Sebastian Vauban French military engineer, Marshal of France (1703) Country: France

1. Biography of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban
2. Fortification and Siege Warfare
3. Contributions and Recognition
4. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, also known as Vauban, was a renowned French military engineer and Marshal of France (1703). Born in 1633, Vauban began his military career under the command of Prince Condé, who was allied with Spain and fought against France. After being captured in 1653, he switched sides and joined the French army.

Fortification and Siege Warfare

In the 1660s, Vauban started focusing on the construction of fortresses. In 1667, he successfully compelled several Belgian fortresses to surrender, which led to Louis XIV appointing him as the head of engineering in France in 1669. He was tasked with building 33 new fortresses and improving around 300 existing ones. Additionally, Vauban oversaw more than fifty sieges and introduced innovative techniques that became exemplary.

Contributions and Recognition

Vauban's contributions to the field of military engineering were significant. He laid down the scientific foundations of fortification and developed a method for gradual fortress attack, becoming one of the pioneers of mine warfare. Vauban also made notable contributions to the fields of military engineering and economics through his writings.

In 1699, he became a member of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1703, Louis XIV honored him with the title of Marshal. However, shortly after receiving this recognition, Vauban faced the displeasure of the king due to his book titled "La dime royale." The book criticized the French financial system, which Vauban believed was responsible for the poverty of the people. He proposed replacing all existing taxes with a single royal tithe. This work gained significant recognition in the history of journalism and political economics as it highlighted the dire state of France and proposed necessary reforms.

Later Life and Legacy

Following the publication of "La dime royale," Vauban was dismissed from his responsibilities. He passed away in 1707. Several of his works were published posthumously, including "Oeuvres militaires" (1793), "Traite de l'attaque des places" (1829), "Traite de la defense" (1829), "Memoires inedits" (1841), "Memoires militaires" (1847), and "Oisivetes de V." (1843-46).

Vauban's economic views and the concept of the "royal tithe" are referenced in courses on general history, literature, and political economics. His economic perspectives are extensively discussed in N. Brzeski's book "Tax Reform. French Theories of the 18th Century" (St. Petersburg, 1888).

For more information about Vauban, readers can refer to works such as Chambray's "Notice historique sur V." (1845) and "CarDot, Eloge de V.".