The Gold Standard: The Royal French Army of the 18th Century

In the English-speaking world, we often view the French Army through the single lens of the Seven Years' War. We see the disaster: the loss of Canada, the retreat from India, and a reputation left in tatters.

But this is a dangerously limited view of the 18th-century French War Machine. To judge them only by their defeats is to miss how they defined the very art of war for the rest of Europe.

In this episode, Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Andrew Bamford are joined by Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Together, we examine the "Gold Standard" of the 18th century. We discuss how the Royal French Army actually functioned, from the complex systems used to man its ranks to the massive logistical engine that kept it moving. We explore how this institution became the aspiration for the rest of the world, influencing military doctrine from Prussia to the American colonies.

Topics Discussed:

• The "Gold Standard": How the French Army became the model for the rest of Europe.
• Logistics & Supply: The sophisticated systems required to feed the largest army in Europe.
• Modern Application: How Dr. Abel uses 18th-century history to train modern officers at the CGSC.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation includes a deeper dive into the intellectual life of the officer corps, including:

• Doctrine Wars: The internal debates on how to fight (Line vs. Column).
• National Character: The French perspective on the "martial spirit" of their British and Prussian rivals.
• Merit vs. Birth: The struggle to introduce meritocracy into an aristocratic officer corps.

Guest: Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Guibert: Father of Napoleon's Grande Armée 

By Dr. Jonathan Abel

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