The Works of Mars: or THE ART OF WAR VOLUME I

First published in 1684, Allain Manesson Mallet’s The Works of Mars: or The Art of War stands as one of the grand monuments of seventeenth-century military science and illustrated warfare.

A master engineer and cartographer in the service of King Louis XIV, Mallet compiled this sweeping treatise across three volumes, uniting theory, illustration, and history to chart the evolution of the art of war. Within its engraved pages are detailed studies of fortifications, weaponry, sieges, formations, and military architecture, drawn from both ancient and modern practice. Each volume reflects the mind of a soldier-scholar intent on revealing the geometry of conquest and the discipline of defense.

Part technical manual, part philosophical reflection, The Works of Mars reveals how science, art, and strategy merged to define an age of empires. Richly illustrated with plates of armaments, maps, and fortified cities, it remains an essential testament to the ingenuity and order of early modern warfare.

Complete and unabridged edition of Allain Manesson Mallet’s classic military treatise

Presented in three volumes, encompassing the full scope of 17th-century military theory

Includes hundreds of detailed engravings of fortresses, weapons, and tactical formations

A vital resource for students of military history, engineering, and early modern art

Essential reading for collectors of antique martial works, cartography, and European history