pt. 1. 'Patrimonial bureaucracy': the Le Tellier dynasty and the Ministry of War. Introduction -- The Secretary of State for War and the dynastic interest of the Le Tellier family -- The ebb and flow of Le Tellier power, 1661-1701 -- The use and abuse of servants: the Ministry of War, venality and civilian power in the army -- Financing war: the treasury of the Extraordinaire des Guerres -- Corruption and the pursuit of self-interest in the Ministry of War -- pt. 2. The foraging of the French officer corps and the standing army under Louis XIV. Introduction -- In the name of sustainability: reforming the structure of the standing army and the officer corps -- The business of a regiment -- The pressures and temptations of service -- pt. 3. The high command of the French armies. Introduction -- The commanders-in-chief and the delegation of royal authority -- The appointment of general officers -- The summits of ambition and the rewards of good service: the bienfaits du roi and the high command -- Conclusion: The preservation of the dynasty -- Appendix 1. Defining the grands -- Appendix 2. The proportion of revenue generated by the Extraordinaire des Guerres as a 'primary receiver'.