Sébastien le Prestre (1633–1707), Marquis de Vauban, was an essential figure during the reign of Louis XIV. A specialist in siege techniques and fortification, he came from the minor nobility and had a distinguished, albeit tumultuous, career serving the Sun King, for whom he applied his talents as a military engineer. More than just an expert in the art of sieges (poliorcetics), he also originated the concept of the “French pré carré,” a network of fortifications and military works designed to protect the kingdom’s borders.
A self-taught visionary, his mathematical approach to the world foreshadowed the Enlightenment philosophers, and his sharp critiques of the royal taxation system earned him several “years of hardship.” Though he fell into disgrace, he retained the respect of the king until his death.
Vauban’s Early Life
Sébastien le Prestre, Marquis de Vauban, was born in 1633 in Saint-Léger-de-Foucherets in the Morvan region. He was baptized on May 15, 1633, as the “son of Albin Le Prestre, esquire, and lady Edmée de Carmignolle, daughter of an esquire.” Orphaned, he was entrusted to Mr. de Fontaines, the prior of the Saint-Jean Semur-en-Auxois college, who provided him with a solid basic education. By age 17, he began his military career as a cadet in the army of Prince de Condé during the Fronde, where Vauban found himself aligned with the enemies of young Louis XIV.
The young man quickly distinguished himself during the siege of Sainte-Menehould (1652). However, he was later captured by royal troops and once again showed bravery by refusing to dismount from his horse. Cardinal Mazarin took notice and decided to bring him to the royal side, as he had done with other Fronde rebels. Ironically, it was again at Sainte-Menehould where Vauban caught attention, this time in the opposing camp, as he helped reconquer the city and repair its fortifications.
From then on, Vauban, who became an ordinary engineer for the king in 1655, participated in most of the major sieges of the late 1650s. He stood out not only for his courage (he was injured several times) but also for his military skill, particularly in siege warfare. However, his modest background temporarily slowed his career progression compared to his peers.
The Peace of the Pyrenees (1659) allowed him to return home and marry Jeanne d’Osnay, but soon after, he had to depart again, rarely seeing his wife and daughters. Louis XIV tasked him with dismantling the fortifications of Nancy and regularly assigned him other missions. Throughout his career, Vauban was constantly on horseback and in the field. In 1662, he was sent to Dunkirk, which Louis XIV had recently recaptured from the English, where he was responsible for fortifying strategic French strongholds in the North. He secured the surrender of several cities, which he subsequently fortified. Wounded during the siege of Lille, he was promoted to lieutenant of the Sun King’s guards.
Sieges and Fortifications
After strengthening the fortresses in Flanders, he designed the fortifications of Cherbourg before heading to Franche-Comté, where he was appointed governor of Lille, responsible for defending the northern territories. He drafted the relief map of the citadel, which was sent to Louis XIV, initiating the magnificent collection of scale models of fortresses preserved today at Les Invalides. Vauban was keen to design fortresses that not only were invincible but also ensured the healthy living conditions of soldiers in garrison.
At the request of Louvois, he wrote a Mémoire pour servir à l’instruction dans la conduite des sièges (Memoir for the Conduct of Sieges), whose principles are still used today by armies around the world. Vauban also traveled to the French western coast to give precise instructions for ports vulnerable to attacks from the Dutch fleet, earning the rank of brigadier general in 1674.
During the siege of Cambrai in 1677, Vauban opposed Louis XIV’s military strategies to protect the troops, an act of courage that earned him the rank of marshal of the camp. No major siege was undertaken without his advice from that point onward. While his promotions were not as rapid as he desired (given his service record), Vauban was consistently rewarded by Louis XIV with government posts (such as the citadel of Lille in 1668) or ranks (brigadier in 1677, lieutenant general in 1688).
After the death of his friend and mentor, Chevalier de Clerville, Vauban accepted the position of Commissaire général des fortifications (Commissioner General of Fortifications – 1678), where he managed to resolve the rivalry between Colbert and Louvois. He later received the Grand Cross of Saint-Louis in 1693 and became an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences in 1699. Finally, in 1703, he was made a marshal, the first engineer to receive such a distinction.
