Berecz Mátyás - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Petercsák Tivadar (szerk.): Végvár és mentalitás a kora újkori Európában - Studia Agriensia 31. (Eger, 2015)

CIESIELSKI, TOMASZ: Fortresses on the south-eastern borders of Poland in the 18th century

fortress was deemed totally ruined, and it ceased to be considered a military facility after the garrison was removed from there17. It performed its last military role in early March 1769, when some Polish partisans, the Bar Confederates, tried to defend themselves there. Their resistance, however, was easily broken by the Russian troops18. In actual fact, Okopy Swiçtcj Trójcy was no longer a fortress, and rather a large watch post guarding the state border instead. However, even this function lost most of its significance in the 1740s when Zwaniec became the main military border post.

Zwaniec was located at a convenient crossing point across the Dniester, in close vicinity to the most important Ottoman fortress of Khotyn. The only fortified facility in the town was a castle on the river Zwariczyk. Erected in the early 17th century and reconstructed in the early 18th century, it was pentagonal, with towers and bastion-type fortifications on the ground level in the comers. Two curtains of walls were protected by a steep face of the Zwariczyk river ravine, and the remaining three - by a dry moat. The castle was a private property, and in 18th century it was maintained in proper condition19. In early 1769, it was used by the Bar Confederates, who made Zwaniec their main headquarters in southern Podolia. However, after several days’ siege by the Russian troops, they abandoned the castle in March 1769 and fled into the Turkish territories20. After those events, Zwaniec lost its military significance, and the border post was moved to Braha, situated opposite Khotyn.

The most important Polish stronghold guarding the border with the Ottoman Empire on the river Dniester was Kamieniec Podolski, situated 20 km north of Zwaniec. It defence system consisted of the town fortifications and the castle complex. The town itself was protected primarily by the deep ravine of the Smotrycz river, and the crucial spots were additionally guarded

17 Kuczyríski, M. do Komisji Wojskowej, Kamieniec Podolski 20 I 1768. Pawlowski, B.: Wojsko körönné w dobié konfederaeji barskiej. „Przegl^d Historyczno-Wojskowy”. Vol. X. Warszawa, 1938. p. 197.

18 Witte, J. do Komisji Wojskowej, Kamieniec Podolski 11 III 1769. Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie (National Archives in Cracow). Archiwum Sanguszków. ms. 689. Vol. 1. pp. 243-244.; Konopczynski, W: Konfederacja barska. Vol. I. Warszawa, 1991. s. 189.

19 Polak, T: Zamki na kresach. Bialorus, Litwa, Ukraina. Warszawa, 1997. p. 212-213.

20 Witte, J. do Komisji Wojskowej, Kamieniec Podolski 11 III 1769. Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie, Archiwum Sanguszków. ms. 689. Vol. 1. pp. 243-244.

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