The history

From Italian cannons to a Japanese park

How the bastion began, how it reached Britain, the Netherlands, France, America and Japan, and what came after.

Jump to: Cannon changes everything | Italy and Venice | Britain | The Dutch | Vauban | America | Japan | Later lives | For teachers

Cannon changes everything

After metal cannonballs came into general use at the end of the 15th century, Italian engineers designed a new kind of defence: the bastioned system. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

UNESCO says the arrival of gunpowder led to big changes in military techniques and architecture, seen in “alla moderna” or bastioned fortifications, which spread throughout Europe. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries

In the 16th century the medieval tower was replaced by the bastion, which eliminated all blind spots. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification The bastioned system used a geometric layout of ramparts that got rid of blind spots, with the bastion replacing the medieval tower. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

The NPS explains the star shape as architecture adapting to technology: black powder weapons needed defences that could stand up to cannon fire and carry cannons of their own. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos, construction

Italy and Venice

Bastioned fortification was introduced and developed first by Italian and then Dutch engineers from the 16th century onwards. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Bastioned fortifications

English Heritage says bastioned fortification was found first in Italy, at Verona. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts

UNESCO calls the territory of the Republic of Venice “the near-exclusive setting of the genesis of the alla moderna or bastioned system” during the Renaissance. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries

UNESCO’s Venetian Works of Defence site has 6 parts in Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, spread over more than 1,000 km. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries The Stato da Mar forts protected Venice’s sea routes and ports in the Adriatic. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries

Palmanova was founded by the Venetians in 1593, to defend their lands against the Habsburgs. italia.it: Palmanova Palmanova’s own site says it was built to strengthen defences against the Turks and the Habsburgs. Visit Palmanova: The Fortress City

Palmanova’s main designer was General Giulio Savorgnan. italia.it: Palmanova

Palmanova has three rings of walls: two built by Venice, with nine bastions and nine ravelins, and an outer ring of nine “lunettes” added by Napoleon in the early 19th century. Visit Palmanova: The Fortress City

Britain

Tilbury began as a D-shaped Tudor gun tower, built in 1539 to 1540 under Henry VIII. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort

In 1558 Calais had been lost to the French, who urged the Scots to attack England’s northern outpost, Berwick. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts In 1558 Mary I sent the engineer Sir Richard Lee to Berwick to replace the medieval walls with bastioned fortifications. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts

After Mary I died in 1558, the new fortifications became known as the Elizabethan ramparts. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts Work on Berwick’s new ramparts stopped in 1569. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts

Elizabeth I rallied her army near Tilbury in 1588, while waiting for the Spanish Armada. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort When the Spanish Armada was expected in 1588, an Italian engineer, Federigo Gianibelli, designed earth-and-timber defences with angles for crossfire around the Tudor blockhouse. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort

The design of polygonal forts with pointed bastions was established in Britain during the Civil Wars of the 1640s. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort Charlotte, history

In July 1667, during a war with England, the Dutch navy attacked the river Medway and burned the fort at Sheerness. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort King Charles II had Tilbury Fort built after the Dutch raid of 1667. English Heritage: Tilbury Fort

Sir Bernard de Gomme drew up plans for Tilbury Fort in 1668, and work began in 1670. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort Building Tilbury took almost 15 years, on wet marshland; by 1685 it was substantially complete. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort

In 1673 the Dutch landed and burned Fort Charlotte’s abandoned barrack block. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort Charlotte, history

Fort George was built to keep down the Jacobites after the Battle of Culloden, and is named after George II. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history Fort George took 22 years to finish, by which time the Jacobite threat had died down. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George

The Dutch

In the 16th century half of today’s Groningen and Drenthe provinces were covered by vast swamps. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

In 1580 William of Orange ordered a fort with five bastions to be built on a sandy ridge in the Bourtange marsh. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange The fort was meant to block the road the Spanish used to supply the city of Groningen. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

Fortress Bourtange says the fortress was erected in 1593, commissioned by William Louis of Nassau. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

In 1665 Bourtange’s garrison had fallen to just 50 men. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange The Bishop of Münster pushed through to Winschoten in 1665 but failed to capture Bourtange. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

Bourtange reached its greatest size in 1742, after work from 1739 to 1742. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

