Olomouc bastion fortress in Czech Republic in 1757

Bourtange bastion fortress in Groningen in Netherland

plan of bastion fortress (in Finnish)

The bastion fortress was once a very modern type of fortress. Its predecessor was the medieval fortress, usually placed on high hills. From there arrows were shot at the enemies, the higher the fortress was, the farther the arrows flew. The enemies hope was to either ram the gate or climb over the wall with ladders. Invading fortresses were quite understandably hard tasks for the invading force. Therefore fortresses were in a key position in warfare. town hall with astronomical clock Olomouc (German Olmütz, Polish Ołomuniec, Latin Eburum or Olomucium) is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Fortification Bourtange, Groningen province, Netherlands. ... Fortification Bourtange, Groningen province, Netherlands. ... Bourtange is a Dutch star fort and village in the Westerwolde region of the province of Groningen. ... Groningen can refer to: A province of the Netherlands. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Medieval fortification is the military aspect of Medieval technology that covers the development of fortification construction and use in Europe roughly from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. ... The panoramic view from Connors Hill, near Swifts Creek, Victoria A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area. ... Japanese arrow (ya) and head // Weapon An arrow is a pointed projectile that is shot with a bow. ... For other uses, see Ladder (disambiguation). ...

The cannon

In the 15th century the cannon arrived to Europe, and revolutionized fortress warfare. At first, cannons weren't very effective and their range was not greater than that of the catapults. As time passed, the range of artillery (artillery = gathering of cannons) increased. By the 17th century, the cannons were so effective that the old medial fortresses were getting obsolete. Then a new type of fortress was born, the bastion fortress. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... A small cannon on a carriage, Bucharest. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Replica catapult at Château des Baux, France For the handheld Y-shaped weapon, see slingshot. ... Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 – 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The point of a bastion on a reconstructed French fort in Illinois. ...

The new bastion fortress

See also: trace italienne and star fort

Contradictory to its predecessor, the bastion fortress was a very flat structure. It was not a single structure but rather a composition of many bastions. The bastions were triangular structures specifically designed to cover each other and the ditch. Four or five bastions formed a bastion fortress, with bastions at the corners. Between each bastion was a ravelin, also a triangular structure, though in very large fortresses the ravelins would sometimes be replaced with larger structures known as hornworks or crownworks. Further structures such as detached forts or even more hornworks or crown works could be added to form a perfectly symmetrical structure, resembling of a sunflower. The trace italienne is a style of fortification that was developed in Italy in the late 15th and early 16th century in response, primarily to the French invasion of the Italian peninsula. ... A Star Fort is a fortification in the style that evolved during the Age of Blackpowder when the cannon came to dominate the battlefield. ... The point of a bastion on a reconstructed French fort in Illinois. ... A triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three vertices and three sides which are straight line segments. ... A ravelin is a triangular fortification, detached outwork in front of the bastions. ... Sphere symmetry group o. ... Binomial name Helianthus annuus L. The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant native to the Americas in the family Asteraceae, with a large flowering head (inflorescence). ...

In the 17th and 18th century the artillery shells were not yet explosive, they were cannon balls mostly composed of solid iron. When the enemy attacked and fired cannonballs, the projectiles would be reflected because they wouldn't hit directly to a wall. If the enemy moved his artillery to fire directly on any of the sides of the bastion(starting from the edge), he would be caught in a crossfire from the cannons in the bastion and the ravelin. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and Proof shot). ... Different types of cannon balls recovered from the Vasa, sunk in 1628 Round shot is a type of projectile fired from guns or cannons. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ...

Again a revolution

The bastion-model was effective for two centuries but eventually artillery technology advanced and the long range of the cannons would in the end of the 18th century make the bastion fortress obsolete. After that the central function of fortresses in warfare was starting to decay. War was to become more mobile, however it took many years to abandon the old fortress-thinking. Still today fortification of ones location is very important in war. However, the fortification is today no longer a static entity and fortifications can be quickly conquered (by the aid of effective artillery, today 30-40 kms away).

See also

• List of established military terms

This is a list of established military terms which have been in use for at least 50 years. ...

References

• Olof af Hällström Sveaborg - The island fortress off Helsinki