《Literary Remains of Albrecht Dürer》之《THE THEORY OF FORTIFICATION.》之一

THE THEORY OF FORTIFICATION.

THE THEORY OF FORTIFICATION.

OUR account of Dürer's works as an author would not be complete without some notice of his book on Fortifications, although, to the student of art, it presents few matters of interest. The subject always possessed a certain fascination for Dürer from the days when, in his Wanderjahre, he made sketches of the Venediger Klausen (Louvre), the Welsch Schloss (Haussmann Collection), and other castles (Louvre and Bremen). Early association endeared the Nürnberg Veste to his heart; picturesque combinations of massive walls and frowning rocks could not fail of attraction for his artist's eye, wherever and whenever he met with them. He was led on once again from the picturesque to the scientific point of view, from making drawings of castles to considering how they should best be planned.

The subject of fortification attracted much attention in Dürer's day, for the security of every man's life and property depended upon the strength of his city's defences. The Renascence was changing the tactics of war as it changed everything else. Artillery was being developed, and gas was winning its victory over muscle. Old defences, like old political and social structures, had to be changed. Dürer in this, as in all else, accurately reflected, but with the brightness of concentration, the thoughts of the ordinary citizen of his day. His methodizing mind reduced to form the subjects upon which his fellows chattered and gossiped. They went to see the new great gun of Nürnberg; he went to sketch and engrave it. His piercing intellect failed not in this also to see deeper than others saw.

In October 1527 he gave to the world the results of his experience, invention, and reasoning, in the form of a book entitled Unterricht zur Befestigung der Städte Schlösser und Flecken, or “Teaching about the Fortification of Towns, Castles, and Places.” The following editions appeared at later dates, testifying to the popularity of the book.

A Latin translation, published by Ch. Wechelus, Paris, 1535| A reprint of the original German edition, published by J. Janssen,... Arnheim, 1603 A modernized German edition with notes Berlin, 1823. Another modernized German edition with notes Berlin, 1840.

A French translation (with introduction) by A. Ratheau Paris, 1870.

The British Museum volumes contain some five-and-twenty sheets, leaves, and scraps cut out of full-sized leaves, bearing text or diagrams prepared for the Theory of Fortification. Almost all the diagrams are accurately reproduced in the printed volume. Amongst them, for instance, is the design for the brick arches of the bastey (111. 19*), and the figure showing cannon on the rampart (III. 42). The large plan of the town (IV. 126, 129) is a conspicuous illustration in the published work. There are also drawings of machines (III. 44), and plans for fortifications (III. 56, 164, 165). A large plan for the distribution of magazines (III. 135, 136) was not used in the printed book.

The Theory of Fortification was not the outcome of longcontinued labour, in the sense that the Books of Human Proportions were. Its paragraphs were not written and corrected and rewritten. They were apparently jotted down at odd times, and then transcribed, after one revision, into the printer's copy. Vol. iv. 19 presents a characteristic example of the method followed by Dürer in this and other similar cases. Each two or three sentences have been erased as they were copied out. The . author is again seen inserting little notes on the progress of his work, for instance dis alles hab ich hernach aufgerissen, doubtless in reference to some illustration, which had then been drawn. We never meet with more than one corrected draft for a single passage.

It is no concern of ours to discuss this book from the military point of view. That has been sufficiently done by competent writers1 The briefest resumé must here suffice. According to M. Ratheau, to whose translation I am much indebted, the work may be divided into seven parts, describing respectively,

1. Forts to be erected principally at the angles of town walls.

2. A different kind of angle fort, the scarp of which does not rise above the level of the ground. A casemated gallery is at the foot of the scarp.

3. A third kind of fort, square, but for the slight rounding of the face.

4. The ideal head-quarters of a king, of which more presently.

5. A Block-house to protect a position, thus described : “If a prince had in his land a narrow, level place lying between the sea, or some large water, and a hill or lofty precipice, and if the precipice or hill were so situated that no great force could pass, and the way between the hill and the water were rather narrow and very long, he might there build a strong Block-house by which that part of the country would be closed.”

