The
Marshal Vauban WebsiteThe
Marshal Vauban WebsiteMaintained by : Chris Jones of Altofts, Wakefield, U.K. © September 1997
This page last updated : 21 December 1997
The following "Fortress Links", while organized
into certain groupings [Europe, N.America etc], have not been
arranged in any particular order. Several do
not specifically relate to the life or works of Marshal Vauban,
but they all feature material which is relevant to the subject
of artillery fortification in the 17th, 18th, & 19th centuries.
So they are ALL worth visiting.
Please let me know if any of the links on this page are not functioning as they should : chrisgjones@oocities.com.
Museum of Plans & Reliefs - the official web site of one of the most interesting museums in Paris. In the days before map contours were invented, Louis XIV had massive detailed scale models built of his Royal fortresses [Vauban's works were well represented]. Such plans-reliefs as are still in existence today - they were formerly TOP-SECRET items - are now beautifully displayed in the Museum which is housed in an upstairs part of the famous Hotel des Invalides.
Neuf Brisach - a German language site which features some photographs of Neuf [New] Brisach the most quintessential of all Vauban's fortresses. Neuf Brisach was built from scratch a short distance from the river Rhine. It's construction was prompted by the Treaty of Ryswick [1697] which had required France to relinquish possession of [Old] Brisach am Rhein, a city opposite Neuf Brisach on the German side of the river & sometimes referred to as "The Key to the Rhine". Both the fortress of Neuf Brisach and the town Vauban had built within it's walls are symetrical in shape. Accordingly, the fortress represents the purest form of Vauban's so-called third system of defense works.
Please note the site this link takes you to is predominantly concerned with Witchcraft - the practise of which [excuse the pun] I do not condone. However, the link does serve to illustrate the recent burgeoning interest shown in artillery fortifications by those involved with the occult. For myself I firmly believe there is nothing whatsoever to connect the shape of artillery defences and the employment of pentangles etc in Witchcraft - which is what those interested in the occult seem to think. Fortresses took their shape for two reasons only : 1. to provide an all round view of the foot of the walls, i.e. eliminating dead ground, and 2. to create killing grounds around the foot of the fortress walls enabling the defenders to maximise the potential for a protracted defence. Please don't allow anyone to convince you otherwise!
The Town of Colmars
- a town in the French Alps that was fortified by Vauban. The
web site - part of the Beyond The French Riviera web
- features some splendid photos of the town's defenses.
Colmars has a relatively simple cordon wall, which is loopholed, around
it. There is a free-standing loopholed-wall before the main gates
[photo on the linked site] and two detached forts - one of which
[seen left] is sizeable. I hope to be able to feature an article on Colmars in the months to come.
The Defences of Finistere - a section of an extensive web site maintained by the Department of Brittany. It features many pages of text & photos devoted to the defenses in & around Brest - for centuries one of the main bases of the French Navy. Many works by Vauban, and some completed later in accordance with his projects, are represented here.
The City and Fortress of Namur - In the first of two famous sieges late in the 17th century Namur was captured and then re-fortified by Vauban. This web site features a detailed plan-relief the city owns of it's former defenses.
The City and Fortress of Luxembourg - this site contains many graphics & maps of the extensive defenses erected here over the centuries. Luxembourg was once known as the "Gibraltar of the North". Vauban was much occupied here improving it's defenses, which included the excavation of many underground casemates. Most of the main European powers had possession of Luxembourg at one time or other and so the place, a World Heritage Site, boasts fortifications built by the French, Spanish, Austrians & Prussians. These and a modern plan-relief are all featured in detail at this web site.
Le Circuit Vauban - a Website devoted to a number of connected projects concerning the fortifications [both town defences & outworks] at Luxembourg. Through this site the visitor can contact an association which is gathering research material on Luxembourg's many & fascinating defence works.
Archive of 17th Century Dutch City Plans - another amazing site. This one is full of 17th century Dutch city plans showing detail of their fortifications. There are also a number of articles on the history of these places [Dutch only]. But be warned, this link is to a huge index file which will take several minutes to download. Be patient, it is more than worth the wait.
The City and Fortress of Alessandria - many fine old photos of this fortress city in Northern Italy.
The City and Fortress of Lucca - Lucca, a city in Tuscany [N. Italy], has a very important place in the development of artillery fortifications. This site features some thumbnail graphics together with a large & impressive aerial view of the whole fortress.
The Fortress of Brescia - a splendid site charting the development of this fortress over many centuries and under the influence of several different countries. Brescia is near the southern end of Lake Garda in N.Italy. It was one of the four forts in the much vaunted Austrian Quadrilateral defense network with which Napoleon had to contend in 1796.
The Fortress Study Group - this organisation has been active for many years and boasts the support of respected authors like Andrew Saunders. It is to be hoped it's web master will expand the site significantly. At present there are only a few pages with some interesting [if unlabeled] photographs.
Elvas HomePage - some very good photos of this very impressive Portuguese fortress which, as it is strategically situated on the border with Spain, featured prominently in the Peninsular War [c1808-1812].
The Palmerston Forts Society - as the name suggests, a site dedicated to the forts constructed for the defence of Britain in the middle part of the 19th Century - a time of invasion scares prompted by British concern that Napoleon III was looking to emulate his Great Uncle's military career.
