1720 Chatelain Chart of the Principles of Fort Construction

This is a 1720 Henri Abraham Chatelain chart of fortification design and armament, created as an introduction to the principles of fortification. The first forty-one illustrations present elements of fort construction along with six different designs, one of which utilizes the local terrain to reinforce defenses. Below to the left is a diagram detailing the different parts of a fort in practice, revealing how the pieces work together. Plans illustrating the Battle of Landen and the Battle of Hochstet occupy space to the left and right. Diagrams illustrating hand weapons, offensive works, artillery, and defensive works occupy the middle third of the sheet, presenting the more active aspects of attack and defense.

Publication History and Census

This chart was published by Henri Abraham Chatelain and François L'Honoré in 1720 in the seventh volume of their Atlas historique, ou Nouvelle introduction à l'histoire, à la chronologie et à la géographie ancienne et moderne... titled Suplément a l'Atlas Historique contenant diverses pièces de Chronologie, de Genealogie, d'Historie, et d'autres Science qui avoient été omises dans les précédens Volumes. We note a single cataloged example of the separate map in OCLC which is part of the collection at the Klassik Stiftung Weimar / Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek. The Suplément a l'Atlas Historique is well represented in institutional collections.