linerem.blogg.se - Bastion synonym

Solid bastions are those that are filled up entirely, and have the ground even with the height of the rampart, without any empty space towards the centre.

Various kinds of bastions have been used throughout history. This could be achieved by the use of retrenchments in which a trench was dug across the rear (gorge) of the bastion isolating it from the main rampart Types Some bastion designs attempted to minimise this problem. If a bastion was successfully stormed it would provide the attackers with a stronghold from which to launch further attacks. The top of the bastion which was exposed to enemy fire would not normally be faced with masonry otherwise canon balls hitting the surface would scatter lethal stone shards among the defenders. Cannon balls were expected to pass through this and be absorbed by a greater thickness of hard-packed earth or rubble behind. This allowed more cannon to be mounted and provided enough space for the crews to operate them.Īlthough surviving examples of bastions are usually faced with masonry, unlike the wall of a tower, this was just a retaining wall. This eliminated dead ground making it possible for the defenders to fire upon any point directly in front of the bastion.īastions also cover a larger area than most towers. In contrast to typical late medieval towers, bastions (apart from early examples) were flat sided rather than curved. This glacis shielded most of the bastion from the attackers cannon while the distance from the base of the ditch to the top of the bastion meant it was still difficult to scale.

A bastion would normally have a ditch in front, the opposite side of which would be built up above the natural level then slope away gradually. The height of towers, although making them difficult to scale, also made them easy for artillery to destroy. Bastions are lower than towers and are normally of similar height to the adjacent curtain wall.

Bastions differ from medieval towers in a number of respects.