La frontera navarra durante la guerra de los Nueve Años (1688-1697): defensa y movilización militar [The Navarrese border during the war of the Nine Years (1688-1697): defensive structures and military mobilization]

Abstract

The Nine Years’ War once again pitted France and Spain against each other in an unequal struggle. During the war Navarre was a secondary front, but the fear of a large-scale French invasion was always latent. This period has not received much attention, despite the fact that Navarre will become the destination of many troops –recruited elsewhere– due to the need for the kingdom to be well defended. This will mean a notable increase in the present military forces and the militarisation of the kingdom. In this text we will analyse the defensive device of Navarre during this period, focusing attention on the human element: the men who defended the border.