Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Now I Know: Star Fortress

Now I Know: Star Fortress: "Star Fortress
For centuries, the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Turks were at war.  Italy's present-day Fruili region -- in the country's northeast -- was a particular hotspot, often finding itself the theater of battles between these two nation-states.  In the late 1500s, the Venetians came up with a new form of defense: a star-shaped fortress, one with significant advantages over its square-shaped predecessors.

Named Palmanova (pictured from above, right), the town/fortress has the standard accouterments of the era: a moat, reinforced defensive walls, towers, etc.  But it has two significant innovations which were unique at the time.  First, Palmanova was built with nine ramparts protruding outward in such a way that each of the nine were able to assist its two neighbors in case of attack.  Meanwhile, central roadways allowed for troops to easily and quickly reach any of the three gates needing reinforcement.  (A 17th century map of Palmanova can be found here.)  "