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Annals of a Fortress - Twenty-two Centuries of Siege Warfare
The wonderfully atmospheric life story of a fortress Colorfully charts the development of fortification and the art of the siege This brilliant evocative work is one of the greatest and most unusual books ever written on siewarfare and fortifications. In prose, Viollet-le-Duc recreates the life of a French castle from its obscure origins to its fate in the Franco-Prussian War. As an architect and experienced military engineer Viollet-le-Duc was uniquely placed to write on the history of fortifications. In Annals of a Fortress he examines the life of the imaginery castle of La Roche-Pont as it endures numerous protracted and bitter sieges. Viollet-le-Duc was a noted military engineer, serving in the Franco-Prussian War, and architectural historian. He was the author of Military Architecture.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1876
About the author
Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc
415 books15 followersEugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc was a French architect and theorist, famous for his "restorations" of medieval buildings. Born in Paris, he was as central a figure in the Gothic Revival in France as he was in the public discourse on "honesty" in architecture, which eventually transcended all revival styles, to inform the emerging spirit of Modernism.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 23, 2017
There is a place in France, at the junction of two rivers, where a triangular protrusion of rock towers above the surrounding valleys on two sides, forming a natural strong point with only the northern plateau that needs defending. It was the home of numerous peoples throughout the millennia, from the Gauls to the Franks to the Burgundians to the French, and as those groups came and went it saw no less than 9 sieges. From the nearly stone Age battles where the Gauls first took it, through the Roman times, through the middle Age conflicts, and down to the Napoleonic era, the different technologies and modes of organization changed, and even the name changed from "the valley of Ohet" to Abonia to La Roche Pont, while the terrain stayed largely the same.
This location is, of course, fictional. No single site, as far as I am aware, witnessed sieges in 9 different eras across more than two millennia. The author, Violet-Le-Duc, published his book in 1876, and he had first-hand experience in the construction of fortresses and their defense in wartime. It is thus no surprise that he was able to describe in detail how sieges played out (though presumably for the more ancient ones he had also to rely a great deal upon historical research).
What is surprising is that he is able to tell a story so well. There is in a siege story, similar to a whodunit, a recognizable pattern, but also plenty of scope for surprises. I made sure to pause in reading each of the nine sieges, somewhere like halfway through, and ask myself which side I thought was going to be victorious. I was correct only about half the time, even though afterwards it was possible to look back at the beginnings and recognize signs that suggested the weak points of the eventual loser.
One thing I wish I had been aware of while reading it, was the fact that it had a glossary at the back for the many specialized terms for particular siege engines or defensive works, which were mostly left untranslated from the French (perhaps because no precise English equivalent existed). I could usually pick up from context, eventually, their general meaning, but coming to the end of the book and finding the glossary only then was one of my more "I am so stupid I could kick myself" moments. Not that it actually was a big problem for understanding the general flow of events.
Viollet-Le-Duc also turns out to be an excellent artist, and his maps and illustrations of the fortress, both as planned and during battle, are an excellent complement to the text. I was somewhat annoyed that the Dover edition I had, chose to render them in all black-and-white, whereas the original had some portions in red to indicate things like which parts of the fortification had fallen into the hands of the enemy by a given point in the siege. I am tempted to see if I can find a higher quality printing of it that preserves the original colors.
There is, it must be said, a lot of violence in the book, obviously. Viollet-Le-Duc's narrative is not needlessly gruesome, but he does not present to us a bloodless battle, either. Characters to whom we are introduced, sometimes die, and not always in an heroic manner. The side which you find yourself rooting for (typically, in my case, the defenders) does not always win, and many of the winning sides are not merciful to the vanquished. If you find yourself unable to read scenes of battle without squirming uncomfortably in your seat, this book may not be your cup of tea. However, in no other field of human endeavor is there such swift and sure punishment for arrogance, wishful thinking, lazy thinking, or unwarranted optimism, and this gives the move-and-countermove between the sides a fascination which is matched by little else. I am quite glad never to have participated in siege warfare (or warfare of any kind), but I am very glad to have read this book about it.
