Martinet

Martinet
   Jean Martinet (?-1672) was a lieutenant colonel of Louis XIV's regiment of foot and inspector general of infantry. He was an autocratic drill master, known for sharp military efficiency and his insistence that his orders be carried out exactly to the last detail. He drove his men to their limits, demanding maximum effort, and accepted nothing less than instant obedience and a polished performance. His men were taught to ask no questions. The king was so impressed by Martinet's regimental organization that he required all noblemen to command a platoon in Martinet's regiment before purchasing their own command in an infantry regiment.
   Because of Martinet's disciplined training program, France was the first to have a professional national army on the continent. Previously, French soldiers, as well as those from other lands, were a hodgepodge of free-lance mercenaries. Martinet insisted that his men obey standardized methods of drill. He taught them how to advance when under fire, and he introduced the bayonet as a combat weapon. But the demands made upon the soldiers — order, precision, rigid drill — did not endear Martinet to them.
   During the siege of Duisberg in 1672, Martinet was killed by a shot from French artillery while leading an assault. Whether the shot was fired accidentally or intentionally has never been established.

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  • martinet — [ martinɛ ] n. m. • 1315; de Martin, n. propre I ♦ Techn. Lourd marteau à soulèvement, mû par la vapeur, un moulin à eau, etc. Martinet de forge. ⇒ marteau pilon. II ♦ (1530; cf. oiseau Saint Martin « martin pêcheur ») 1 ♦ Cour. Oiseau passereau …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • martinet — 1. (mar ti nè ; le t ne se lie pas ; au pluriel, l s se lie : des mar ti nè z en troupes ; martinet rime avec traits, paix, succès, etc.) s. m. 1°   Espèce d hirondelle à très longues ailes. Les martinets étaient pour Linné dans les espèces du… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Martinet — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: André Martinet (1908–1999), französischer Linguist Charles Martinet (* 1956), US amerikanischer Schauspieler und Synchronsprecher Jean Pierre Martinet (1944–1993), französischer Schriftsteller Julius… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • MARTINET (A.) — MARTINET ANDRÉ (1908 ) Né en 1908 à Saint Albans des Villards en Savoie, André Martinet, après avoir obtenu l’agrégation d’anglais, commença sa carrière dans l’enseignement secondaire. Mais ayant très tôt étendu sa compétence aux langues… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Martinet — Martinet, André Martinet, Jean Louis …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • martinet — (n.) 1670s, system of strict discipline, from the name of Jean Martinet (killed at siege of Duisburg, 1672), lieutenant colonel in the Régiment du Roi, who in 1668 was appointed inspector general of the infantry. It was his responsibility to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • martinet — ► NOUN ▪ a strict disciplinarian. ORIGIN named after Jean Martinet, 17th century French drill master …   English terms dictionary

  • martinet — [märt΄ n et′, märt′ n et΄] n. [after Gen. Jean Martinet, 17th c. Fr drillmaster] 1. a very strict military disciplinarian 2. any very strict disciplinarian or stickler for rigid regulations …   English World dictionary

  • Martinet — Mar ti*net , n. [F.] (Zo[ o]l.) The martin. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Martinet — Mar ti*net , n. [So called from an officer of that name in the French army under Louis XIV. Cf. {Martin} the bird, {Martlet}.] In military language, a strict disciplinarian; in general, one who lays stress on a rigid adherence to the details of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Martinet — (spr. nä), Achille Louis, franz. Kupfer stecher, geb. 21. Jan. 1806 in Paris, gest. da selbst 11. Dez. 1877, war Schüler des Kupferstechers Forster und des Malers Heim und stach mit gründlichem Verständnis und genauem Eingehen in den Geist und… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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