Fortifying in the Vauban Style
Vauban mainly perfected the bastioned fortification systems invented by Italian engineers and architects in the 16th century, but he did so methodically. To reduce the often enormous construction costs, he sought to standardize the estimates, tenders, materials, and construction procedures, a novel approach at the time. Standardization also applied to the creation of typical plans for buildings (barracks, powder magazines, governor’s quarters, private residences, public works, etc.). He even developed standard dossiers for engineers and contractors.
Nevertheless, Vauban always ensured that his designs adapted to the topography of the places he fortified or remodeled. Throughout his career, he conducted numerous inspection tours across various regions of France, gathering information for many projects adorned with conventionally colored drawings representing buildings and objects. These documents are extraordinary sources of information on the techniques of the time.
Louis XIV, passionate about fortifications, decided on the necessary works based on reports from Vauban and his engineers, relayed by Louvois, Colbert, and their successors. The intendants and governors of the fortresses then had to negotiate contracts with contractors and requisition workers, often through the corvée labor system. Vauban fortified over 160 fortresses and structures, including 33 built entirely. More than 600 million livres were spent during Louis XIV’s reign on constructing or remodeling fortifications. These works required thousands of men and significant material resources.
The Invention of the French “pré carré (Frontière de fer)”
As he traversed the country in every direction, Vauban gradually endowed France with a true belt of fortifications. In the 1680s, he focused on strengthening a network of ports and creating new fortresses on the Atlantic coast, as he believed that a strong coastal military presence would shield France from the powerful Anglo-Dutch fleets. Assisted by Catinat, Vauban, during these months, provided France with the effective means to win both offensive and defensive wars. A more or less direct promoter of achievements such as the Maintenon aqueduct or the Canal of the Two Seas, Vauban was equally passionate about statistics.
His experience and skills, along with his straightforwardness, earned him the ear of the king’s principal ministers, such as Colbert and Louvois, and especially Louis XIV himself. However, it was through Louvois in 1673 that he convinced the Sun King to “hold his domain with both hands,” meaning to establish a belt of strongholds at the borders (which were often shifting at the time), a concept that Vauban himself called “le pré carré” (the square meadow). This delimited and protected space was intended to allow the king to fully exercise his sovereignty.
Vauban: Master of Siegecraft
In the service of Louis XIV for more than fifty years, Vauban participated in most of the sieges marking the numerous wars of the reign, including the famous Siege of Maastricht (1673) during the Franco-Dutch War. This experience led the king to commission him, for his grandson, to write a treatise on siege warfare. Vauban complied in 1704, producing a manuscript in which he detailed, with sketches, the twelve phases of a siege. This work quickly became a reference of the time, beyond French borders. People began to speak of “siege à la Vauban.” His mastery of the subject left a famous saying to posterity: “Any city besieged by Vauban is a taken city. Any city defended by Vauban is impregnable.”
By the late 1680s, Vauban was at the height of his career, allowing him to purchase the Château de Bazoches, in his native Morvan, to which he remained attached. Nevertheless, the engineer began to criticize the extravagant reign of Louis XIV.
The “Oisivetés”
The 1690s are often called the “years of misery” in Vauban’s life. Indeed, his travels across France made him aware of the growing poverty of the people, largely due to the financial pressures caused by the repeated wars. Vauban also opposed the government’s financiers and did not behave like a courtier.
Vauban’s reflections, starting in the late 1680s, led him to write memoirs that showed he was much more than a brilliant engineer. These are the “Oisivetés” (Idlenesses), his major work, twelve volumes written between 1689 and 1705. In them, he discusses the state of the kingdom, its population, and many other topics such as botany, the American colonies, forests, and, of course, his favorite subjects, such as sieges (the aforementioned “Attack of Fortresses” is the eighth volume of the “Oisivetés”).
