Page "Military Revolution" Paragraph 2

Parker also highlighted the significant part William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg played in the Infantry Revolution of the 16th-17th Centuries.

In a letter to his cousin Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange dated December 8, 1594 William Louis set out ( from reading the Tactica by Aelianus Tacticus ) an argument around the use of ranks by soldiers of Imperial Rome as discussed in Aelian's Tactica.

Aelian was discussing the use of the counter march in the context of the Roman sword the gladius and spear the pilium.

William Louis in a ' crucial leap ' realized that the same technique could work for men with firearms.