The Star Forts That Defeated Cannons

Traditional stone castle walls were useless against cannons, so architects invented the star fort. These geometric, low-profile designs used angled bastions to remove blind spots and deflect incoming iron cannonballs.

When gunpowder changed warfare in the 15th century, medieval towers became easy targets for artillery. Designers replaced high, vertical walls with thick, slanted earthworks that could absorb heavy impacts. By arranging walls in star shapes, soldiers could fire outward from any side and cover their neighbors, leaving no place for attackers to hide. This architectural revolution forced armies to develop complex trench warfare tactics to bypass these near-impenetrable designs.