6. How to strengthen the fortifications of an old town, no longer strong enough to resist artillery.

7. The mounting of certain pieces of artillery—a brief note.

Dürer dedicated the book to Ferdinand, King of Hungary. The final draft of this Dedication, agreeing accurately with the printed copy, and showing scarcely any verbal corrections, is included amongst the London manuscripts (IV. 1). On the back of the same leaf the title of the book is written? The Dedication is here translated, because it gives a brief explanation of the author's intention in writing the book.

"To the most illustrious, mighty prince and lord, Lord Ferdinand, King of Hungary and Bohemia, Infanta of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy and Brabant, Count of Hapsburg, Flanders, and Tirol, His Roman Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, Regent in the Holy Empire, my most gracious Sire.

Most illustrious mighty King, most gracious Sire. During the life-time of the most illustrious and mighty Emperor Maximilian of praiseworthy memory, your Majesty's Lord and Grandsire, I experienced grace and favour from his Imperial Majesty ; wherefore I consider my

1 Those interested in the subject from a military-historical point of view may refer to the following:

C. von der Goltz-A. D.'s Einfluss auf die Entwickelung der deutschen Befesti

gungskunst in H. Grimm-Ueber Künstler etc. Vol. II. pp. 189–203. G. von Imhof-A. D. in seiner Bedeutung f. d. mod. Befest. Nördlingen, 1871.

Grenzboten, 1872, p. 143, and the Introduction to the above mentioned French translation.

2 Allerley vndericht zu befestigung der stett schloss vnnd flecken.

self no less bound to serve your Majesty according to my small powers. As it happeneth that your Majesty has commanded some towns and places to be fortified, I am induced to make known what little I know about these matters, if perchance it may please your Majesty to gather somewhat therefrom. For though my theory may not be accepted in every point, still I believe something will arise from it, here and there, useful not to your Majesty only, but to all other Princes, Lords, and Towns, that would gladly protect themselves against violence and unjust oppression. I therefore humbly pray your Majesty graciously to accept from me this evidence of my gratitude, and to be my most gracious lord.

Your Royal Majesty's most humble

ALBRECHT DÜRER.”

The only other passage, likely to interest the modern lay reader, is a long description (which I have freely curtailed) of Dürer's idea for the strong place of a powerful prince, the kind of thing an ancient King of Assyria might perhaps have been able and willing to build for the headquarters of his military government, a palace in peace and an impregnable fortress in time of war.

The Fortified Capital of a Kingdom1.

“If a prince possesses a wide and well-situated country, and has the opportunity of building a strong Castle according to his will, whither he may retire at need and defend himself from an enemy, let him choose such a position as is hereinafter described.

A level, fruitful land should first be chosen thereto, and this plain should be bounded towards the north by a high wooded mountain, so that there be no want of timber or stone for the building. Some strong towers should be built on the mountain and it should be so handled that an enemy should find it difficult of ascent, and the ways into and out of these towers should be secret and hidden. The whole plain can be seen afar in every direction from the tops of these towers, so that nothing can stir unperceived, and signals can thence be given by hoisting baskets, smoke, gunshots, or fire.

Moreover the Castle should be set a short mile away from the mountain, southwards in the plain. And this chosen place should have a swiftly flowing stream running by, south of the Castle, the course of which stream cannot be turned, and its waters should be made to flow with a current through all the trenches about the Castle. Therein also may fish be reared. If the trenches are to remain dry, games may be organized in them, such as shooting with the bow, crossbow, or arquebuss, or striking the ball; or gardens may be made there for beasts and trees.

The Castle is to be built in the form of a square, each side of which shall have as much as 3400 feet of length. The site of the Castle is to be so chosen that the four strongest winds shall spend their forces against its

1 Unterricht zur Befestigung, leaf D. 1 a.

angles. That is to say the first two angles are to point, the one to the east, the other to the west; and the other two angles, the one to the south the other to the north.

All around before this Castle to the distance of a short mile, or as far as a culverin can range, no strong and lofty house must be built, nor must any ditch or other defensible thing be permitted. The Castle has but one great gate, high and broad, on the side of least danger and importance; but there are to be two small entrances, one of which is secret. The ramparts are continuous above the gates so that men may pass all along. Moreover all water and drainage shall pass out through the walls by strongly vaulted passages, one through each side; and where the water enters the trenches, the entrance shall be protected by gratings. The filth shall be frequently scoured out as ought to be done in every fine town.

