In the period from 1590 to 1600, changes took place in the State army. Prince Maurits carried out reforms together with Willem Lodewijk. They studied sources from Classical Antiquity on, amongst...Show moreIn the period from 1590 to 1600, changes took place in the State army. Prince Maurits carried out reforms together with Willem Lodewijk. They studied sources from Classical Antiquity on, amongst others, Roman military strategies and the construction of Roman army camps. They used this knowledge as a source of inspiration and they applied many elements from the Roman army to the State army. For example, think of the introduction of command language. The most important introduction was the drill of soldiers, which required a lot of training and discipline. The introduction of training and discipline ensured that the State soldiers were well trained and that they knew better what do to during a combat. The result was that the State army won more regularly and that they could win in smaller units. Discipline therefore was very important in the reformed State army and that is why this research is also referred to as a discipline revolution. It is to be expected that these organizational reforms can also be recognized in State siege camps. Before the reforms were introduced, the State army camps had no fixed form, organized structure or fixed elements. Due to the introduction of discipline and changes in war strategy, it may be expected that changes have occurred within the camps of the State army. Many studies have been carried out in recent decades about the State army and the changes in their strategy, for example. However about the life of a State soldier (such as the food supply within the army) and how the structure of State siege camps changed after the introduction of the organizational reforms has hardly been researched. In this research, State army camps (before the organizational reforms) and State and Spanish siege camps (after the organizational reforms) are examined and compared with each other. The period after the Twelve Years' Truce (1621-1648) was chosen to study the State and Spanish siege camps. As already mentioned, it may be expected that State army camps differ from the later State siege camps in the implementation of organizational reforms. In addition, Spanish siege camps will not have a fixed structure or fixed elements, because during the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) no organizational reforms took place within the Spanish army. To compare this, historical (siege) maps have been analysed and in addition the archaeology of the (so far) only two archaeologically excavated State siege camps has been analysed. Additionally, the changes in the logistics of food supplies in the State army as a result of the organizational reforms are studied as well.Show less