This location is, of course, fictional. No single site, as far as I am aware, witnessed sieges in 9 different eras across more than two millennia. The author, Violet-Le-Duc, published his book in 1876, and he had first-hand experience in the construction of fortresses and their defense in wartime. It is thus no surprise that he was able to describe in detail how sieges played out (though presumably for the more ancient ones he had also to rely a great deal upon historical research).
What is surprising is that he is able to tell a story so well. There is in a siege story, similar to a whodunit, a recognizable pattern, but also plenty of scope for surprises. I made sure to pause in reading each of the nine sieges, somewhere like halfway through, and ask myself which side I thought was going to be victorious. I was correct only about half the time, even though afterwards it was possible to look back at the beginnings and recognize signs that suggested the weak points of the eventual loser.
One thing I wish I had been aware of while reading it, was the fact that it had a glossary at the back for the many specialized terms for particular siege engines or defensive works, which were mostly left untranslated from the French (perhaps because no precise English equivalent existed). I could usually pick up from context, eventually, their general meaning, but coming to the end of the book and finding the glossary only then was one of my more "I am so stupid I could kick myself" moments. Not that it actually was a big problem for understanding the general flow of events.
Viollet-Le-Duc also turns out to be an excellent artist, and his maps and illustrations of the fortress, both as planned and during battle, are an excellent complement to the text. I was somewhat annoyed that the Dover edition I had, chose to render them in all black-and-white, whereas the original had some portions in red to indicate things like which parts of the fortification had fallen into the hands of the enemy by a given point in the siege. I am tempted to see if I can find a higher quality printing of it that preserves the original colors.
There is, it must be said, a lot of violence in the book, obviously. Viollet-Le-Duc's narrative is not needlessly gruesome, but he does not present to us a bloodless battle, either. Characters to whom we are introduced, sometimes die, and not always in an heroic manner. The side which you find yourself rooting for (typically, in my case, the defenders) does not always win, and many of the winning sides are not merciful to the vanquished. If you find yourself unable to read scenes of battle without squirming uncomfortably in your seat, this book may not be your cup of tea. However, in no other field of human endeavor is there such swift and sure punishment for arrogance, wishful thinking, lazy thinking, or unwarranted optimism, and this gives the move-and-countermove between the sides a fascination which is matched by little else. I am quite glad never to have participated in siege warfare (or warfare of any kind), but I am very glad to have read this book about it.
January 5, 2022
This a surprising gem of a book. Written by a fortification engineer in the late 19th Century, I was expecting a dry, academic treatise on fortifications. Instead, I was surprised by a blend of dry academic scribbling, common language interpretations / analysis, and a novelization of 9 sieges spread across 22 centuries. The writing style alone makes this a memorable read.
VLD was writing at a time when France had just lost the Franco-Prussian War in the early 1870s. The rapid fall of France led to a lot of cultural soul-searching. France had staked a great deal in his enormously expensive fortifications. In the conclusion, VLD demonstrates the cost per yard for the fortifications of Roche Pointe in Merovingian France, Feudal France, Vauban France, and "modern" France. The expense of such construction was incredible. The rapid failure of such expense shook men like VLD who were key personnel in the fortification effort.
The 22 centuries of Roche Pointe are fascinating. Beginning with Stone Age Europe, and a poorly fortified settlement, VLD proceeds to describe changes in warfare, fortifications, and sometimes, culture. Readers can tell which eras most fascinated VLD because he put more effort into stories of certain eras. The Stone Age / Celtic / Roman eras (sieges) appear to be brief and uninspired. But, VLD clearly had a fascination with the Dark Ages, as the story of the Frankish assault against the Burgundians attests. Readers will almost certainly sympathize with the Burgundians as VLD creates literary heroes from the siege. VLD was just as fascinated in the Feudal Era, as the single largest chapter covers the Frankish siege of the Burgundian Duke. Readers will keep guessing who will win the siege until the last pages of the chapter. Then, in later eras, he barely bothers to humanize the besieger as they are often "German." Nevertheless, the novelization of the sieges will keep readers guessing about the outcome.
