The Fortifications

...be appreciated not a little, and the Military one all the more, as it is more noble, so that not only may cities be defended, as was said, but similarly the Empire of Christianity may go on increasing, and through peace, the union of peoples and the comfort of trade may be maintained with the abundance of all things. Thus, there have been no shortage of Writers who have treated this matter of Fortifying, who are all good and useful. Although, in my opinion, they have left behind many reasons and warnings that could have (by being written) facilitated the understanding of this science with the foundation of its practice, especially due to the many and so diverse opinions they left unresolved, even though there should be only one best way, and it should be established upon reason.

It is true that this Art seems to be, above all others, quite difficult to learn or to be taught for its execution, since it cannot be explained with one or more rules like the others, whence its nobility is born, being possessed by few. Nor should this bring us any wonder, since no other science is found that, like this one, absolutely depends on the vivacity and height of the intellect of him who wants to use it, which is in knowing how to recognize everything that with ingenuity and with force, infinite other men can do, in order to be able to defend oneself in advance long before receiving the offense. Such that the right judgment of a good Military Architect depends, many times, not only on the safety of our life but also on the preservation or destruction of Kingdoms.

And for this, I was moved to write about such a matter, and with some hope of approaching (as much as possible) the clarity of those reasons and demonstrations that can most bring benefit in making the easiest and most secure way of Fortifying understood. I propose to execute this with all those rules and warnings that, from the experience of forty continuous years, I have been able to collect in different parts of Italy and Flanders, where I have sought to find myself near those Princes and Lords who have most made a profession of the trade of war. Especially with having had a happy start, since at twenty-two years of age, I was introduced into this profession, and quite favored by the grace of COSIMO de' Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany, of glorious memory, and as is known to all, an exemplary Prince in royal and virtuous works. There, pushed beyond my natural inclination, I set myself to seek all opportunities to acquire that intelligence which my condition and such a noble beginning required, especially later with the thirty years of service rendered to this Most Illustrious Republic of Venice, mistress of so many war plazas placed on the frontiers against the most powerful enemy in the World. There I have always had Fortresses built and found myself in all the occurrences and consultations of fortifying, besides having always daily certified myself through the means of the experience of those difficulties that could bring doubtful resolution regarding the nature of the sites and the materials to maintain their defenses.

So that with the observance of the order that will be told in the following Six Books, one will be able, with the best reasons and warnings, to order and reduce to a perfect end any Fortress structure whatsoever, given the clarity of the demonstration of its designs, which will be seen formed with all those proportions and measures as if one wanted to effect the work with them. Besides that, from the Fifth Book, one will be able to extract all the comforts that one could desire to facilitate such work by means of the artifice of various mechanical instruments, such as raising water, or lifting very heavy weights with little force, and transporting materials with much ease and saving of time and money. And finally, in the Sixth Book, it will be shown the order to follow for defending the Fortresses, which is all that can be desired in such a matter. And having reduced to an end these my long labors, with such notable expense, and satisfied my desire, which was to serve the public good, as I said in the beginning, it remains for me only to receive the reward of the aforementioned labors, which will be the grace of the kind Reader, as I very much desire.