WARS AND SOLDIERS IN THE EARLY REIGN OF LOUIS XIV: Volume 6: Armies of the Italian States - 1660-1690 Part 2

In the 17th century, Italy was the third-largest country by population in Europe, after France and Germany, passing into second position for a century after 1650. Northern as well as southern Italy constituted a key place in the strategic duel between Spain and France, and the Peninsula lied on the front line in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, Italian states constituted good examples of fairly efficient governance machines, which developed many matters, included the military. Some of these states experienced long periods of wars. Includes 79 b/w illustrations, eight b/w photos, 40 color illustrations, 41 maps, and eight tables.