustain large scale warfare, it was necessary to change the relationship between people and the military. More efforts were made to appeal to them to gain their support and resources. Media was used to influence the people more.
Term
Tactical Drill
Definition
rehearsals to master tactics, such as firing volleys and envelopment.
Term
Thirty Years War
Definition
caused by territorial claims, religious disputes, legal rights, and structural reform for Europe. Specifically between the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburgs over territorial claims in Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary. Also conflicts between the Habsburgs since nobles were protestant but ruling families were catholic.
Term
Battle of Breitenfeld
Definition
demonstrated tactical deployments transition into combined arms op between cav,inf, and arty.
Term
Peace of Westphalia
Definition
Holy Roman Emperor ends up compromising with everyone. Also marked beginning of sovereign states in Europe.-
Term
Military Absolutism
Definition
combination of being a political and military leader. Established by King LouisXIV
Term
Francois Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois
Definition
important agent for asserting control, Helped established rank hierarchy,punishments for disobedience.
Term
Gloire
Definition
french term. Embraced the concept of service and meritocracy
Term
Battle Culture of Forbearance
Definition
tactical idea that mastering tactics based on discipline worked for every soldier and that their discipline would make them more combat effective.
Term
Fiscal Military State
Definition
creating a state that uses mil funds
Term
Treat of Ryswick
Definition
settled issue of English Succession. Parliament didn’t want a standing army. Parliament can influence finances and therefore influences the military and national security policy.
Term
Wars of Spanish Succession
Definition
caused by who gets the Spanish Throne between French and Austirans. Ends up with the Spanish and French fighting most of Europe for it. Ends with British getting more out of it by using their fiscal resources and naval power.
Term
John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough
Definition
commander of Anglo-Dutch forces who wanted to engage them decisively.
Term
Iberian Theater in 1706
Definition
turning point of conflict, many battles taken on Iberian peninsula.
Term
Battle of Ramillies 1706
Definition
many fortresses recaptured by French, but French are beginning to lose initiative.
Term
French Sapper
Definition
French engineer, made defensive emplacements
Term
Peace of Utrecht 1713
Definition
Everyone got something. Throne went to Phillipe (French). Charles the IV got Italian Netherlands, Brits got Gibraltar, port Mahon, and Newfoundland.
Term
Limited War
Definition
waged only by regular forces under political control, in accordance with norms of conduct
Term
Maurice de Saxe
Definition
French commander who relied on seizing and maintaining the initiative in battle. Used skillful maneuvers to take fortresses.
Term
Battle of Fontenoy 1745
Definition
Greatest French victory in this time period due to good French engineer corps and a change in the balance of political and military power.
Term
Frederick II of Prussia
Definition
ambitious Prussian leader who wages war with Britain against Austria, Russia, and France. Maintained a standing army and used preemptive strikes.
Term
Battle of Rossbach (5 Nov 1757)
Definition
use of combined arms units and importance of fire superiority. Great victory for Frederick.
Term
Battle of Leuthen
Definition
Another victory for Frederick. Faints a withdrawals then ambushes the Austrians.
Term
Diplomatic Revolution
Definition
new ways of operating diplomatically with other nations
Term
Oblique Order
Definition
power unbalanced
Term
"Little War"
Definition
China gets involved in the war for a little while, shifts everyone’s attention
Term
“Skulking way of war”
Definition
deceiftful version of war consisting of ambushes, feinting, and overall deception of the enemy. Also included isolation. Used by native Americans. Almost like guerilla warfare
Term
Exploration, Local Agency, and Imperial Agency
Definition
exploration lead to the discovery of different areas. This lead to the establishment of local agencies which included militias and merchants who expanded settlements. This eventually lead to imperial agency, where officials from the parent nation would come and regulate the settlement
Term
Seven Years’ War
Definition
war between Britain and france. Spread from America to all around the world since the British used their naval power to attack French colonies.
Term
Braddock’s defeat
Definition
british general. Did poorly since he never had field command, did not understand his enemies. Not an effective leader.
Term
Louisburg
Definition
French settlement in North America.
Term
Stamp Act, Coercive Intolerable Acts
Definition
laws imposed on the colonists that created resistance
Term
Militia
Definition
armies built from poorly trained civilians for low level defense, like a town army.
Term
George Washington
Definition
Commander of continental forces. Founding father. Unofficial ranger
Term
Continental Army
Definition
foundation of contemporary army.
Term
Bunker/Breed’s Hill
Definition
showed lack of british intel. Colonists fight in successive volleys and cause massive casualties for the Brits, but end up losing the ground.
Term
Trenton and Princeton-Trenton
Definition
colonists able to surprise, engage, and destroy Hessians in Garrison. Princeton: Washington surprises british forces and push them back to Morristown.
Term
Saratoga Campaign
Definition
Brits begin from Quebec and attempt to take Albany. Colonists manage to beat French due to British incompetencies.
