The collapse of the Mughal Empire, following the death of Aurangzeb in1707, led to a number of powers competing for the power vacuum created. Prominent among these were the English and the French. The advent of European military power into India was to have a major impact on military science in India, hitherto seriously lagging behind Europe. The contribution of the French particularly was significant in the training of Indian Cepayee units in the European fashion, gunnery drills, fortifications and basic infantry tactics. Even after the eclipse of French political power by the English, French military influence continued in the states through some brilliant and colourful French mercenaries. DeBoigne with the Sindhias and Allard with Ranjit Singh are only a couple of those whose life and career are sketched vividly, contributing to an understanding of an aspect of Indian military history little known even in Indian military circles.