And then VLD cleanly breaks the era. Each narrative siege is followed by a short intermediary about the history of the region, changes in demographics, and, of course, fortification efforts. These transitions constitute the meat and potatoes of the book as they describe in a mixture of academic and layman's' terms what was changing, how, and why. Usually, the changes were made with respect to the area's weak spot on the plateau. It is an over-simplification to have just one weak spot; but the world building surrounding Roche Pointe allows VLD to easily and quickly pinpoint the changes in fortification art and technology.
Overall, it is a fascinating book, if difficult to digest in places. The translator includes a glossery of terms; but it is too short to include every bit of jargon VLD uses. I often had to consult a dictionary to understand certain words and concepts. That should not take away from the literary value of a work that is largely fictional and epic. Not many novels run the course of 22 centuries. Whether he discovered the reason for France's quick collapse in 1871 is another matter. One clue is from his favorite chapter - the Merovingian siege. In it, he points out that the leaders (those in charge of the immediate siege or the immediate defense) were Byzantines rather than Franks or Burgundians. VLD opines that Byzantines were used in such a capacity because a civilization in decline turns towards defense rather than offense. The fact that France spent so much on fortifications in early modern and "modern" Europe would make for an argument that VLD saw his nation in decline to more aggressive and war-like barbar...I mean Germans. It is not for casual reading, readers should have more than a passing interest in castles and sieges. The academic portions of the text require more interest in the material than curiosity.
VLD was writing at a time when France had just lost the Franco-Prussian War in the early 1870s. The rapid fall of France led to a lot of cultural soul-searching. France had staked a great deal in his enormously expensive fortifications. In the conclusion, VLD demonstrates the cost per yard for the fortifications of Roche Pointe in Merovingian France, Feudal France, Vauban France, and "modern" France. The expense of such construction was incredible. The rapid failure of such expense shook men like VLD who were key personnel in the fortification effort.
The 22 centuries of Roche Pointe are fascinating. Beginning with Stone Age Europe, and a poorly fortified settlement, VLD proceeds to describe changes in warfare, fortifications, and sometimes, culture. Readers can tell which eras most fascinated VLD because he put more effort into stories of certain eras. The Stone Age / Celtic / Roman eras (sieges) appear to be brief and uninspired. But, VLD clearly had a fascination with the Dark Ages, as the story of the Frankish assault against the Burgundians attests. Readers will almost certainly sympathize with the Burgundians as VLD creates literary heroes from the siege. VLD was just as fascinated in the Feudal Era, as the single largest chapter covers the Frankish siege of the Burgundian Duke. Readers will keep guessing who will win the siege until the last pages of the chapter. Then, in later eras, he barely bothers to humanize the besieger as they are often "German." Nevertheless, the novelization of the sieges will keep readers guessing about the outcome.
And then VLD cleanly breaks the era. Each narrative siege is followed by a short intermediary about the history of the region, changes in demographics, and, of course, fortification efforts. These transitions constitute the meat and potatoes of the book as they describe in a mixture of academic and layman's' terms what was changing, how, and why. Usually, the changes were made with respect to the area's weak spot on the plateau. It is an over-simplification to have just one weak spot; but the world building surrounding Roche Pointe allows VLD to easily and quickly pinpoint the changes in fortification art and technology.