Term
General Burgoyne
Definition
British General during the Saratoga Campaign. Made bad decisions, exhausted his troops and left them vulnerable to the continental army.
Term
Battle of Brandywine
Definition
Washington loses to brits, get out-maneuvered and flanked; British manage to take Philadelphia.
Term
Valley Forge
Definition
Turning point of the War. French intervene and help train colonists
Term
French Alliance
Definition
French Alliance-French enter the war to support colonists and get revenge on the colonists.
Term
Southern Strategy
Definition
Brits believed the south had more loyalists. Encountered guerilla warfare from some colonists.
Term
Savannah Campaigns
Definition
campaigns held in georgia
Term
Cornwallis
Definition
British commander. Highly competent.
Term
Partisan War
Definition
war based on who garners the most support from people.
Term
Cowpens
Definition
Battle where Americans drew the british in, wore them down with volley fires, then finished them with cavalry
Term
Nathaniel Greene
Definition
not very successful with gaining victories, but did well with undermining British and wearing them down.
Term
Combined Operations
Definition
Combination of colonists’ ground troops and French naval forces were effective against british
Term
Comte De Guibert (Arty tactics)
Definition
massing fire to destroy part of the front, or where the point of victory would be.
Term
State, Nation, People
Definition
method of creating nationalism ideals.
Term
“Careers Open to Talents”
Definition
Napoleon’s official way of starting a meritocracy. Not just nobles in command, but whoever is good at it.
Term
Levee en masse (23 Aug 1793)
Definition
mass mobilization of French resources to support army.
Term
Lazare Carnot
Definition
came up with the idea of a centralized position to divide and conquer
Term
Napoleon Bonaparte
Definition
French leader who would rise to power and conquer most of Europe. A “one trick pony?” Relied on decisive engagements.
Term
Gribeauval System of Artillery
Definition
limited gun sizes to maximize mobility and firepower.
Term
Du Teil’s tactics
Definition
massing fire at the point of victory
Term
Battle of Marengo
Definition
French victory that bolstered Napoleon’s prestige.
Term
Peace of Campo Fornio
Definition
peace between French and Austrians. Marks end of French Revolutionary Wars, End of Italian Campaign, collapse of 1st coalition
Term
Corps System
Definition
essentially incorporation of specialized BCT’s
Term
Grand Armee
Definition
Napoleon’s badass army that later lost its effectiveness.
Term
Battalion Square
Definition
square formation that enabled versatile actions from units.
Term
3rd Coalition
Definition
formed by brits who feared French, Austrians who wanted revenged, and Russians who wanted to prevent a revolution
Term
Ulm
Definition
campaign characterized by quick French movements and willingness to accept political issues for military success. Cut Austrians from Russians.
Term
Battle of Austerlitz
Definition
Napoleon defeats Russians and Prussians despite being outnumbered, destroyed political will of the enemy, army good at foraging.
Term
Battle of Jena-Auessteradt
Definition
French Army demonstrates ability to wage war with their legs by outmaneuvering enemies. British still flexible
Term
Battles of Eylau and Friedland
Definition
Transition from stalemate at Eylau to smashing the Russian Army at Friedland
Term
Treaty of Tilsit
Definition
ended 4th coalition, took lands from Austrians, made duchy of warsaw and kingdom of westphalia
Term
Battle of Wagram
Definition
French win against Austrians but not by normal means, they end up just firing artillery at each other until Austrians pull out
Term
Continental System
Definition
idea that isolating british footholds on continental Europe will make them surrender/neutralize them as a threat.
Term
Peninsular war
Definition
French war waged on the Iberian peninsula to make Portugal do their bidding
Term
Battle of Borodino
Definition
Russian stand against French forces as they invade Russia, French manage to break through after taking massive casualties
Term
Guerilla Warfare
Definition
unconventional warfare stemmed from angry Spaniards.
Term
Juntas
Definition
spaniards who want to fuel guerilla warfare
Term
Zaragosa
Definition
city that demonstrated fantacism in Spain
Term
Marshal Suchet
Definition
Napleoon’s best general.
Term
Gerhard Von Scharnhosrt
Definition
General responsible for re-organizing the Prussian army so well.
Term
Reichenbach Protocol
Definition
demand of the dissolution of the duchy of Warsaw, Prussian expansion to the east, Austria gains the adriactic coast, freedom of cities in North Germany. If these terms were refused, Austrian would join the fight.
Term
Trachenberg-Reichenbach Plan
Definition
Armies of Prussia, Austria, and Russia will form an arc around French forces to draw Napoleon into attacking one, which would get him envelop him
Term
Battle of Leipzig
Definition
napoleon finally loses. Also loses foothold in Germany.
Term
Remarkable Trinity
Definition
How reason(government policies), passion (people), and chance during military operations change the effectiveness of any operation
Term
Friction
Definition
when a structure inhibits the ability to perform.
Term
Purpose, obj, means
Definition
Basically why we’re doing it, what needs to be done to be successful, and how we’re going to do it.
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