This freedom of thought earned him enemies, especially as he did not hesitate to criticize the kingdom’s fiscal policy and even propose reforms such as the “Dîme Royale” (Royal Tithe). He did not shy away from proposing a bold fiscal reform that, if implemented, would have undoubtedly significantly altered the course of French history in the 18th century: Vauban argued for the benefits of a tax that would be levied directly by the royal administration without any exemptions or privileges. The book was seized upon its publication, leading to Vauban’s disgrace. He even opposed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, further aggravating his situation.
The Death of Vauban
By the early 1700s, the reign of Louis XIV had lost much of the splendor of the 1670s and 1680s. Vauban, though he became a Marshal of France, was equally aging, and his critical writings were irritating to many. In the final years of his life, Vauban nonetheless decided to have his works bound and printed, particularly the “Dîme Royale,” believing it was his duty to remain useful to the kingdom, despite a context unfavorable to reforms.
When Vauban died on March 30, 1707, in Paris, the monarchy did not grant him official honors, indicating that he had become a nuisance at the highest level. However, he was not a victim of the king, as is often claimed. Louis XIV is said to have spoken of him “with great esteem and affection” shortly before his death. Vauban did receive honors from the Academy of Sciences, through the words of Fontenelle. His remains were placed at the Château de Bazoches, but were scattered during the French Revolution of 1789. Only his heart was found, which was placed at Les Invalides in 1808 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Vauban wrote numerous works on the military and civil development of the kingdom. He participated in about 53 sieges and was directly involved in 140 major military engagements. A curious mind, a precursor to the Enlightenment, and an endearing personality, he is credited with over 200 fortresses and fortified structures, leaving a lasting mark on the urban landscape.
Vauban: Key Dates
- May 4, 1633: Birth of Vauban
Sébastien le Prestre de Vauban is born in Burgundy. - 1653: Vauban comes to prominence
Mazarin notices the young Vauban (only 20 years old!) and convinces him to leave the Fronde and serve the King. - 1653-1659: Vauban gains experience
Vauban participates in fourteen sieges and is wounded multiple times. In 1655, he receives the King’s Engineer commission. - 1667: The Siege of Lille
Vauban besieges the cities of Tournai, Douai, and Lille, capturing Lille in just 9 days. The king entrusts him with the construction of the citadel of Lille, known as the “Queen of Citadels.” - 1667: General of Fortifications
Vauban assumes the role of General of Fortifications. - June 29, 1673: Capture of Maastricht by France
During the Franco-Dutch War, Louis XIV plans to invade the Netherlands. The siege of Maastricht lasts only about fifteen days, beginning early on June 13. The Dutch, outnumbering the French, resist for a few days, but the army of the Sun King ultimately wins the battle. During the siege, Vauban applies a new combat system that enables the French to win quickly and with minimal human losses. He writes a Memoir on the “Conduct of Sieges.” - 1679-1688: Vauban travels across France
Vauban traverses France to oversee the construction of numerous citadels, especially in the south and along the coasts. He is promoted to lieutenant general in 1688. - 1689: Vauban questions the Edict of Fontainebleau
He writes a Memoir on the “Recall of the Huguenots,” urging Louis XIV to reverse the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, advocating for freedom of conscience. - June 30, 1692: Siege of Namur
The nations of the League of Augsburg aim to conquer territories controlled by France to weaken Louis XIV’s power. Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Dutch Republic face off against France during the siege of Namur. Marshal of Luxembourg, assisted by Vauban and Boufflers, begins the siege on May 25, 1692, with 120,000 soldiers. Namur surrenders a month later, on June 30, 1692. - 1694: Defense of Brittany
Vauban successfully organizes the defense against an English landing on the coasts of Brittany. - 1703: Marshal of France
Vauban is elevated to the rank of Marshal of France. - March 30, 1707: Death of Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Marquis de Vauban, dies on March 30, 1707, in Paris. An architect, engineer, urban planner, and hydraulic engineer, he is particularly known for his mastery of siege warfare (the art of besieging a fortress) and for fortifying France with defenses against invaders by building reputedly impregnable citadels. Named Marshal by Louis XIV, he worked on 180 fortresses, creating what became known as the “Vauban system.” In 1808, his heart was transported to the Dome Church at Les Invalides in Paris.