Moralizing War: Military Enlightenment in Eighteenth-Century France

Abstract

Though history remembers him better for his many condemnations of war, eigh- teenth-century French philosophe Voltaire penned works celebrating warfare such as the “Poème de Fontenoy” of 1745 commemorating the French victory at the Battle of Fontenoy during the War of Austrian Succession (1741–48), one of the only great French military victories of the eighteenth century prior to the Revolution. In his eulogy of the battle written in classical alexandrins, Voltaire focuses his praise on Louis XV and the noble officers of the army, making multiple references to the king and Maréchal Maurice de Saxe in addition to painstakingly naming no less than 51 aristocratic officers of the French army in the 348-line poem. In particular, Voltaire glorifies what he sees as the dual identity of these military men, marveling at their transformation from gentlemanly courtiers to fierce warriors of the battlefield:

Comment ces courtisans doux, enjoués, aimables, Sont-ils dans les combats des lions indomptables? Quel assemblage heureux de grâces, de valeur!

[How is it that these gentle, jocular, amiable courtiers Become indomitable lions in combat? What a happy assemblage of graces and valor!]