CEAlex, The fortifications of Alexandria from the Middle Ages to the present day. Lines of research

At Alexandria, constructions of the medieval type remained predominant into the 19th century. The principals developed by Vauban were only adopted late in the day and were introduced by French engineers during Bonaparte’s Egyptian expedition and then under the reign of Mohamed Ali.
For some years now, the Mameluke-era fortress of Qaitbay has been the object of a study led by the CEAlex. The excavations undertaken within its walls have opened up a vast field of research into the defensive system of Alexandria in the medieval, Ottoman and modern periods. Other vestiges still in place within the city have been documented and studied, however, for a deeper understanding of the historic fortifications, the groundwork must be complemented by archival research. Within this context, we have consulted:

The collection of historic maps, maintained and carefully up-dated by the Topography Department of the CEAlex
The plates of the Description de l’Égypte, a vast collection of engravings and texts published under the orders of Napoléon Bonaparte in 1823
The collection of travellers’ accounts: Alexandrie dans les relations de voyage des premiers pèlerins à l’arrivée de Napoléon Bonaparte by Oueded Sennoune
The French Military Archives in the Chateau of Vincennes, France

The curious visitor can examine what is left of the historic fortifications at two points in the present-day city: the fort of Qaitbay on the tip of the Eastern Harbour, and in Shallalat Gardens where there are still the remains of military installations from different periods.

In the western world, one counts two distinct types of fortifications: the medieval fortress characterised by high straight curtain walls interspersed with flanking towers on a circular or rectangular plan. These constructions were adapted for defence against light and inaccurate arms such as arrows and ballistas. The inconvenience of such fortresses was the presence of dead angles, where the attacker was untouchable because flanking fire was impossible.
Sousse Fort, Tunisia, 8th century. Drawing K. Machinek © CEAlex
The Renaissance marked a radical transformation in military architecture with the invention of firearms, the creation of heavy artillery and a revolution in strategy. The old fortresses were no longer sufficiently solid to withstand modern weaponry. A new type of fortification saw the light of day in Italy in the 15th century and was brought to its highest development by Sebastian Prestre de Vauban in the 17th century. These strongholds were complex, star-shaped buried constructions with bastions. They thus minimised the surface exposed to cannon balls and at the same time allowed for a defensive flanking fire.
Plan of an ideal fortified town, 17th century Koch, Baustilkunde

	K. Machinek, architect-archaeologist
	February 2008