Overall, it is a fascinating book, if difficult to digest in places. The translator includes a glossery of terms; but it is too short to include every bit of jargon VLD uses. I often had to consult a dictionary to understand certain words and concepts. That should not take away from the literary value of a work that is largely fictional and epic. Not many novels run the course of 22 centuries. Whether he discovered the reason for France's quick collapse in 1871 is another matter. One clue is from his favorite chapter - the Merovingian siege. In it, he points out that the leaders (those in charge of the immediate siege or the immediate defense) were Byzantines rather than Franks or Burgundians. VLD opines that Byzantines were used in such a capacity because a civilization in decline turns towards defense rather than offense. The fact that France spent so much on fortifications in early modern and "modern" Europe would make for an argument that VLD saw his nation in decline to more aggressive and war-like barbar...I mean Germans. It is not for casual reading, readers should have more than a passing interest in castles and sieges. The academic portions of the text require more interest in the material than curiosity.
June 24, 2025
Most military histories tend to focus on sweeping strategic movements or tactics in open field battles, but few cover the actual mechanics of undertaking or withstanding a siege. This is one of those few books! The "protagonist" of the book is a particularly defensible piece of land protected on all sides but the north one by steep slopes and bodies of water. The author imagines how this land is fortified, modified, and developed over twenty two centuries.
As Romans, Burgundians, Germans, and just about anyone else in the area fight over this strategically vital area, the author (a celebrated engineer himself) provides in stunning detail the workings of both besiegers and besieged at various points in history. It's a history that reveals the surprisingly dynamic back and forth of a siege and was a fascinating read for me.
As Romans, Burgundians, Germans, and just about anyone else in the area fight over this strategically vital area, the author (a celebrated engineer himself) provides in stunning detail the workings of both besiegers and besieged at various points in history. It's a history that reveals the surprisingly dynamic back and forth of a siege and was a fascinating read for me.
July 18, 2022
It's not you it's me. I'm really not sure how to rank this book since neutral isn't an option. It's the kind of book which is historically relevant in and of itself, and not just the information it contains. I have tried to read military history before with the same result; rereading the same paragraph, falling asleep, no clue what I just read. It took me a while to realize that I actually knew about some of the battles in this book. I can say I've read it now but don't ask me to explain any of it.
If you are going to have pictures to explain things, don't say red and yellow if there is only black and white drawings.
If you are going to have pictures to explain things, don't say red and yellow if there is only black and white drawings.
December 22, 2018
A classic about military architecture and the relationship between buildings and the terrain they sit upon.
November 14, 2013
What a fantastic find this book was! Viollet-le-Duc picks a particularly defensible (fictional) piece of land and writes a series of short stories on siege actions starting in pre-Celtic Gaul and finishing at the tail end of Napoleon’s campaigns. He has a knack for fiction, consistently constructing interesting characters with a certain flair and quirkiness, and then placing them in tension in his sieges.
The stories are backed by technical details of fortifications and siegecraft appropriate to each time period with copious supporting drawings as you might expect given the author’s background. I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this work. It’s fiction on its surface, but there’s enough technical rigor in and focus on the strategic descriptions that I’d place it closer to a historical work than I would a typical work of historical fiction. While technical, the fiction was of sufficient quality that the details poured themselves effortlessly into my head. I loved it, and would like to find more books like it.
The stories are backed by technical details of fortifications and siegecraft appropriate to each time period with copious supporting drawings as you might expect given the author’s background. I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this work. It’s fiction on its surface, but there’s enough technical rigor in and focus on the strategic descriptions that I’d place it closer to a historical work than I would a typical work of historical fiction. While technical, the fiction was of sufficient quality that the details poured themselves effortlessly into my head. I loved it, and would like to find more books like it.
July 15, 2008
An interesting story indeed.
An account of the development and story behind a fortress and its town over the course of history. It was written well and easy to go through, while apparently being an old classic, which I only realized much later.
For those who are interesting in fortifications and ancient warfare and such this is a very worthwhile read.
An account of the development and story behind a fortress and its town over the course of history. It was written well and easy to go through, while apparently being an old classic, which I only realized much later.
For those who are interesting in fortifications and ancient warfare and such this is a very worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews