Tähtilinnoituksia

Tähtilinnoituksia, known in English as star forts or bastion forts, are a type of European military fortification that emerged in the late 15th century and became prominent during the Age of Gunpowder. Their distinctive shape, characterized by angular bastions or bulwarks projecting from the curtain walls, was a direct response to the evolving effectiveness of artillery. Traditional medieval castles with high, thin walls were vulnerable to cannon fire, which could easily breach them.

The design of a star fort aimed to counter this threat. The projecting bastions allowed defenders to place cannons at an angle, enabling them to create enfilading fire along the faces of adjacent bastions and the curtain walls. This meant that attackers approaching the fort would be exposed to fire from multiple directions, and would not be able to find a blind spot for their artillery. The lower, thicker walls of star forts were also more resistant to cannonballs.

Star forts were typically built in a polygonal shape, often with five, six, or more points, resembling a star. The construction involved elaborate earthworks, ramparts, and ditches, designed to absorb and deflect artillery impacts. Key elements included the curtain walls, bastions, ravelins (triangular fortifications protecting the curtain walls), and moats. Famous examples of star forts include the Citadel of Blérancourt in France, Fortezza di S. Marco in Italy, and the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch. The principles of star fort design influenced military architecture for centuries, remaining a dominant form of fortification until the development of rifled artillery and other advanced military technologies in the 19th century.