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Jacques-Antoine-Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert (12 November 1743 – 6 May 1790) was a French general and military writer. Born at Montauban, he accompanied his father in wars before he became a general himself. In 1770, he published an essay on tactics which was very influential in his time.
He was born at Montauban, and at the age of thirteen accompanied his father, Charles-Benoît, comte de Guibert (1715–1786), chief of staff to Maréchal de Broglie, throughout the Seven Years' War in Germany, and was awarded the cross of St Louis and then promoted to the rank of colonel in the expedition to Corsica (1767).[1]
In 1773 he visited Germany and was present at the Prussian regimental drills and army manœuvres; Frederick the Great, recognizing Guibert's ability, showed great favour to the young comte and freely discussed military questions with him. Guibert's Journal d'un voyage en Allemagne was published, with a memoir, by Toulongeon (Paris, 1803). His Défense du système de guerre moderne, a reply to his many critics (Neuchâtel, 1779) is a reasoned and scientific defence of the Prussian method of tactics, which formed the basis of his work when in 1775 he began to co-operate with the count de Saint-Germain in a series of much-needed and successful reforms in the French army. During those years, he also won the love of Julie de Lespinasse, whose love letters to him, later published, are still read today.
In 1777, however, Saint-Germain fell into disgrace, and his fall involved that of Guibert who was promoted to the rank of maréchal de camp and relegated to a provincial staff appointment. In his semi-retirement he vigorously defended his old chief Saint-Germain against his detractors. On the eve of the Revolution he was recalled to the War Office, but in his turn he became the object of attack and he died, practically of disappointment, on 6 May 1790.[1]
WritingsEdit
In 1770 he published his Essai général de tactique in London, and this celebrated work appeared in numerous subsequent editions and in English, German and even Persian translations (extracts also in Liskenne and Sauvan, Bibl. historique et militaire, Paris, 1845). Of this work (for a detailed critique of which see Max Jahns, Gesch. d. Kriegswissenschaften, vol. iii. pp. 2058–2070 and references therein) it may be said that it was the best essay on war produced by a soldier during a period in which tactics were discussed even in the salon and military literature was more abundant than at any time up to 1871.[1]
Apart from technical questions, in which Guibert's enlightened conservatism stands in marked contrast to the doctrinaire progressiveness of Mesnil-Durand, Folard and others, the book is chiefly valued for its broad outlook on the state of Europe, especially of military Europe in the period 1763–1792. One quotation may be given as being a most remarkable prophecy of the impending revolution in the art of war, a revolution which the "advanced" tacticians themselves scarcely foresaw. "The standing armies, while a burden on the people, are inadequate for the achievement of great and decisive results in war, and meanwhile the mass of the people, untrained in arms, degenerates. ... The hegemony over Europe will fall to that nation which ... becomes possessed of manly virtues and creates a national army"—a prediction fulfilled almost to the letter within twenty years of Guibert's death.[1]
Other works of Guibert, besides those mentioned, are: Observations sur la constitution politique et militaire des armées de S. M. Prussienne (Amsterdam, 1778), Eloges of Marshal Catinat (1775), of Michel de l'Hôpital (1778), and of Frederick the Great (1787). Guibert was a member of the Académie française from 1786, and he also wrote a tragedy, Le Connétable de Bourbon (1775) and a journal of travels in France and Switzerland. His final work was De la force publique considérée par tous ses rapports (Paris: Didot l'aîné, 1790) in which he contradicted several of the postulates on militias and professional armies. Guibert's writing on the subject - pondering the advantages and disadvantages of militias/conscript armies and mercenaries/professional forces until this day cover most fundamental arguments on the subject.[1]
Guibert distinguished between "tactics" and "grand tactics" (which scholars today would refer to as grand strategy) in General Essay on Tactics.[2]
^Heuser, Beatrice (2010). The Evolution of Strategy: Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present. Cambridge University Press. pp. 3–5. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511762895. ISBN978-0-521-19968-1.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Guibert, Jacques Antoine Hippolyte, Comte de". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
BibliographyEdit
Guibert's worksEdit
Guibert: Guibert's General Essay on Tactics, trans. Jonathan Abel (Leiden: Brill, 2021)
Anon. (Guibert): Essai général de la Tactique (London: chez les libraires associés, 1772)
translated by Lieutenant Douglas: A General Essay on Tactics (Whitehall: J.Millar, 1781)
For translations of excerpts of both the Essai général de la Tactique and De la force publique into modern English, see Beatrice Heuser, The Strategy Makers: Thoughts on War and Society from Machiavelli to Clausewitz (Santa Monica, CA: Greenwood/Praeger, 2010), ISBN978-0-275-99826-4, pp. 147–170.
