Ravelin (Ravelijn)

The Ravelijn van Rees is located in the StadPark van Rees, unfortunately nothing of it can be seen anymore, this is completely gone for unknown reasons.

.....but what is a Ravelin (Ravelijn) ?

A ravelin is a triangular fort or freestanding outer structure, located in front of the inner works of a fort (the curtain walls and bastions). Originally called a demi-lune, after the lunette, the ravelin is placed outside a castle and opposite a fortress curtain. The ravelin is the oldest and at the same time the most important exterior of the bastion fortification system. It arose from small fortresses that, in a direct attack, had to cover the bridge leading over the moat to the city or the gate of the fortress. From this original function, to protect the gate bridge, also comes the original Italian name "Rivellino" (meaning small bench work or with the German expression that is common for it: Brückenkopf).

Therefore, the Ravelin was initially only a small job, which should only make access to the bridge in front of the fortress gates more difficult. When it was realized in the 16th century that this would generally provide better protection for the curtains, ravelins were built for other curtains and they were gradually enlarged. However, it wasn't until German fortress builder Daniel Specklin (1536-1589) recognized the principled importance of ravelins (which he still called "empte Wehr" or "revelin"). He demanded that they be made as large as possible so that they would completely cover the court and flanks of the bastions and place flanking fire in front of the bastion tops. In the period after that, ravelins can be found in almost all forts built according to the bastion fortification system.

The outer edges of the ravelin are shaped to divide an attacking force, and cannons in the ravelin can fire at the attacking troops as they approach the curtain. It also hinders besiegers from using their artillery to breach the curtain wall. The side of the ravelin facing the inner fortifications has a low wall at best, if any, so as not to protect attacking troops if they've overpowered them or left the defenders. Ravelins often have a ramp or staircase on the side of the curtain wall to facilitate the movement of troops and artillery on the ravelin.

The first example of a ravelin occurs in the fortifications of the Italian town of Sarzanello, and dates back to 1497. The first ravelins were built of brick, but later, in the sixteenth century in the Netherlands, they were made of earthen (perhaps covered with stone or brick), the better to absorb the impact of cannonballs. The Italian origin of the system of fortifications (the star forts) of which ravelins were part, led to the term trace Italienne.

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