Jean Martinet

Jean Martinet (d. 1672) was a French lieutenant-colonel and Inspector General, and one of the first great drill masters of modern times. Martinet served during the reign of Louis XIV and made way to French conquest in the Holy Roman Empire. He was a severe drillmaster, which made him unpopular among his troops. Martinet revolutionized the early modern army by instituting a standardized system capable of turning raw recruits into a disciplined fighting force, thereby eliminating the mercenaries, who had been the mainstays of earlier armies. He also introduced the bayonet and the depot system into the French army, which put a stop to the army feeding off the enemy land, making war more humane. The English word martinet derives from the general's last name.

Historical records say that Martinet was eventually killed by friendly fire, in the beginning of Franco-Dutch War, while leading an infantry assault at the siege of Duisburg.