Editing Modlin Fortress (section)

== History ==
The strategic importance of the area limited by the [[Vistula]], [[Bug River|Bug]], [[Wkra]] and Narew was known to various armies throughout the ages. The first fortified stronghold was built in Zakroczym by the [[Piast dynasty]] in the 11th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Grodziska Mazowsza i Podlasia (W Granicach Dawnego Województwa Warszawskiego)|publisher=Gajewski L.|year=1976|location=Warsaw|pages=169}}</ref> 

The first modern fortifications in the area of today's citadel were built by the forces of the Polish Masovian troops, which established a camp here in September 1655 to defend against the Swedish invasion. These were fortified artillery positions defending the crossings over the Vistula and Bugonarew, and a moat protecting the camp from the east.<ref>Dahlberg E., ''Vera Delineatio Castrorum Suecicorum prope Nowodwor,'' Puffendorf S., ''De rebus a Carolo Gustavo…,'' Norymberga 1696, p. 20</ref> During the Battle of Nowy Dwór, Polish forces blocked the crossing of Swedish troops for ten days, then, forced to retreat by Swedish artillery fire, they broke away from the enemy, using the fortifications and terrain obstacles, avoiding destruction.

Next modern fortified position was built there in 1656 by the Swedish armies during [[The Deluge (Polish history)|The Deluge]]. The so-called ''Bugskansen'' was a star-shaped fortified military camp, located probably close to the confluence of the Narew and the Vistula, at the so-called ''Swedish Island''{{Ref|Island}}. The camp was also guarding a wooden bridge over the Vistula prior to the [[battle of Zakroczym]] and served as the main supply depot of the Swedish army during the [[Battle of Warsaw (1656)|battle of Warsaw]] of July 1656. After the Swedish defeat the fort was demolished in 1660 and the area remained unfortified for roughly 150 years.

After the [[Partitions of Poland]] the area was incorporated into the [[Russian Empire]]. Shortly afterward [[Jan Pieter van Suchtelen]], a Dutch military engineer in Russian service prepared a construction plan for a mighty fortress in the area, named after the nearby town of [[Zakroczym]]. The fort was to be a [[bastion]] fortress, located approximately 1.5&nbsp;km from the rivers and with several forts guarding the area from the west. However, the project was never accomplished as in 1806 the area became part of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], a rump Polish state created by and allied to [[Napoleon Bonaparte]].

From the very beginning of French presence in Poland, Bonaparte's engineers started to fortify the border with Russia, expecting either a Russian offensive towards western Europe – or a future offensive of the French armies towards Petersburg and Moscow. In December 1806, while in [[Poznań]], Napoleon ordered a fort to be built on two islands located at the confluence of the Narew and the Vistula. The fortification was to be temporary and was to become primarily a supply depot and a huge granary, serving as a supply centre for the forces operating in Poland or Russia. The construction started almost immediately, although Chief Engineer of the French forces Gen. [[François, marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat|François de Chasseloup-Laubat]] decided to build the fortress on the northern bank of the river rather than on the islands. The work started in early 1807, yet went on very slowly. It was not until the following year that the pace was speeded up and in 1809 the first casemates and walls were ready. It was there that the core of the Polish Army was stationed after the [[battle of Raszyn (1809)|Battle of Raszyn]] against the invading forces of [[Austrian Empire|Austria]]. Soon after the outer rim of defences on the right bank of the Vistula was ready. It ran more or less along the inner line of modern fortifications. It consisted of a semi-circular earthwork reinforced with wooden stockade and five bastions. In addition, the area was guarded by two fortified [[bridgehead]]s, one in [[Kazuń]] on the left bank of the Vistula and the other next to Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.
[[File:Warszawski rejon forteczny (schemat).svg|thumb|Warsaw fortified region, including Warsaw and Novogeorgievsk fortresses and connecting works. Works marked in grey were planned but never built. By 1914 the Warsaw fortress was deactivated.]]
In 1810 the very concept of the fort was changed and Napoleon decided to turn Modlin into a pivotal fortress in his line of fortifications and expand it significantly by adding an outer rim of defenses. General de Chasseloup-Laubat was replaced with a famous French engineer [[Jean Mallet de Granville]] (later a naturalized Pole under the name of ''Jan Malletski''), aided by Gen. [[François Haxo]]. It is not certain whether the authors of the expansion were the two to supervise its construction, or Napoleon himself. The works continued on a very fast pace as Napoleon was planning his [[Napoleon's Invasion of Russia|campaign in Russia]] and envisioned Modlin to become the main fortress behind his lines. By September 1811 more than 19,000 people were taking part in the works. Because of that the authorities of the Duchy of Warsaw were considering to grant Modlin with a city charter, which however did not succeed. Although the following year, shortly before the outbreak of the Franco-Russian War, the number of workers exceeded 20 thousands, the fortress was never fully completed.

The French plans included a fortified area composed of three, semi-independent fortifications. The main line of defences was located on the right bank of Vistula and Narew, and was composed of a [[polygonal fort]]ification with 4 bastions and 3 linking [[ravelin]]s (one facing the [[Utrata]] river, one facing the village of Modlin and one in the centre). The ravelins were between 800 and 1000 meters away from the main line of fortifications, in order to reinforce the defenses against new models of heavy artillery. The second part of the fortress was the Kazuń bridgehead on the left bank of the Vistula, composed of a single ravelin. The third was a [[redoubt]] located between Vistula and Narew and the fourth was an artillery nest located on the ''Swedish Island''. Among the engineers to supervise the construction were also Gen. [[Ignacy Prądzyński]], Gen. Prevo-Vernois and Lt. Col. [[Filip Mięciszewski]]. After the defeat of the [[Grande Armée]] at Moscow, the fortress was taken over by the forces of the Duchy of Warsaw. On 5 February 1813 the Russian army of 36,000 soldiers arrived to the fortress and laid siege to it. The Polish forces under Dutch general [[Herman Willem Daendels]] defended the fortress until 1 December 1813. It was the last of the French fortresses along the Vistula to capitulate.