The financial administration of the French navy during the War of the Spanish Succession

Thesis

The prevailing historical narrative of the collapse of Louis XIV’s naval power has emphasised the importance of political decision-making, either in the strategic shifts between the guerre d'escadre and the guerre de course, or in the decision to reduce the naval budget in the midst of war in 1694 and 1707. As France faced massive financial overextension and an increasing need to fight for territorial survival in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), it was inevi...

Expand abstract

Authors: Darnell, B

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Financial aspects of naval warfare; Collapse of the French navy under Louis XIV; Financial analysis of Louis XIV's navy; French naval spending during the War of the Spanish Succession; Role of the trésoriers généraux de la Marine
• Subjects: Spanish Succession, War of (1701-1714); History; Louis XIV, King of France, 1638-1715; Pontchartrain, Jérôme Phélypeaux, comte de, 1674-1747; Finance, Public; Business logistics; Early Modern France; France. Marine