The Historiography of French Military History in the Revolutionary Era

Abstract Military history has long been recognised as a significant domain within the historiography of the French Revolution. This article argues that the 19 th century was the foundational period for research into the military history of the French Revolution, though this era was still dominated by the history of war. Since the mid-20 th century, the rise of the “new military history” has expanded the field by examining the social composition and impact of the army. This perspective has been complemented, and at times challenged, by the approaches “from below” that prioritise the lived experiences of individual soldiers. Additionally, the integration of race, gender and peripheral regions into revolutionary military history has diversified its scope, while the revival of traditional themes such as tactics and political culture has brought renewed depth to the field. Together, these approaches have significantly advanced the study of French military history during the Revolutionary era.