Interesting Maps and Plans in Şlapac

Fig. 96 (1770 prospectus), p. 147 shows the fortress as currently “planned” but without external ramparts (i.e. before the French re-design). Note the existence of the Ditch, the half-wall and Small Ditch, and the outer curtain wall which has normal tower tops (i.e. no shortening for gun platforms). Interestingly, Tower 17 is a large circular tower rising to a height comparable to Towers 11 and 20, and Towers 1, 4, 8, 23, and 24 also seems to have roofs.

Other interesting points include: (1) the original Middle Gate entrance into the Garrison Yard is still in use rather than the modern undefended gateway that would later pierce the Garrison Yard’s southern curtain wall at its midpoint; (2) the Citadel’s ground floor entrance on its south side appears as its only entrance; (3) the Civil Yard appears to have four mosques; (4) the Port Yard appears to be defended by an outer palisade beyond its curtain wall; and (5) Tower 6, the main gate into Akkerman, has a roofed over structure behind its tower, connecting the guardhouse structures on either side.

Fig. 9 (1790 prospectus), p. 40 shows a painted version of the 1770 prospectus, albeit with a legend at the bottom right.

Fig. 29 (1793 Kauffer drawing), p. 70 shows multiple proposed re-designs of the fortress. The outermost one (shown only in outline) indicates the existence of four massive external bastions. This proposal seems to have been eschewed since it would have required the infilling of the pre-existing Ditch. The middle proposal (shown surrounded by stippling) indicates the existence of five to seven smaller external bastions (depending on what you count) beyond the surviving Ditch. Although no evidence of these bastions was found (see above), they may have existed as earthworks that have since been leveled. The innermost proposal (within the walls of the Civil and Garrison Yards) indicates the thickening of these walls by the addition of wide platforms behind the curtains. In particular, five areas (at the corners along the walls) were effectively turned into internal bastions. Surviving architectural evidence centering on Towers 1, 7, 11, 17, and between Towers 20 and 27 indicates that these were indeed constructed (see above).

Other interesting elements depicted on this plan include: (1) the road system within the fortress, which shows access to the Port Yard from the estuary entering through the south wall of the ‘Barbican’ and snaking up through Tower 22, the Water Gate; and (2) the replacement of the original Middle Gate (Tower 24) into the Garrison Yard by the current undefended gateway at the center of the Garrison Yard’s south curtain wall.

Fig. 32 (1807 Förster plan), p. 73 possibly shows the fortress with new external bastions along the lines of a robust version of Kauffer’s (1793) middle proposal. Note, however, that the drawing of the Ditch north of the bridge to the Main Gate (Tower 6) is confused (i.e. lines don’t logically match up). The most interesting aspect of this plan is the apparent existence of bridges across the Ditch to the outer bastions, particularly the one marked with an “X” on the south side of the fortress near Tower 13.

Fig. 38 (beginning of the XIXth century plan), p. 77 seems to show the fortress with new external bastions along the lines of Kauffer’s (1793) middle proposal, as well as the gun platforms of the internal bastions at five corners of the fortress. Note that the gates between the Civil and Garrison Yards here differ from Kauffer’s plan in that the original Middle Gate is still depicted while the current undefended gateway is missing. The most interesting aspect of this plan is the apparent existence of an underground passageway between the Garrison Yard and the Small Ditch outside the curtain wall in the northeast corner of the fortress. Its existence is corroborated by the surviving gateway through the curtain wall at this point near Tower 1.

Fig. 39 (beginning of the XIXth century plan), p. 78 shows the towers along the east side of the Garrison Yard as they currently exist (alternating squares and octagons), clearly after their conversion from simple square towers.

Fig. 86 (post-1832 plan according to Şlapac), p. 138 clearly shows the gun platforms behind the curtain walls, and the existence of numerous tunnels into these platforms (see the dotted lines in the northeast corner of the Garrison Yard, those between Towers 7 and 8, those near Towers 13, 14, and 19) that apparently penetrated the curtain wall and gave access to the Small Ditch and the half-wall defenses above the main Ditch. These correspond nicely with the blocked doors observed on the outside of the curtain wall (see above).17
Note that there are some inaccuracies on this plan, particularly in relation to the location of half-towers in the Ditch area. Tower 3A has been incorrectly located in front of Tower 2. Tower 8A is missing and a Tower 18A is indicated though it does not exist.

Other interesting points include the fact that the original Middle Gate into the Civil Yard has now been replaced by the current undefended gateway at the middle of the curtain wall. In the Port Yard area, an additional wall is now depicted outside to the west creating yet another enclosure on that side—a possible palisaded enclosure? Entrance into the Port Yard from this new space is now via the current (blocked) gate in the Port Yard’s west curtain wall, rather than via the earlier entrance through the ‘Barbican’s’ south wall. This plan also seems to indicate that the ends of the Ditch were blocked by cross walls, with the west one having an opening in it. Finally, the Civil Yard is depicted as housing a hospital and a school.

Fig. 87 (post-1832 plan according to Şlapac), p. 138 incorporates many of the mistakes in fig. 86 and a few more (e.g. Tower 25 is missing, while a Tower 4A is depicted though it does not exist).

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