Are Vauban’s Geometrical Principles Applied in the Petrovaradin Fortress?

Abstract

There is a widespread opinion in different sources, ranging from popular to scientific, that the project of the Petrovaradin Fortress was conceived under the influence of the most important European military engineer and innovator of the time, Sebastien de Vauban. By examining the historical context as well as by comparing Vauban’s geometrical methods for determination of the fortification master line (la ligne magistrale) with Austrian plans and the actual state of the Petrovaradin fortress, especially its Wasserstadt part, we have examined how well-founded this claim is.