Coup d'œil
Encyclopedia
Coup d'œil is a term taken from French
, that more or less corresponds to the words glimpse or glance in English
. The literal meaning is "stroke of [the] eye".
It is mostly used in a military
context, where the coup d'œil refers to the ability to discern at one glance the tactical
(dis)advantages of the terrain. For example, the famous king
Frederick the Great of Prussia
in his 1753 "Particular Instructions" devotes special attention to the military coup d'œil, defining it as:
The phrase popularly comes from Clausewitz:
Napoleon remarked upon it:
As did Folard
and Liddell Hart:
The coup d'œil remains important for officers in modern armies for the positioning of infantry, tanks, artillery etc. It is also important for snipers and when operating weapons like anti-tank weapons, in order to find good concealment, cover and a good field of fire.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, that more or less corresponds to the words glimpse or glance in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. The literal meaning is "stroke of [the] eye".
It is mostly used in a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
context, where the coup d'œil refers to the ability to discern at one glance the tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
(dis)advantages of the terrain. For example, the famous king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Frederick the Great of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in his 1753 "Particular Instructions" devotes special attention to the military coup d'œil, defining it as:
"[T]he perfection of that art to learn at one just and determined view the benefits and disadvantages of a country where posts are to be placed and how to act upon the annoyance of the enemy. This is, in a word, the true meaning of a coup d'œil, without which an officer may commit errors of the greatest consequence."
The phrase popularly comes from Clausewitz:
When all is said and done, it really is the commander's coup d'œil, his ability to see things simply, to identify the whole business of war completely with himself, that is the essence of good generalship. Only if the mind works in this comprehensive fashion can it achieve the freedom it needs to dominate events and not be dominated by them.
Napoleon remarked upon it:
There is a gift of being able to see at a glance the possibilities offered by the terrain...One can call it the coup d'œil militaire and it is inborn in great generals.
As did Folard
Jean Charles, Chevalier Folard
Jean Charles, Chevalier Folard , French soldier and military author, was born at Avignon.His military ardour was first awakened by reading Caesar's Commentaries, and he ran away from home and joined the army...
and Liddell Hart:
The coup d'œil is a gift of God and cannot be acquired; but if professional knowledge does not perfect it, one can only see things imperfectly and in a fog, which is not enough in these matters where it is important to have a clear eye...To look over a battlefield, to take in at the first instance the advantages and disadvantages is the great quality of a general.
A vital faculty of generalship is the power of grasping instantly the picture of the ground and the situation, of relating one to the other, and the local to the general.
The coup d'œil remains important for officers in modern armies for the positioning of infantry, tanks, artillery etc. It is also important for snipers and when operating weapons like anti-tank weapons, in order to find good concealment, cover and a good field of fire.
Further Reading
- Duggan, William. Napoleon's Glance: The Secret of Strategy. Nation's Books, 2004. ISBN: 978-1560256021