Babruysk fortress

Babruysk fortress

The Babruysk Fortress ( _be. Бабруйская крэпасць, _ru. Бобруйская крепость) is a historic fortress in the city of Babruysk, Belarus that was built between 1810 and 1836. It is one of the best surviving examples of fortification architecture and design in the first half of the 19th century. The fortress was constructed in the historic center of the city, at the confluence of the Babruyka and Berezina rivers. That was one of the western Russian fortresses.

In 1810, Tsar Alexander I sent out his military engineer Theodore Narbut to find a site suitable for building a fortress somewhere on the Dnieper, between Mogilev and Rogachev in order to prepare for the looming threat in Western Europe. However, after his investigation, Narbut advised his superiors that a more strategic position would be on the shore of the Berezina river near Babruysk. This decision was approved by the Chief of Military Engineers, Count Carl Operman, who at the time had authority over all of Russian forts. On June 4, 1810, the Tsar issued an order for the Babruysk fortress to be constructed. Narbut had to resign for health reasons and was replaced by General Major Gabriel Ignatiev.

The early fortress was comprised of 5 bastions, multiple soil ridges, and water channels. The basis for the Babruysk fortress was the Babruysk Jesuit Monastery and a smaller Polish fortress, which were built earlier.

Only partially completed, the fortress had to face Napoleon's invading army in the summer of 1812. After the French army captured Minsk, General Ignatiev too command of the fort and the city of Babruysk, which served as a holdout for the retreating Russian forces. Soldiers from The Second Russian Army were provided with food and the wounded received medical treatment. After that they were ferried by the Berezina and Dniper to Smolensk, where the main Russian army was stationed. General Ignatiev remained in the fortress and oversaw its defence.

The city faced an attack by the forces of General Dombrovski, the Polish Corps Commander of Napoleon's Army. The siege lasted for four months, however the fortress held until the French forces began their retreat. Throughout this time Ignatiev was instrumental in collecting intelligence and forwarding it to the high command of the Russian army.

Following the Napoleonic wars, in 1820, the fortress was further rapidly expanded by the addition of 18 more bastions and towers. The fort "Freidrich Wilhelm" was designed according to the plans of the architect A. Staubert in 1822. Tsar Alexander I himself and his brother arrived in Babruysk on September 24th, 1825 at the completion of this building phase.

By 1900 the fortress lost its military significance and was converted into a jail, used by Polish occupation forces (1919—1920, about 1,000 deaths) and used for concentration camp by German occupation forces (WW2, about 80,000 deaths).

Today, the Babruysk Fortress is registered as a national architectural monument of Belarus.

P.S. Ruins of the Bobruysk fortress were removed in 2008 when the Bobruysk Ice Palace was erected.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Babruysk — Infobox Settlement official name = Бабруйск Бобруйск Babruysk nickname = imagesize = image imagesize = image map caption = subdivision type = subdivision name = leader title = Mayor leader name = Bonohov Dmitry established title = Mentioned… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Belarus-related topics — This is a list of topics related to Belarus. Those interested in the subject can monitor changes to the pages by clicking on Related changes in the sidebar.Belarus* Belarus * Belarusian diplomatic missionsCommunications in Belarus* Communications …   Wikipedia

  • List of forts — This is a list for articles on notable historic forts which may or may not be under current active use by a military. There are also many towns named after a Fort, the largest being Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Contents 1 Australia 2 Bahamas …   Wikipedia

  • Western Russian fortresses — During the 19th century, the Russian Empire built a system of permanent fortifications along its Western border, consisting of a chain of fortresses controlling strategic locations. Its purpose was to enhance Russia s military strength versus… …   Wikipedia

  • Gabriel Ignatiev — was a Russian general who led the defence of the Babruysk fortress and the city of Babruysk from Napoleon s forces in 1812 …   Wikipedia

  • List of castles in Belarus — This is a list of castles in Belarus. B *Babruysk fortress *Brest Fortress, also known as Brest Litovsk fortress H *Hrodna *Hnezna Church *Hajciunishki *Halshany K *Tower of Kamyanyets *Kletsk *Kopyś *Kosava *Kreva Castle L *Liahavichy *Lida… …   Wikipedia

  • Chernigov Regiment revolt — Part of the Decembrist revolt …   Wikipedia

  • Mahilyow — Ma·hi·lyow (mə hē louʹ, mä hē lyouʹ) or Mo·gi·lev (mŏgʹə lĕf , mə gĭ lyôfʹ) A city of east central Belarus on the Dnieper River east of Minsk. Founded around a castle built in 1267, the city eventually passed to Russia in 1772. Population:… …   Universalium

  • Trolleybus — A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is an electric bus powered by two overhead wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. Two poles are required in… …   Wikipedia

  • Teodor Narbutt — (1784 – 1864) was a Polish Lithuanian writer, Romanticist historian and military engineer. He is notable as the author of a concise Polish language history of Lithuania from the early Middle Ages to the Union of Lublin. LifeTeodor Narbutt was… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”