In 1691 the French had planned for a double strike: Nice in northern Italy, and Mons in the Spanish Netherlands. The Netherlands were again where France would concentrate its main war effort, and was a theatre where Louis’ war minister, Louvois, had striven to bring together an even larger army than had been assembled the year before. These attacks on Nice and Mons were planned for very early in the campaign season, illustrating Vauban’s dictum that "It is a very favourable circumstance to be able to attack before the enemy takes the field in strength … "