Abstract

Between 1806 and 1814, around 60,000 Dutch troops traversed half of Europe in the name of Napoleon. At the time of the Kingdom of Holland (1806-1810), they did so as allies of France, and later, during the French annexation (1810-1814), as an integral part of the French army. In 1811, conscription was introduced on the orders of Napoleon, in a country which until then always had a volunteer army. Under the French flag, Dutch troops fought in Prussia, Spain, Poland and Russia, with varied success. Despite these impressive numbers, the military efforts of the Dutch in the 1806-1814 period have hardly been recognized today.The Dutch army during the Napoleonic era has been given relatively little attention in Dutch historiography over the last two centuries. Most of the military-historical studies about the Dutch army date back to the end of the nineteenth century or the beginning of the twentieth century. These old publications give the impression that Napoleon was in full control and that the Dutch had no influence whatsoever. This view of the Dutch army as an extension of the French army is in line with the image of the revolutionary and Napoleonic era in the Netherlands that has been long-held by general historiography. According to this view, the Dutch showed very little initiative and slavishly danced to the tune of powerful France. However, in recent years this classic narrative has been seriously challenged.Various probing studies have demonstrated that the Dutch were much more rebellious than previously thought and did not simply allow the French to lay down the law when it came to culture, the legal system, politics and society in the 1795-1814 period. Building on this revisionist trend, this book investigates whether the old view of the Dutch army during this period is also due for review. Were the Dutch troops more independent and less submissive in military terms than the prominent military historians claimed over one hundred years ago, or is this too simple a conclusion? In Sous les armes, this main question is researched on three complementary levels. Firstly, research was conducted into the manner in which Dutch defense policy was established during this period and the extent to which Louis and his ministers and generals could take decisions regarding the organization of the army. Secondly, research was conducted into who had the final say when Dutch troops were actually deployed and whether there was a difference between military action at home and abroad with regard to control. Thirdly, efforts were made to gain insight into the attitudes of the officers and men in order to understand what motivated them and whether, following the French annexation in 1810, they felt Dutch, or perhaps more French after all.