Antwerp Citadel
| Antwerp Citadel | |
|---|---|
| Antwerp | |
 Detail from the view of Antwerp inGeorg BraunandFrans Hogenberg,Civitates orbis terrarum(1572) | |
| Type | bastion fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Habsburg Netherlands,Dutch Republic,Spanish Netherlands,Austrian Netherlands,United Belgian States,First French Republic,First French Empire,United Kingdom of the Netherlands,Kingdom of Belgium |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1567 |
| In use | 1881 |
| Fate | demolished |
| Battles/wars | Sack of Antwerp(1576),Fall of Antwerp(1585),Siege of Antwerp (1814),Siege of Antwerp (1832) |
Antwerp Citadel(Spanish:Castillo de Amberes,Dutch:Kasteel van Antwerpen) was a pentagonalbastion fortbuilt to defend and dominate the city ofAntwerpin the early stages of theDutch Revolt.It has been described as "doubtlesse the most matchlesse piece of modern Fortification in the World"[1]and as "one of the most studied urban installations of the sixteenth century".[2]
History
[edit]The citadel was designed by the Italian engineerFrancesco Paciottoand built on the orders of theDuke of Alva.Initial construction was completed in 1572. After theSack of Antwerp(1576) the citizens partially demolished the fortification, but it was reconstructed after theFall of Antwerp(1585).
The citadel saw action towards the end of theNapoleonic Wars,when it was defended by determined Bonapartists. TheSiege of Antwerp (1814)continued for a month after Napoleon's abdication.
After theBelgian Revolutionof 1830, Dutch forces remained in control of the citadel until theSiege of Antwerp (1832).
Demolition began in 1874 and was completed in 1881.[3]The site became a new neighbourhood of the city,Zuid,in which the most prominent construction was the new building for theRoyal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
Governors of the citadel
[edit]In Spanish the title of the governor of the citadel wasCastellano de Amberes( "Castellan of Antwerp" ).
- 1576:Sancho d'Avila
- 1577:Philippe III de Croÿ
- 1587–1596: DonCristóbal de Mondragón
- 1606-1622: DonÍñigo de Borja
- -1674: Don Pedro Sanpayo.
- 1674-1678: Don Mateo de Villegas.
- 1679–1693: DonFrancisco Marcos de Velasco
- 1693-1695: Don Diego Gomez, Marques of Espinosa
- 1695-1700: Don Pedro Alvarez de Vega.
- 1700-: Don Luis de Borja, Marquess of Caracena.
- 1830–1832:David Hendrik Chassé
- DonFernando de Solís y Vargas de Carvajal,died 1669.
- Don Geronimo de Cobos, died 1643
- Don Diego de Heredia y Arambulo, died 1704
- Don Antonio de Castro y Tello, died 1659
- Don Julian Martinez de la Parra
Our Lady of the Citadel
[edit]In the Sint-Joriskerk there is still a brotherhood called Our Lady of the Citadel (Dutch:Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Kasteel).[4]
References
[edit]- ^John Evelyn,The Diary of John Evelyn,ed.Guy de la Bédoyère(Woodbridge, 2004), p. 40.
- ^Martha Pollak, "Paradigmatic Citadels: Antwerp/Turin", inCities at War in Early Modern Europe(Cambridge University Press, 2010), p. 14.
- ^Piet Lombaerde,Antwerpen versterkt(University Press Antwerp, 2009), pp. 127-133.
- ^"Beeld O.L.Vrouw van het kasteel".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-29.Retrieved2017-04-28.
51°12′30″N4°23′34″E/ 51.208425000000005°N 4.392738888888888°E