Fortifications of Messina

The fortifications of Messina were a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surrounded the city of Messina, Sicily. The first walls were built during the Middle Ages in around 1200. A system of bastioned fortifications was constructed around the city in the 1530s and 1540s. The fortifications were modified over the years, with the last major addition being the Real Cittadella, which was built in the 1680s. Most of the walls were demolished in the 19th and 20th centuries, but some parts of the walls still survive today.

Fortifications of Messina
Fortificazioni di Messina
Messina, Sicily, Italy
18th century map of Messina showing the fortifications
Coordinates38°11′51.1″N 15°33′58″E
TypeCity wall
Site history
Builtc. 1200–1686
Built byKingdom of Sicily/Spanish Empire
In usec. 1200–1850s
Battles/warsWar of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Polish Succession
Sicilian revolution of 1848
Expedition of the Thousand
EventsEarthquake of 1783
Earthquake of 1908

History

Medieval walls

The first walls around Messina were built in around 1200.[1]

Bastioned fortifications

In 1535, Emperor Charles V (who was also King of Sicily) ordered the strengthening of Messina's fortifications. A new defensive system of bastioned fortifications was built between 1536 and 1538, to a design of the military engineers Antonio Ferramolino and Francesco Maurolico. In the 1540s, a number of forts were built strengthening the walls:[1]

In the 1680s, the Real Cittadella was built, and it was intended for both coastal defence and to establish a strong garrison in the city to prevent the population from revolting.[4]

The city of Messina and its fortifications changed hands a number of times in the first half of the 18th century during the War of the Quadruple Alliance and the War of the Polish Succession.

During the Sicilian revolution of 1848, rebels managed to capture most of the fortifications, with the exception of the Real Cittadella and Forte del Santissimo Salvatore. The forts' defenders bombarded the city until a relief force crushed the revolution in 1849.[4]

Demolition and recent history

The fortifications remained in active use until the 1850s, when the government of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies began dismantling some of the walls, including the city's main gates.[1] Despite this, the Real Cittadella and some other forts remained in use, and saw action during Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand in 1860–61, when they capitulated to Piedmontese forces after a siege.[5]

After the earthquake of 1908, parts of Forte del Santissimo Salvatore were demolished.[6] Most of the Real Cittadella was also demolished in the 1920s.[4]

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References
  1. "Le fortificazioni di Messina..." Messinastorica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. "Castel Gonzaga". Comune di Messina (in Italian). Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  3. "Forte S. Salvatore". Comune di Messina (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. "La Cittadella e Porta Grazia". Comune di Messina (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. Monari, Mario. "Messina 13 marzo 1861 - L'ultima difesa in Sicilia". cronologia.leonardo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. "Castello del Santissimo Salvatore - Messina". Esplora Sicilia (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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