![Festung wesel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Festung_wesel.png)
The Wesel citadel is the largest intact fortification system of the
Rhineland
The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section.
Term
Historically, the Rhinelands ...
and was built 1688–1722 in
Wesel
Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.
Geography
Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine.
Division of the city
Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...
according to plans by
Johan de Corbin, in the form of a pentagonal star, with each point of the star being a
bastion
A bastion or bulwark is a structure projecting outward from the curtain wall of a fortification, most commonly angular in shape and positioned at the corners of the fort. The fully developed bastion consists of two faces and two flanks, with fi ...
. The citadel was the core of the fortress of Wesel. It is currently used as a cultural centre.
Architecture
The main architectural features of the citadel can be derived from the principles of
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, Seigneur de Vauban, later Marquis de Vauban (baptised 15 May 163330 March 1707), commonly referred to as ''Vauban'' (), was a French military engineer who worked under Louis XIV. He is generally considered the ...
, the most prominent constructor of fortifications at the time. The construction costs of the phase built between 1668 and 1700 are estimated at 373,452
Reichsthaler
The ''Reichsthaler'' (; modern spelling Reichstaler), or more specifically the ''Reichsthaler specie'', was a standard thaler silver coin introduced by the Holy Roman Empire in 1566 for use in all German states, minted in various versions for th ...
. In subsequent years also, a substantial amount of funds flowed into the construction, for the years 1701 and 1702 the costs were 221,600 Reichsthaler. The entire Wesel fortification was at this time armed with 250 cannons.
In 1687
Frederick William I of Brandenburg
Frederick William (german: Friedrich Wilhelm; 16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688) was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia, from 1640 until his death in 1688. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is ...
ordered the construction of a citadel to turn Wesel into a fortified city. It was to be built in the south of the city and be connected to the existing city defences, and be equipped with 5 bastions and five
ravelin
A ravelin is a triangular fortification or detached outwork, located in front of the innerworks of a fortress (the curtain walls and bastions). Originally called a ''demi-lune'', after the ''lunette'', the ravelin is placed outside a castle ...
s. The main gate of the citadel was built in 1718. Probably before the mid-18th century, the citadel was expanded and strengthened on its south and east sides. In the period when the French occupied it (1805–1814), they constructed in the citadel a 2-floor brick building, which still stands today: the old Kaserne VIII (Barracks VIII).
The main gate is impressive in design; in the southern wing, there is a prison cell, in which amongst others eleven of
Ferdinand von Schill
Ferdinand Baptista von Schill (6 January 1776 – 31 May 1809) was a Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian major who revolted unsuccessfully against First French Empire, French domination of Prussia in May 1809.
Schill's rebellion ended at the Battle of ...
's officers were detained.
Current use
Due to their dismantling after World War I in 1919–1920, the old fortifications are no longer present today. Especially in the direction of the Rhine and the Lippe, where the enemy would have come from, the fortifications have disappeared. The only thing that reminds of the old gate there is a street name.
After its dismantlement in 1919/1920 after
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the following buildings remained:
* Main gate with
curtain wall, bridge,
tenaille
A tenaille (archaic tenalia) is an advanced defensive-work, in front of the main defences of a fortress, which takes its name from resemblance, real or imaginary, to the lip of a pair of pincers. It is "from French, literally: tongs, from Late ...
, and trenches from 1718 (''Jean de Bodt''), renovated in 1823. Now contains the "Städtische Museum Abteilung Schillkasematte" (Local Museum Schill Case Matts). This gate is also fortified, but actually represented the connection to the city.
* Officers' prison from 1727 (now privately owned)
* Garrison bakery no. II from 1809. Houses the local archive with the restoration department.
* Barracks no. VIII from 1809. Was renovated for the "Musik- und Kunstschule" (Music and Art School) of the city.
* Körner magazine from 1835. This now contains the Prussian Museum of North Rhine Westphalia.
List of governors
* 1675 Freiherr
Alexander von Spaen
Alexander Freiherr von Spaen (14 January 1619 – 23 October 1692) was a Generalfeldmarschall of Brandenburg-Prussia.
Spaen was born in the Duchy of Cleves as the son of Bernhard von Spaen, the lord of Kreuzfort.
By 1650, Spaen served as ...
,
Generalfeldmarschall
''Generalfeldmarschall'' (from Old High German ''marahscalc'', "marshal, stable master, groom"; en, general field marshal, field marshal general, or field marshal; ; often abbreviated to ''Feldmarschall'') was a rank in the armies of several ...
.
* 1692
Friedrich von Heiden (1633-1706),
General of the Infantry General of the Infantry is a military rank of a General officer in the infantry and refers to:
* General of the Infantry (Austria)
* General of the Infantry (Bulgaria)
* General of the Infantry (Germany) ('), a rank of a general in the German Impe ...
* 1702
Carl Philipp Reichsgraf von Wylich und Lottum (1650–1719), Generalfeldmarschall.
* 1719 Freiherr
Johann Sigismund von Heyden. (†1730)
* 1730
Konrad Heinrich von der Mosel
Konrad is a German (with variants ''Kunz'' and ''Kunze'') given name and surname that means "bold counselor" and may refer to:
People Given name
Surname
*Alexander Konrad (1890–1940), Russian explorer
*Antoine Konrad (born 1975), birth name o ...
(1663-1733) General-Leutnant
* 1733 Hans Christoph von Bardeleben, General-Major (†1736)
* 175?
Friedrich Wilhelm von Dossow
Friedrich Wilhelm von Dossow (17 December 1669 – 28 March 1758) was a Prussian ''Generalfeldmarschall'' and Governor of Wesel.
Family
Friedrich Wilhelm was a member of the von Dossow family (also ''Dossau'' and ''Dossen''), old Pomeranian n ...
(1669-1758), General of the Infantry
* 1756
Friedrich von Hessen-Kassel, General-Leutnant
* 1757
Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué
Ernst Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué (4 February 1698 – 3 May 1774) was a Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian Lieutenant general and general, General der Infanterie and a confidant of King Frederick the Great. Fouqué held the title of ''Freiherr' ...
(1698-1774), General-Leutnant
* 1787-1788
Friedrich Wilhelm von Gaudi Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Freiherr von Gaudi (Gaudy) (23 August 1725 in Spandau, Berlin – 13 December 1788 in Wesel) was a Prussian Lieutenant General who served Frederick the Great in the Seven Years' War.
His father was Andreas Erhard von Gaudi, ...
(1725-1788), General-Leutnant
* 1790
Martin Ernst von Schlieffen
Martin Ernst von Schlieffen (30 October 1732 in Pudenzig, Pomerania – 15 February 1825 near Heiligenrode) was a German general, politician, writer and garden architect.
Schlieffen was the son of the Prussian officer and landowner, Hans Michael v ...
(1732-1825), General-Leutnant
* 1792 Alexander Friedrich von Woldeck (1720-1795), General-Leutnant
* 1796
Friedrich August Albrecht von Tschirschky Friedrich may refer to:
Names
* Friedrich (surname), people with the surname ''Friedrich''
* Friedrich (given name), people with the given name ''Friedrich''
Other
* Friedrich (board game), a board game about Frederick the Great and the Seven Year ...
(1734–1799), Generalmajor
* 1797
Landgraf Wilhelm von Hessen-Kassel, Generalfeldmarschall.
External links
Website of the city; CitadelPreußen-Museum Nordrhein-Westfalen
{{Authority control
Forts in Germany
Local museums in Germany
Museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
Buildings and structures in Wesel (district)
Wesel