The powerful walls of ancient fortresses have stood unshakably for many centuries, reminding mankind of its mysterious past. Terrible and impregnable buildings, mesmerizing with only one view, are silent witnesses of many epoch-making events. At one time they were built to protect certain territories during a prolonged siege by enemy troops. Thus, many fortresses in history became known thanks to the displayed defense: Ishmael, Naryn-Kala, Brest Fortress and others. But there are also buildings that are more famous as prisons: the Tower, the Paris Bastille, the Peter and Paul Fortress. So, what is a fortress, when did it appear and how did it change over time, let's try to figure it out.
Fortress Definition
A fortress is one of the types of fortifications of a military-defensive nature that protects a specific territory, city or town. Its function also consists in providing control and authority over already occupied territories. Being the most important strategic place, it was equipped with all the necessary means and provisions to withstand a prolonged siege during hostilities. In peacetime, a permanent garrison was located in the fortress to maintain general order in the surrounding areas.
In contrast to the medieval castle, which was one continuous building with a courtyard containing everything necessary, the fortress was a certain allotment of land with fortified buildings, surrounded by a high wall. Even before the beginning of the 20th century, fortresses were a stronghold for the armed forces of the army during military-political conflicts. Warehouses with military equipment were located on their territory and, if necessary, they covered the concentration and deployment of military forces.
The appearance of defensive structures
The ancestors of modern fortresses were unpretentious fortifications in front of small settlements of people belonging to the primitive era. With the rapid increase in the size of human society, there was a vital need to build protection from the encroachments of unfriendly neighbors. The first defensive fortifications were built as a solid fence of all available material at hand. For the most part, logs were used, which were installed in the form of a picket fence, but also walls made of wood or stone and earthen ramparts were practiced. It could hardly be called a fortress, but they completely coped with the defensive task. Later, deep ditches began to be additionally constructed to the fences, which, if possible, were filled with water.
The protection of the first settlements in the event of an enemy raid was carried out by the residents themselves. In later times, with the emergence of cities and states, this function was already assumed by professional troops, which led to the need to improve defense means.
Fortresses of ancient civilizations
In the XIII century BC, the powerful Hittite power erected stone fences with square towers in what is now Turkey. In ancient Egyptian civilization, about 1,500 BC, fortified buildings made of mud brick with square towers and powerful gates were created to protect the southern borders. From the 16th to the 12th centuries BC, the small states that ruled over Greece had their own defenses.
In the West, the first fortresses began to be erected in the VI century BC and constituted a whole system of fortifications. Celtic forts in the hills have survived quite well to date and clearly demonstrate a difficult internal structure with underground passages and labyrinths. Maiden Castle Castle in the south of England (County Dorset) is one of the surviving types of the fortress until the Roman period. Impressive earthen ditches and embankments were surrounded by a powerful wooden fence, however, they could not resist the storming of the Romans. The conquerors quickly seized the cities and established their power by constructing rectangular forts in most areas of England.
Medieval period
The Middle Ages in Europe were a very turbulent time, wars were organized for the slightest reason, which provoked the active construction of fortresses everywhere. They were built in the form of fortified castles, cities and monasteries. In the continuous struggle for power and territory, they began to play an important role. In the fall of 1066, the Duke of Normandy invaded England with claims to the royal throne. He erected his first defensive structure in the old Roman fort in Penvency, after which the castles of Hastings and Dovr, which subsequently led to his victory.
Most of the early wooden fortresses during the Middle Ages were rebuilt. The stone tower was significantly superior in strength, and its height provided the soldiers with additional protection and good visibility. The architecture of the fortress also underwent constant changes; rectangular, round, square and multilateral structures were erected. In the XIII century, during the Crusades, Western architects were able to get acquainted with the massive fortifications of the Byzantine Empire. As a result, constructions with a concentric design began to rise throughout England and France.
Fortifications in Russia
In ancient Russia, the construction of wooden fortresses began actively in the X-XI centuries, mainly with the aim of protecting the settlements from the attacks of nomads. Relatively in a short period of time, over 86 cities were fortified. In the future, stone fortresses were replaced by wood-earth fortifications in Kiev, Yuriev, Pereyaslav, Novgorod. Later they were built in Pskov, Izborsk, Moscow and other cities.
Princely courtyards and buildings were usually located inside the city, and monasteries were often given the role of border fortresses. These fortified structures were the first on the line of defense against enemy troops. Around Moscow were held back by the onslaught of the enemy monasteries: Danilov (1282), Andronikov (1360), Simonov (1379), Novodevichy (1524) and others. The stronghold of Russian fortifications was considered a church or princely central courtyard, fenced by a wall with towers; it was called chrome (detinets), and since the beginning of the XIV century - the Kremlin.
Fortress evolution
The invention of artillery in the XIV century, and then the appearance of the cast-iron core (XV century) led to changes in the structure of the fortress. The walls fell and compacted, and the towers began to be built at the same height with them, with a larger area and a ledge forward. Rifle and artillery posts on the walls were responsible for the frontal defense, artillery shells on the towers defended the approaches to the fence. In Russian fortresses, in addition to open positions on the walls, special rooms with loopholes were additionally organized.
The towers of the fortress were semicircular ledges of walls accessible from the side of the city, they were called rondels. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the rondels were replaced by bastions, pentagonal constructions, and became widespread.
When the struggle for power began to calm down and feudal fragmentation went down in history (XV - the middle of the XVII century), fortified structures remained only at the borders of states. With the advent of huge armies at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, it was discovered that fortresses could not match the new tactics of military art. The enemy forces simply went around the place where the fortress was located, and continued to move towards the center of the country.
Discreet care
Even in the Renaissance, the importance of the fortress as a defensive structure began to change somewhat. Defensive duties mainly fell on the forts, specially built fortifications in the field. At the same time, some fortresses began to exercise the functions of local administrative authority or were given over to prisons. Others successfully rebuilt into luxurious estates and palaces. It is curious that at the same time, in order to save, materials of the former fortress were often used. And these were already completely different structures with new tasks and goals.
The fate of many fortresses was also predetermined in the civil war. In the states, the opposing forces began to use them as strongholds. Therefore, after the victory, they tried to get rid of them in order to prevent the possibility of future engagement in conflicts.
Ultimately, the invention of gunpowder gradually led to the inconspicuous departure of traditional fortresses as defensive and protective structures. They were not able to withstand cannon fire. The fortresses that survived the war were transformed into peaceful castles or eventually became the center of the city that grew around them.
Interesting Facts
- Danish archaeologists have discovered a previously unrecorded Viking fortress, supposedly built by the end of the 10th century. Its unusual architecture indicates that the Normans were not only illiterate pirates and robbers.
- Burghausen approached the millennial boundary of its existence, being the longest (1043 meters) building in Europe. Judging by the reviews, the fortress is a pretty picturesque example of the defensive architecture of the Gothic style.
- In France, in the XIII-XIV centuries, there were approximately 50 thousand fortresses, fortified cities and monasteries.
- Throughout its rich history, the Tower in London has served as a defensive fortress, a palace, a storehouse of royal jewels, a mint, a prison, an observatory, and even a zoo.
- The history of Yerevan begins with the Erebuni fortress, which was founded by King Urartu Argishti in 782 BC. It is included in the list of the oldest fortresses on the planet.
- The famous phrase "Russians do not give up!" It is directly related to the defense of the Osowiec fortress, located on the territory of Poland. At first, the small Russian garrison during the First World War needed to hold out only 48 hours, but in fact it had to defend for more than six months (190 days).