Ravelin is one of the elements of the so-called bastion system of fortifications that arose in the era of the New Age (XVII-XIX centuries). What is ravelin? What is the meaning of this term? And what function does it perform in fortifications?
Elements of the bastion system of fortifications
The rapid development of artillery in the 16th century is associated with the appearance and continuous improvement of bastion fortification systems. Medieval fortifications and castles could no longer fully resist the new military weapons. The walls of the fortresses simply could not withstand their powerful shelling. So, the walls began to be erected lower, while focusing on their thickness. Tall towers were soon replaced by bastions, which over time became larger and more thoughtful in terms of shape.
There are several elements (types) of the bastion system of fortifications. It:
- bastions;
- curtains;
- ravelins;
- Reductions
- the citadel.
What is ravelin? And what role does he play in fortification? This will be discussed in more detail below.
Ravelin is …
This term has a Latin (ravelere) or Italian (ravellino) origin. The meaning of the word "ravelin" (emphasis is correctly placed on the last syllable) is "to separate" or "cut off." That is how it can be translated from Latin.
Ravelin is, first of all, an architectural term that is widely used in military affairs. This is an additional fortification located between two neighboring bastions and in front of the moat of the fortress. In plan, it has, as a rule, the shape of a triangle.
Most often, the ravelin has the appearance of a powerful stone perimeter with casemates to accommodate shooters and artillery pieces. Moreover, the height of this perimeter should be 1-1.5 meters below the walls of the main fortress. In fortification, the ravelins are called upon to fulfill several important functions. They:
- cover the central walls from direct artillery fire;
- restrain attacks of enemy troops;
- used to concentrate warriors before counterattacks.
Ravelins were widely used in Europe for almost four centuries (from XVI to XIX). Many of them have survived to the present day, in particular, in Russia.
Famous ravelins of Russia
Perhaps the most striking examples of ravelins on the territory of modern Russia were built in St. Petersburg - Alekseevsky and Ioannovsky. They were named after the names of the closest relatives of Peter the Great: respectively, in honor of the father and in honor of the brother of the sovereign. One of them (Ioannovsky) can be seen within the Peter and Paul Fortress today.
Alekseevsky ravelin at the end of the XIX century, alas, was destroyed. It is curious that he served not only as a defensive structure, but also as a fortress prison. It included many Decembrists and opponents of the tsarist regime. The prison in the Alekseevsky ravelin lasted until 1884.
Another famous ravelin is in Sevastopol. This powerful fortification was built in 1840 with the aim of protecting the city bay from attacks by enemy ships from the sea. The so-called Konstantinovsky battery of Sevastopol played an important role twice in history: during the Crimean (1854-1855) and World War II.