Vauban

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban lived from 1633 to 1707 and was a military engineer of King Louis XIV. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban Vauban was born in May 1633 in Saint-Léger-de-Foucheret, now called Saint-Léger-Vauban. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

Vauban joined the army as a cadet at the age of 17. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban At 22, Vauban was given the title “ingénieur ordinaire du roi”, engineer to the king. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

Vauban built on the ideas of an earlier engineer, Blaise de Pagan. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: glossary, Three systems

In 1673 Vauban persuaded Louis XIV to set up his “pré carré”: a double line of fortified towns on France’s north-eastern border. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban From 1678 Vauban was General Commissioner for Fortifications of the Kingdom. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

From 1653 to 1703 Vauban took part in 48 sieges, restructured 130 strongholds and built about thirty from scratch. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

Vauban’s forts formed what is called an “iron belt” around France. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

A new stronghold was needed after Brisach, across the Rhine, was lost in 1697. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Neuf-Brisach Building began in 1699, with a canal dug to the Vosges to bring pink sandstone. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Neuf-Brisach

On 14 January 1703 Louis XIV made Vauban a Marshal of France. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban Vauban died in Paris on 30 March 1707, aged 74. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

In 1808 Vauban’s heart was taken to the Invalides Church in Paris. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban

Vauban’s principles of siege war lasted for two centuries. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: glossary, Three systems UNESCO says Vauban’s models were used all over the world up to the mid-19th century. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban

America

Building of Castillo de San Marcos in St Augustine, Florida, began in 1672. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos (article) The first phase of building the Castillo was finished in 1695. US National Park Service: Coquina, the rock that saved St Augustine

After an English attack in 1702, the Castillo was the only structure in St Augustine to survive the fire. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos (article)

In 1740 General Oglethorpe bombarded the Castillo for 27 days, and the walls held. US National Park Service: Coquina, the rock that saved St Augustine

Fort McHenry grew from a small earth star fort called Fort Whetstone, built during the American Revolution. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry Fort McHenry is named after James McHenry, George Washington’s Secretary of War. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry

In September 1814 British ships bombarded Fort McHenry for twenty-five hours, but the defenders held. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment and wrote the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner”. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry

“The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States in 1931. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry

Japan

UNESCO says Vauban’s forms were used as a model for fortresses in the Far East, and his ideas were spread in Russian and Turkish. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban

Goryokaku Fort in Hakodate, Japan, was designed by Takeda Ayasaburo and influenced by Vauban. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort Goryokaku was the first Western-style fort in Japan, completed in 1864. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort

The Japan National Tourism Organization says the final battle of the Boshin War was fought at Goryokaku in 1869. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort

Goryokaku’s grounds became a public park in 1914. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort

Later lives

The fort was re-established in 1781 and named after Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort Charlotte, history Fort Charlotte’s guns were removed in 1855; it later served as a jail, courthouse and coastguard station. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort Charlotte, history

Bourtange was closed as a fortress in 1851 and became a farming village. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange Bourtange was reconstructed between 1967 and 1992. Fortress Bourtange: History of Bourtange

Prisoners were held at Tilbury after the Jacobite Rising of 1745. English Heritage: Tilbury Fort In 1916 Tilbury’s guns helped shoot down a raiding Zeppelin. English Heritage: Tilbury Fort

The Army finally left Tilbury Fort in 1950. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort

In the First World War a 3,000-bed hospital was built around Fort McHenry. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry

The British called it Fort St Mark, the US Army called it Fort Marion from 1825, and its Spanish name returned in 1942. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos, construction

Palmanova was declared a National Monument in 1960. Visit Palmanova: The Fortress City Palmanova became part of a UNESCO World Heritage site on 9 July 2017. Visit Palmanova: The Fortress City

The Fortifications of Vauban were added to the World Heritage List in 2008. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban The Venetian Works of Defence were added to the World Heritage List in 2017. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries

For teachers: where this fits

KS2 also includes a study of an aspect or theme in British history that goes beyond 1066. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK) At KS2 the national curriculum includes a local history study, which can be a site from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK)

At KS3 pupils study the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509 to 1745. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK)

The KS3 examples include the civil wars throughout Britain, the Restoration and the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK) The KS3 examples include the Renaissance and Reformation in Europe. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK)

Pupils should discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK) The curriculum names concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK)

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