"Eagles Ascending begins with the union of two petty states, the Mark of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia in 1618, which led at the end of the 17th Century to the Kingdom of Prussia in a dizzying rise of political and military power in less than a century. Before there could be Frederick The Great, there had to be Frederick Wilhelm, “The Great Elector.” This fascinating account traces the origins and rise to dominance of Brandenburg-Prussia across the 17th Century, and introduces readers to the remarkable men who laid the foundations for the later German Empire, it’s Army and Navy. Information, much of it appearing in English for the first time, makes the “mover and shakers” of a distant era spring to life, their portrayals made more compelling by superb period artwork, maps, and plans. Here are the wars, battles and leaders who by land and sea shaped the emergence from medieval to modern Germany. The lively narrative is enhanced by twenty-six original full color plates specifically researched for this work detailing the development of the uniforms of Brandenburg-Prussia in the century in which modern military uniforms began. Tactics, and the ever more sophisticated weapons which determined them in the 17th Century, are detailed as well. Conflicts such as the Scanian War, the First Northern War, and the War of the League of Augsburg, mark the progression of Brandenburg-Prussia from weakling to king maker status. Orders of battle, ship plans, period and new battle maps contribute to this splendid foray into the history of a proto-nation rising to greatness in a century more violent even than our own. Complete with footnotes, bibliography, and thoroughly indexed, this book fills a void in English language literature of the military roots and first “Blitkriegs” of German Armies to come. Historians, war gamers, modelers, painters of military miniatures, and even the casual reader will find Eagles Ascending a compelling introduction to a distant time, yet one that affected the shape of the world to this day."--Back cover.

Introduction/foundations --Emergence of Brandenburg -- Friedrich Wilhelm and a beginning -- First trial by fire: Battle of Warsaw -- Nyborg -- Consolidation and reform -- Friedrich Wilhelm's war with France -- The Fehrbellin campaign -- Rathenau -- Fehrbellin -- The Bremen-Verden campaign -- Rügen Island: the Battle of Warksow -- Rügen Island II: the Great Elector strikes back -- Blitzkrieg on ice -- Peace-nothing gained but glory/adventures far afield -- War of the Grand Alliance -- Friedrich III -- An end and a new beginning -- The Brandenburg-Prussian Army in the 17th century -- 16th century/1600-1618, Elector Johann Sigismund Hohenzollern -- 1619-1639, Elector Georg Wilhelm Hohenzollern -- 1640-1688, Elector Friedrich Wilhelm Hohenzollern -- 1689-1701, Elector Friedrich III (King Friedrich I)/weapons/infantry -- Cavalry -- Artillery -- Infantry uniforms and colors -- Cavalry & artillery uniforms & standards -- Army legacy -- Brandenburg-Prussian Army uniform plates -- The Brandenburg Navy -- Von Bolsey Marine Regiment -- The Scanian War at sea -- Battle off Cape St. Vincent -- The Brandenburg Gold Coast -- Ship histories / Roter Löwe -- Derfflinger -- Berlin -- Grosse Jacht -- Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde -- Castel Grosse Friedrichsburg -- Churprinz von Brandenburg -- Navy legacy -- Military miniatures and simulations.