The general chosen to replace Joffre is the only man with a Western Front battle named after him. Joffre had preferred Robert Nivelle to the cautious and demanding Pétain of May 1916 at Verdun, and he recommended Nivelle to Briand. Since Briand was expecting Joffre still to play a role as the government’s ‘technical advisor’, it seemed prudent that Joffre and the new CinC should be able to work together. Furthermore, Poincaré much preferred the Joffre–Nivelle strategy of seeking the decisive battle in 1917, with the aim of capturing strategic German territory, over anything the other candidate, Pétain, might propose. Briand knew that Pétain would not work willingly with Joffre; moreover, Pétain favoured small, local actions with limited aims. Briand wanted a ‘new spirit’ in his rejigged cabinet and favoured Nivelle as being more likely to infuse the high command in similar manner. Besides, Pétain was not acceptable politically. He had insulted Poincaré by saying ‘we are neither commanded nor governed’, and suggested that the head of state should act as a dictator to get things moving. When Poincaré exclaimed, ‘but what about the Constitution?’, Pétain replied ‘bugger the Constitution’. Yet his dislike of Pétain’s politics was probably a less important factor in Poincaré’s eyes than his wish for Nivelle’s more aggressive attitude. See Figure 11.