THE ARMIES AND WARS OF THE SUN KING 1643-1715: Volume 5 -- Buccaneers and Soldiers in the Americas

1-220955

This volume covers near-perpetual hostilities during the 16th to the early 18th century in the West Indies and much of coastal Latin America largely caused by the newfound fantastic riches of the Americas. Details the buccaneers, militia, and regular troops of the era and the support provided by France's Sun King Louis XIV to thwart Spain. Includes 102 b/w illustrations, 24 b/w photos, 50 color illustrations, 2 color photos, 58 maps, and 2 tables.

Spain claimed the continent with its gold and silver, often eliminating foreigners by the sword. French and British corsairs and later settlers and soldiers nevertheless occupied small islands; in 1655, a British expedition occupied much larger Jamaica. Meanwhile, mostly French adventurers were roaming in the wilderness of western Haiti (then called Saint Domingue). So began a loose organization of buccaneers.

France's Sun King Louis XIV saw the opportunity to secure his small islands and Guyana by sending troops, ships, and weapons while discreetly providing support to buccaneers in Saint Domingue. Regular French troops, buccaneers, and the navy often united their efforts in expeditions such as the capture of Cartagena de Indias and Rio de Janeiro. They also fought in the Pacific and, after 1700, even escorted Spanish treasure fleets. Louis XIVs efforts were successful and, by 1715, the French domain was sizeable and amongst the most lucrative anywhere.

The remaining chapters and appendices outlay the organization of regular troops, notably the hitherto largely unknown establishments of Compagnies Franches de la Marine (independent companies of the navy) as permanent garrisons in the West Indies and Guyana, their services, lifestyles, weapons, uniforms and colors. The buccaneers will also be similarly presented and readers may expect huge differences with cinema buccaneers, the real one being in dirty linen clothes armed with distinctive buccaneers muskets of renowned accuracy and their own standards and colors.

Militiamen were also very important and often fighting. Their organization, which included Afro-Caribbeans, as well as weapons, costumes, and known uniforms are presented. Fortifications, especially their West Indian peculiarities, are further discussed. A chronology of most battles, appendices and annotated bibliography round out the work.