Белгород-Днестровская крепость как памятник военно-инженерного искусства
The Belgorod-Dnestrovskiy Fortress as a Model of Military and Engineering Art: Main Stages of History – late XIV – early XIX cc.

Summary/Abstract: The article overviews main stages in history of a uniquely preserved Belgorod-Dnestrovskiy (Akkerman) fortress in perspective of achievements of military fortification of late Middle Age and New Time. It is known that the fortress was almost completed by 70s of XV century by the Moldavian builders. At the same time already, however, its main features did not comply with the advanced military engineering ideas. Next stage in existence of the fortress is connected with the period of Ottoman Rule (1484-1806). During almost the entire period, the Turks did not introduce any absolutely new elements in its main constructive features; rather, they limited their activities mainly to small reconstruction of separate sections and structures, repairs and cleaning of the ditch. It was only in 1793 that a French engineer Cauffer designed a number of projects aimed at renovation of the Akkerman fortress, and it seems that one of them could be partly realised. Some works to enhance the fortress were conducted by the Russian engineers in 1813-1814, but even they did little to change the general look of the fortress and its defence capacity. Consequently, the fortress of Belgorod-Dnestrovskiy built in XV century AD is a typical model of classical European (and Byzantine) fortresses of XII-XIV cc.

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