Folard, Jean-Charles, chevalier de

Folard, Jean-Charles, chevalier de

▪ French military officer
born Feb. 13, 1669, Avignon, Fr.
died March 23, 1752, Avignon

      French soldier and military theorist who championed the use of infantry columns instead of battle lines in warfare. Although he had a small but influential following during his lifetime, his concepts were not generally accepted by Europe's military establishment. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the increasing firepower and accuracy of cannons and rifles finally made his ideas increasingly impractical.

      Serving in the French army during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–14) and from 1714 under Charles XII of Sweden, Folard developed his tactical ideas, which he published as Nouvelles Découvertes sur la guerre . . . (1724; “New Discoveries on war”). A second treatise followed a few years later. Folard believed that firepower alone was not sufficient to bring victory. He suggested the shock of a deep mass of troops in the form of infantry columns used in conjunction with battle lines as the answer. Part of Folard's justification was the small range of contemporary firearms. France's marshal Maurice de Saxe and Austria's Guido von Starhemberg approved his tactics; but most other authorities disagreed, and Folard died in obscurity. Though French armies during the early 1790s won several victories using infantry columns, advances in military technology eventually proved his ideas untenable.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jean Charles, Chevalier Folard — (February 13, 1669–1752), French soldier and military author, was born at Avignon. His military ardour was first awakened by reading Caesar s Commentaries, and he ran away from home and joined the army. He soon saw active service, and, young as… …   Wikipedia

  • Jean-Charles Chevalier de Folard — (* 13. Februar 1669 in Avignon; † 23. März 1752 ebendort) war ein französischer Offizier und Militärtheoretiker, der dadurch bekannt wurde, dass er bereits zu Zeiten, als die Lineartaktik in höchster Blüte stand, für die Verwendung von Kolonnen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jean-Charles de Folard — Charles de Folard Canon qui tire en marchant à la tê …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jean-Charles De Folard — Charles de Folard …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jean-charles de folard — Charles de Folard …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jean Charles de Folard — Charles de Folard …   Wikipédia en Français

  • FOLARD (J.-C. de) — FOLARD JEAN CHARLES chevalier de (1669 1752) De famille noble, enthousiasmé par la lecture des Commentaires de César, Jean Charles Folard s’enfuit de chez lui pour s’engager dans l’armée. Sa carrière d’homme de guerre se déroule de dix huit à… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Folard — Jean Charles Chevalier de Folard (* 13. Februar 1669 in Avignon; † 23. März 1752 ebendort) war ein französischer Offizier und Militärtheoretiker, der dadurch bekannt wurde, dass er bereits zu Zeiten, als die Lineartaktik in höchster Blüte stand,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Biografien/Fo — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Morières-lès-Avignon — Morières lès Avignon …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”