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Vauban

Vauban, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707), was a French military engineer and Marshal of France under Louis XIV. He is regarded as the leading fortress designer of the 17th century and one of the principal architects of modern fortifications.

Vauban's fortification concepts transformed European military architecture. He championed the star fort (trace italienne) and polygonal,

During his career Vauban supervised or designed fortifications for hundreds of towns and frontier garrisons across

Vauban's legacy extends beyond his lifetime: his fortifications are collectively recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage

low-profile
fortresses
that
could
resist
artillery
fire.
His
designs
integrated
layered
outworks
such
as
ravelins,
lunettes,
and
covered
ways,
with
glacis
slopes
and
precise
artillery
placements.
He
also
reformed
siegecraft,
developing
systematic
methods
for
besieging
towns
and
for
defending
them,
including
the
use
of
circumvallation
and
contravallation
lines
to
isolate
a
fortress
and
protect
besieging
troops.
His
work
emphasized
thorough
surveying,
discipline,
logistics,
and
the
rapid
construction
of
durable
works.
France
and
its
borders,
and
he
served
as
royal
inspector
of
fortifications.
He
also
authored
manuals
on
fortifications
and
siege
techniques,
contributing
to
professional
military
engineering.
Site,
known
as
the
Fortifications
of
Vauban,
covering
several
examples
across
France.
He
died
in
Paris
in
1707,
leaving
a
lasting
influence
on
military
engineering
and
the
design
of
defensive
works.