The interior of the Castle is to be thus arranged. In the midst is the noble Palace of the King, established on a site eight hundred feet square, and no corner is to be cut off from it. Vitruvius, the old Roman, plainly describes how such a royal palace should be built. The Palace is to be surrounded by a wall and ditch, and gates with drawbridges are to be in the middle of each side, so that the king may, if he will, join himself swiftly to his people at any point. A tower 200 feet high is to be built at the eastern corner, having half the breadth at the top that it has at the bottom. From it a man can see to a great distance, and a bell shall hang therein ; and this tower shall also be used as a choir and a chapel shall be built in it.

When the King's Palace has been built, according to the precepts of Vitruvius or some other cunning workman, a square open space must be left all about it, 600 feet broad. The councillors of the king, his servants, and work people shall dwell within this space; it shall moreover be plentifully furnished with wells or cisterns, as may happen. Outside this district the first row of walls shall be built; they shall be 60 feet high, 100 feet broad at the top and 150 feet below. A trench 50 feet deep and 50 feet broad is in front of this.

Here too must be all that a most powerful prince requireth, great and small pieces of artillery, likewise shelters and mantelets and all other needful arms and equipments, about which experienced men of war, who daily use such things, will give information. The prince must likewise obtain all provisions, materials, and other necessaries so that he lack nothing. Stalls for the horses must be made within the outer rampart of masonry; 2000 horses might easily be stabled there and provided with all things needful. Beyond the broad square trench, on the platform within the outer palisade, a large body of foot-soldiers may be lodged in huts. Thence they may daily skirmish with the enemy and go a-foraging for provisions.

The innkeepers' houses are to be built on both sides before the gates at the outermost trench. They are to be made low, of wood, and without strength, so that if the enemy occupy them he may find no protection in them and do no mischief thence.

He now who, in such a fortress furnished with all necessaries, cannot defend himself must lay the blame on no one but himself, for double works like these are hard to take. For even if the outer rampart of masonry be captured by a great force and a powerful storm, yet the inner rampart is higher than the outer and still remaineth unharmed. Wherefore if the garrison be manly they may drive the enemy forth again by force, for they are separated from him by a wide platform and a deep trench.

The King shall allow no useless folk to dwell within this Castle, but only skilful, pious, wise, manly, experienced, ingenious men, good craftsmen employed by the Castle, gunfounders, and good marksmen. No one must be allowed to enter the royal Castle save such as the king trusteth and to whom permission has been given.

The King shall allow no dead body to be buried inside the trenches but shall have a church-yard made near the gateway on the side towards the hill. Thus the west winds, which are commonest in damp seasons, will carry the vapours away.

If it be desired to build houses in the open place between the Palace and the walls the most advantageous way of arranging them in conformity with all manner of needs must first be considered. The breadth of the space as aforesaid is 600 feet and the length of a side of the outer trench around the palace is about 1200 feet. Four streets are to be left free each 50 feet wide. And these same four streets shall extend themselves each way, that is in eight directions, till they reach the four sides of the inner rampart, so that a man standing by one of the trenches may look without hindrance in both directions as far as the ramparts. Other four streets of the same size are to be taken from the four gates of the King's Castle to the middle of the sides of the ramparts. These streets are the boundaries which sever the divisions and sites whereon the houses shall be built. At the ends of each of these broad ways are steps, 40 feet or more wide, whereby the inner ramparts may be ascended.

Let the side between the east and south corner be first taken into consideration, and let the gateway be set in the midst of it over against the gateway of the Palace. And first of all shall the Church and that which pertaineth thereto be set in the east corner, but so that between its wall and the ramparts runneth a street five and twenty feet in width'. The form of the church (2) is a square of 200 feet. Over the midst of its west side a strong, square belfry tower (3) is to be made, the

1 Since the choir has to be towards the east the Church must be set cornerwise to the main walls. The accompanying figure will render the text intelligible.