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ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.




[Illustration: MAP OF THE LAND OF OHET.]


   ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.

   BY
   E. VIOLLET-LE-DUC.

   TRANSLATED BY BENJAMIN BUCKNALL,
   ARCHITECT.

   [Illustration]

   BOSTON:
   JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
   LATE TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.

   1876.


   UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO.,
   CAMBRIDGE.




TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.


The Fortress whose transmutations during successive ages are so vividly
described in the following pages is an ideal one; its supposed situation
is on the Cousin, an affluent of the Saone. The practical genius of the
author indicates the position which, in view of the new eastern
frontier, should be fortified in order to command the Saone.

To his unrivalled talent as an architect, Monsieur Viollet-le-Duc adds
the highest qualifications of the military engineer. In this branch of
applied science he is a recognised authority; and it may not be out of
place to notice here that he was frequently consulted by the late
Emperor respecting the permanent defences of the country. It is not too
much to assert that if his recommendations had been carried out the
investment of Paris would have been rendered impossible, whilst the
progress of the German invasion elsewhere would have been attended with
greater difficulties. As colonel of engineers, no officer displayed
greater energy, skill, or bravery, in the defence of the city; and every
operation planned and directed by him during the siege was successful.
Within two or three days after the signing of the armistice, the
Germans had done their utmost to destroy all evidences of their works of
investment. Nothing, however, had escaped the vigilant eye of M.
Viollet-le-Duc. In that brief space of time he had surveyed and
accurately noted all these works of investment; plans and descriptions
of which are given in his interesting memoir of the siege. Upon the
outbreak of the Commune, he was solicited by its chiefs to take the
military command; and had he not made a timely escape would probably
have paid the penalty of his life for refusing that questionable honour.
From his retreat at Pierrefonds he was recalled by General MacMahon, to
assist the Versailles troops in re-entering Paris. It is deserving of
mention that in his absence a devoted band of craftsmen thrice gallantly
defended his house from being burnt and pillaged.

In presenting the _Histoire d'une Forteresse_ in an English form, the
translator has considered it impossible to do justice to the original
without adhering to its archaic style and manner; and aware that a
translation must lose something either in point of sense or style, his
chief aim has been to give a faithful rendering of the sense.

   BENJAMIN BUCKNALL,
   _Architect._

   OYSTERMOUTH, SWANSEA,
   _February 11, 1875._




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.
                                                                PAGE
THE FIRST RETREAT                                                 1


CHAPTER II.

THE OPPIDUM                                                      11


CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST SIEGE                                                  26


CHAPTER IV.

THE COST OF DEFENDERS                                            65


CHAPTER V.

THE SECOND SIEGE                                                 69


CHAPTER VI.

THE PERMANENT CAMP--FOUNDATION OF A CITE                         90


CHAPTER VII.

THE FORTIFIED CITE                                               97


CHAPTER VIII.

THE THIRD SIEGE                                                 108


CHAPTER IX.

THE FEUDAL CASTLE                                               157


CHAPTER X.

THE FOURTH SIEGE                                                178


CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST DEFENCES AGAINST FIRE ARTILLERY                       226


CHAPTER XII.

THE FIFTH SIEGE                                                 239


CHAPTER XIII.

THE CITE OF LA ROCHE-PONT IS FORTIFIED BY ERRARD DE BAR-LE-DUC,
ENGINEER TO THE MOST CHRISTIAN KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE       275


CHAPTER XIV.

THE SIXTH SIEGE                                                 282


CHAPTER XV.

THE TOWN OF LA ROCHE-PONT IS FORTIFIED BY M. DE VAUBAN          304


CHAPTER XVI.

THE SEVENTH SIEGE                                               315


CHAPTER XVII.


CONCLUSION                                                      354


EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK    385




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


FIG.                                                            PAGE

 1. MAP OF THE LAND OF OHET                          _Frontispiece_.

    THE SAPPER                                           _Vignette_.

 2. THE OPPIDUM                                                  14

 3. RAMPART OF THE OPPIDUM                                       15

 4. GATES OF THE OPPIDUM                                         16

 5. THE NEMEDE AND THE DRUIDS' DWELLINGS                         16

    FIRST SIEGE.--SIGILD AND TOMAR                               32

 6.   "     "     WOODEN TOWERS OF THE OPPIDUM                   35

 7.   "     "     ADVANCED WORK OF THE OPPIDUM                   46

 8.   "     "     ASSAULT ON THE OPPIDUM                         55

 9. THE TOWN AND CITE D'AVON (WAR OF THE GAULS)                  70

10. SECOND SIEGE.--THE ROMAN 'AGGER' AND 'VINEAE'                 79

11.   "      "     A STIMULUS                                    80

12.   "      "     THE MOVABLE TOWER                             82

13.   "      "     ATTACK ON THE STRONGHOLD OF THE OPPIDUM       86

14. THE ROMAN PERMANENT CAMP                                     91

15. GATES