Secondary LiteratureEdit
Jonathan Abel, Jacques-Antoine-Hippolyte, comte de Guibert: Father of Napoleon's Grande Armée (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2016)
Ethel Groffier, Le stratège des Lumières : Le comte de Guibert (1743-1790), Honoré Champion Éditeur, Paris (2005), 432 pages (ISBN2745311166)
Lucien Poirier, Les voix de la Stratégie (Paris: Fayard, 1985)
See Toulongeon, Eloge véridique de Guibert (Paris, 1790); Madame de Stäel, Eloge de Guibert; Bardin, Notice historique du général Guibert (Paris. I836); Flavian d'Aldeguier, Discours sur la vie et les écrits du comte de Guibert (Toulouse, 1855); Count Forestie, Biographie du comte de Guibert (Montauban, 1855); Count zur Lippe, "Friedrich der Grosse und Oberst Guibert" Militaer-Wochenblatt 9 and 10 (1873).
Beatrice Heuser: "Guibert (1744-1790): Prophet of Total War?", in Stig Förster & Roger Chickering (eds.): War in an Age of Revolution: The Wars of American Independence and French Revolution, 1775-1815 (Cambridge University Press, 2010), pp. 49–67.
October 24, 2023
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Jacques Antoine Hippolyte Comte de Guibert news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2012 This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Jacques Antoine Hippolyte Comte de Guibert 12 November 1743 6 May 1790 was a French general and military writer Born at Montauban he accompanied his father in wars before he became a general himself In 1770 he published an essay on tactics which was very influential in his time Jacques Antoine HippolyteComte de GuibertBorn 1743 11 12 12 November 1743Montauban FranceDied6 May 1790 1790 05 06 aged 46 Paris FranceLanguageFrenchNationalityFrench Contents 1 Biography 2 Writings 3 Notes 4 Bibliography 4 1 Guibert s works 4 2 Secondary LiteratureBiography EditHe was born at Montauban and at the age of thirteen accompanied his father Charles Benoit comte de Guibert 1715 1786 chief of staff to Marechal de Broglie throughout the Seven Years War in Germany and was awarded the cross of St Louis and then promoted to the rank of colonel in the expedition to Corsica 1767 1 In 1773 he visited Germany and was present at the Prussian regimental drills and army manœuvres Frederick the Great recognizing Guibert s ability showed great favour to the young comte and freely discussed military questions with him Guibert s Journal d un voyage en Allemagne was published with a memoir by Toulongeon Paris 1803 His Defense du systeme de guerre moderne a reply to his many critics Neuchatel 1779 is a reasoned and scientific defence of the Prussian method of tactics which formed the basis of his work when in 1775 he began to co operate with the count de Saint Germain in a series of much needed and successful reforms in the French army During those years he also won the love of Julie de Lespinasse whose love letters to him later published are still read today In 1777 however Saint Germain fell into disgrace and his fall involved that of Guibert who was promoted to the rank of marechal de camp and relegated to a provincial staff appointment In his semi retirement he vigorously defended his old chief Saint Germain against his detractors On the eve of the Revolution he was recalled to the War Office but in his turn he became the object of attack and he died practically of disappointment on 6 May 1790 1 Writings EditIn 1770 he published his Essai general de tactique in London and this celebrated work appeared in numerous subsequent editions and in English German and even Persian translations extracts also in Liskenne and Sauvan Bibl historique et militaire Paris 1845 Of this work for a detailed critique of which see Max Jahns Gesch d Kriegswissenschaften vol iii pp 2058 2070 and references therein it may be said that it was the best essay on war produced by a soldier during a period in which tactics were discussed even in the salon and military literature