Why did the French fail so often in military battles around the period of the French Revolution? A look at France's military tactics from the 1400s-1800s.

The French are often criticized for their poor military record, often insulting the attitudes of the French people themselves. But why did the French really lose so often in combat? Their military tactics were horrendous, their armor was impractical, their formations were illogical, and their weapons were ineffective. The most important part of the battle, according to French officers, was having an effective defense. This all started with armor. In the early 1400s the offensive …

…no real leader among the French military, nobody for the troops to look up to. Lastly the soldiers were heavily confused by the use of mercenaries. It is no wonder the French lost so many battles, and are considered to have one of the worst militaries in history. Works Cited Bouton, Cynthia A. The Flour War. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993. Duby, Georges and Robert Mandrou. A History of French Civilization. New York: Random House, 1964.