Jean-Baptiste-Joseph de La Fite de Pelleport, comte d’Espagnac Campagne de l'armée du Roi en 1747 Chez Henry Scheurleer, dans le Kalver-Straat, A la Haye, 1747 With 1 plan and 1 order of battle table; 460 pages ; 17 cm; 8vo Espagnac’s Campagne de l’Armée du Roi en 1747 is one of the most detailed French narratives of the 1747 operations during the War of the Austrian Succession. Written shortly after the events by a serving officer with access to official dispatches, it provides a polished and carefully constructed account of the military efforts of France under Louis XV during a decisive phase of the conflict. It follows (and it is not to be confused with) the "Journal historique de la dernière campagne de l’armée du roi, en 1746", by the same author, the campaign journal covering French operations in 1746. The work focuses on the army commanded by Marshal Maurice de Saxe, whose leadership and strategic sense Espagnac highlights throughout the text. The central event is the Battle of Lauffeld (or Lawfeld), fought in July 1747, where the French overcame the allied forces led by the Duke of Cumberland. Espagnac describes troop dispositions, marches, supply arrangements, and the internal organization of the army in a day-by-day sequence that mimics the rhythm of an operational journal. The narrative blends factual reporting with a tone that borders on the official and celebratory, reinforcing the competence of French command and the legitimacy of its political direction. Despite this tendency toward royal propaganda, modern historians still find the work indispensable for its first-hand testimony, operational detail, and clear depiction of mid-18th-century warfare. Jean-Baptiste-Joseph de La Fite de Pelleport, comte d’Espagnac (1717–1800), was a French officer, courtier, and military historian active during the latter decades of Louis XV’s reign. Born into a noble family from the southwest of France, he entered military service in his youth and eventually rose to positions that provided him access to high command circles. Espagnac cultivated a reputation as both a competent officer and an erudite commentator on military affairs. His works on the campaigns of 1745, 1746, 1747, and 1748 made him one of the principal chroniclers of the French war effort during the War of the Austrian Succession. Although his writings reflect loyalty to the monarchy and admiration for Marshal Saxe, they are also shaped by careful observation, a coherent narrative style, and a concern for documenting military operations with precision. He continued writing and participating in political life after the war, experiencing the early phases of the French Revolution before his death in 1800. His campaign histories remain valuable for their insight into the army of Louis XV and for their contribution to the historiography of 18th-century European warfare. The Campagne de l’Armée du Roi en 1747 can better be understood within the broader context of the War of the Austrian Succession, a major European conflict triggered by the contested succession of Maria Theresa to the Habsburg domains. The war rapidly expanded to involve nearly all major European powers. France, allied with Prussia, Bavaria, and Spain at different phases, sought to counter Austrian influence and weaken the British-Austrian alliance. The conflict created multiple theaters, from Central Europe to Italy, but one of the most significant for French interests was the Low Countries. By mid-decade, the war had become a contest for dominance in the Austrian Netherlands, with Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Austria on one side opposing French expansion under Louis XV and his commanders. Marshal Maurice de Saxe, one of the most gifted generals of the era, emerged as the architect of French success in this region. The Flanders Campaign refers to the French operations in the Austrian Netherlands between 1744 and 1748. Under Marshal Saxe, the French army gradually captured key fortresses, defeated allied armies in the field, and advanced toward strategic dominance. The campaign of 1747 represented one of the culminating phases of this effort. Espagnac’s account focuses on the mobilization, coordination, and combat actions that allowed France to achieve a decisive though costly victory at the Battle of Lauffeld. This battle not only demonstrated Saxe’s skill in handling a multinational enemy force, but also underscored the growing exhaustion of the allied coalition. The 1747 operations involved more than battlefield maneuvers; they included siege works, logistical planning, and careful political management of occupied territories. Espagnac records these elements with particular attention, showing how France attempted to secure long-term strategic advantage in the Low Countries as the war neared its conclusion. The campaign did not end the conflict—formal peace came with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748—but it helped ensure the favorable terms France later obtained. Contemporary calf binding with gilt-ruled raised bands and decorated compartments, the volume retains speckled red edges and plain endpapers with a library label. The text is complete as collated, including both the folding Order of Battle and the engraved plan of the Battle of Lauffeld. The binding is sound, with a darkened spine and slightly bumped corners. Internally, the contents are clean and firmly bound, with some browning, light toning, and minor spotting, including a closed tear to one plate. PS: The book will be shipped carefully packaged in bubble wrap, via An Post, the Irish Postal Service ("Registered Post, Tracking & Insurance included to protect your valuable items"). Tracking number will be provided as soon as the book is dispatched.