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

a few defence lines protecting their northern border in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, as well as their southern border3. In the early 18th century, Austria modernised its defence system on the border with the Ottoman Empire, first developing the stronghold of Belgrade, and later that of Arad. In the late 18th century, they concentrated on protecting Bohemia and Moravia, where they built several strongholds - for example: Hradec Králové (Königgrätz), Terezin (Theresienstadt), Josefov (Josephstadt), Kmov (Jägem- dorf), Opava (Troppau) and Olomouc (Olmiitz)4. Frederick II of Prussia went furthest, modifying and implementing the Vauban doctrine through the construction of a tight defence system for Silesia, and strengthening the defence potential of Pomerania. During his long reign, a large number of strongholds were either constructed or modernised — in Silesia and County of Kladsko: Brzeg (Brieg), Glogów (Glogau), Klodzko (Glatz), Kozle (Kosel), Nysa (Neisse), Swidnica (Schweidnitz), Srebmej Górze (Silberberg) and Wroclaw (Breslau); in Pomerania: Grudziijdz (Graudenz) and Kolobrzeg (Kolberg)5.

In the 18th century Poland, the Vauban doctrine also had ardent advocates, including notably the king August II Wettin. He believed that in order to improve the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one had to protect the entire territory of the country with a chain of fortresses, and after his election he undertook to maintain the existing ones in proper condition6. However, during the 35-year reign of August II (1697-1733) not a single new fortress was erected on the territory of the Republic of Poland. On the contrary, their number drastically dropped. Also his son, August III did not finance any

3 Duffy, C.: The Fortress in the Age of Vauban, pp. 212-217, 250-251.; H.H. TlempyxuHU,ee, IJapcTBOBaHHe Ahhm HoaHHOBHbi. OopMupoBaHne BHyrnnojiHTHHecKOro Kypca h cynôbi apMHH h cJjJioTa 1730-1735 r. Carrier üeTepöypr, 2001. pp. 128-131.

4 Dujfy, C.: The Fortress in the Age of Vauban, pp. 132-134, 242-243.; J.D. Lepage, Vauban and the French military under Louis XIV. McFarland, 2009. p. 284 and next.

5 Dujfy, C.: The Fortress in the Age of Vauban, pp. 134-138.; Podruczny, G.\Fryderyk Wielki i jego twierdze. Pruska architektúra obronna w latach 1740-1786. In: Ciesielski, 71(ed.): Zamki, twierdze i gamizony Opola, Sl^ska i dawnej Rzeczypospolitej. Zabrze, 2010. pp. 83-96.; idem: Twierdza od wewn^trz. Budownictwo wojskowe w latach 1740-1806. Zabrze, 2010. p. 44 and next.

6 Staszewski, J.: Pomysly reformatorskie czasów Augusta II. Uwagi o dzielach i programach. In: idem. „Jak Polskç przemieniæ w kraj kwitnqcy...”. Szkice i studia z czasów saskich. Olsztyn, 1997. pp. 69-70.

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