was more abundant than at any time up to 1871 1 Apart from technical questions in which Guibert s enlightened conservatism stands in marked contrast to the doctrinaire progressiveness of Mesnil Durand Folard and others the book is chiefly valued for its broad outlook on the state of Europe especially of military Europe in the period 1763 1792 One quotation may be given as being a most remarkable prophecy of the impending revolution in the art of war a revolution which the advanced tacticians themselves scarcely foresaw The standing armies while a burden on the people are inadequate for the achievement of great and decisive results in war and meanwhile the mass of the people untrained in arms degenerates The hegemony over Europe will fall to that nation which becomes possessed of manly virtues and creates a national army a prediction fulfilled almost to the letter within twenty years of Guibert s death 1 Other works of Guibert besides those mentioned are Observations sur la constitution politique et militaire des armees de S M Prussienne Amsterdam 1778 Eloges of Marshal Catinat 1775 of Michel de l Hopital 1778 and of Frederick the Great 1787 Guibert was a member of the Academie francaise from 1786 and he also wrote a tragedy Le Connetable de Bourbon 1775 and a journal of travels in France and Switzerland His final work was De la force publique consideree par tous ses rapports Paris Didot l aine 1790 in which he contradicted several of the postulates on militias and professional armies Guibert s writing on the subject pondering the advantages and disadvantages of militias conscript armies and mercenaries professional forces until this day cover most fundamental arguments on the subject 1 Guibert distinguished between tactics and grand tactics which scholars today would refer to as grand strategy in General Essay on Tactics 2 Notes Edit a b c d e Chisholm 1911 Heuser Beatrice 2010 The Evolution of Strategy Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present Cambridge University Press pp 3 5 doi 10 1017 cbo9780511762895 ISBN 978 0 521 19968 1 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Guibert Jacques Antoine Hippolyte Comte de Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Bibliography EditGuibert s works Edit Guibert Guibert s General Essay on Tactics trans Jonathan Abel Leiden Brill 2021 Anon Guibert Essai general de la Tactique London chez les libraires associes 1772 translated by Lieutenant Douglas A General Essay on Tactics Whitehall J Millar 1781 For translations of excerpts of both the Essai general de la Tactique and De la force publique into modern English see Beatrice Heuser The Strategy Makers Thoughts on War and Society from Machiavelli to Clausewitz Santa Monica CA Greenwood Praeger 2010 ISBN 978 0 275 99826 4 pp 147 170 Secondary Literature Edit Jonathan Abel Jacques Antoine Hippolyte comte de Guibert Father of Napoleon s Grande Armee Norman University of Oklahoma Press 2016 Ethel Groffier Le stratege des Lumieres Le comte de Guibert 1743 1790 Honore Champion Editeur Paris 2005 432 pages ISBN 2745311166 Lucien Poirier Les voix de la Strategie Paris Fayard 1985 See Toulongeon Eloge veridique de Guibert Paris 1790 Madame de Stael Eloge de Guibert Bardin Notice historique du general Guibert Paris I836 Flavian d Aldeguier Discours sur la vie et les ecrits du comte de Guibert Toulouse 1855 Count Forestie Biographie du comte de Guibert Montauban 1855 Count zur Lippe Friedrich der Grosse und Oberst Guibert Militaer Wochenblatt 9 and 10 1873 Beatrice Heuser Guibert 1744 1790 Prophet of Total War in Stig Forster amp Roger Chickering eds War in an Age of Revolution The Wars of American Independence and French Revolution 1775 1815 Cambridge University Press 2010 pp 49 67 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jacques Antoine Hippolyte Comte de Guibert amp oldid 1164290543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