The Game of Fortresses - a site which reproduces a set of playing cards produced in 1763 for the students of Louis XVI's Ecole Militaire. These summarise the art and science of fortress constuction in the 18th century. As such it constitutes a valuable contemporary reference source. The site is very new [created 1.1.98] and will grow as the year progresses. It is a site you will probably want to visit periodically as more and more "card images" are added.
The Reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg - a commercial site advertising a
CD-ROM about the place; it has a wealth of information on an amazing
Canadian heritage project to restore the former French town and
fortress. Louisbourg, built in accordance with principles set down by Vauban, was twice captured by the British during their conquest of Canada. They allowed the town, once a rival to Boston & Philadelphia as
chief port on the Eastern seaboard of N.America, to die. The web site contains information on
the place and you can download a number of excellent extracts from the
CD-ROM. You can now access a review of this CD-ROM title on the Marshal Vauban web site, see
the Review Page.
Institute of Louisbourg
- a veritable mine of information about Louisbourg & the restoration
project. The institute brings together the University College
of Cape Breton and the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic
Site. They are very much interested in promoting the Parks Canada
sites on Cape Breton Island, providing a research database about
the fortress of Louisbourg and bringing together the smaller heritage
projects on Cape Breton Island. The research database is being
maintained and added to by a retired Louisbourg historian.
The Coastal Fortifications Home Page - a splendid site devoted to the mid-19th century coastal defences of the Gulf of Mexico [Southern US States]. There are numerous photographs to view. This site will be of particular interest to those visitors who found the link to the Palmerston Forts Society [see above] to be of value.
Quebec Citadel - originally fortified by the French, this bastion fell to the English under General Wolfe after his victory over Montcalm on the Heights of Abraham. This web site has many splendid photos and video clips of the fortifications and features a link to the old Quebec Arsenal.
Fort Adams USA -the
link to this wonderful site removes the need for me to have a
proper glossary in the early days of the Marshal Vauban
Website [I will, however, add one at some stage]. The animated glossary within the Fort Adams site enables
the visitor actually to SEE, via ingenious graphics, each part
of the fortress, where it was located, and how it fitted into
the general scheme of things. I can't praise this site too highly,
either for the fine presentation of it's subject or it's avowed aim of helping
to preserve a piece of history that is currently under threat. Please visit this site & lend your support!
La Citadelle, Haiti - built by the successor to Toussaint L'Ouverture, King Christophe I of Haiti [d.1820], both of whom had fought to free themselves & fellow slaves from the successive yokes of Spain & France. The construction of this fortress was supervised by German military engineers. The web site features a history of the place together with some interesting images. [Coincidentally, Toussaint L'Ouverture died in 1803 while held captive in France in the fortress of Joux - one of the many places Vauban worked on and which I hope to feature here some-time in the future].
Military Architecture in Africa - details some of the fortresses built by Europeans in Africa in the 18th & 19th centuries.
Vauban, Sébastien Le Prestre de - potted biography of the great man, actually an extract from the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Vauban, Sebastien - another potted 'bio.
This The History Ring site is owned by Chris Jones. Want to join the The History Ring?
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I include below some links to sites which happen to bear no particular reference to Vauban. However, they all have military and/or historical connections and many are worth visiting if only to help set Vauban & fortifications in some context as to wider military matters. A number of the links relate to the Napoleonic period. This is a very interesting period of European history, and one in which siegecraft had not entirely been forgotten, or indeed been made redundant. Certain of the sites are worth visiting to view period maps of famous sieges or images of famous military events. Anyway, I am certain that if you have found visiting the Marshal Vauban Website a worthwhile experience you will find something to enjoy should you try any of the following links.
18th Century History - a site devoted to all matters of interest in the 18th Century. It features a newsletter which regularly features links to sites of interest. Well worth visiting, point your browser at the link now & subscribe to the newsletter.
Musee de L'Empri - the private collection of the Brunon brothers. This is one of the world's finest museum devoted to the Napoleonic era. The web site is beautifully put together, and is rich in fine images.
The Napoleon Series - a web site with articles & chat groups aimed at the devotee of Napoleonic History.
The Napoleonic Foundation - a web site devoted to this very august organisation.
History Internet Resources - a web site full of links and pointers to where history buffs can access and download information.
Castles on the Web - a web site devoted to Castles. As the forerunners to artillery fortifications castles should not be ignored. A full appreciation of fortress design cannot be realised without some knowledge of what went before them. This site will help you increase your understanding of castles.
Horse & Musket Wargaming - a splendid site offering a wealth of articles and images to download - including many original prints showing sieges in the Peninsula War [Badajoz, Lines of Torres Vedras etc.].
Napoleonic Literature
- a well organised site offering access to numerous written works.
There are also dozens of gorgeous [copyright expired] colour
images to download. Many of these paintings will be well known
to the military enthusiast, indeed some of them have achieved
almost "icon" status.
The Nafziger Collection - web site maintained by the respected and prolific American author George Nafziger. Before his books began to be published he was very active compiling orders of battle etc and literally hundreds of these can be obtained [on a commercial basis] via his web-site. His interests are mainly Napoleonic but his catalogue does extend back to Vauban's time. This site is one to bookmark, especially if you are a wargamer or are interested in orders of battle & campaign lists.
