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The Old Fortifications of Kehl on the Rhine River
This finely colored copper plate engraving illustrates the fortified city of Kehl, strategically situated on the eastern bank of the Rhine River, across from Strasbourg. This map highlights the city’s military significance and its complex history of territorial disputes between France and the Holy Roman Empire.
First documented in 1038, Kehl’s significance grew with the completion of the first permanent bridge to Strasbourg in 1338, facilitating significant cross-river trade and interaction. The city underwent a transformation into a fortified location under French control in 1683, designed by the master military architect Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, as part of France's defensive strategy for Strasbourg. The annexation of the Imperial City of Strasbourg by France under King Louis XIV in 1681 and its recognition in the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697 marked the beginning of intense military engagements over Kehl. The city was ceded to the Margraviate of Baden in 1698, highlighting its pivotal role in regional politics.
The map shows the bastion fortress, indicative of Vauban’s influence, tailored for resilience against contemporary siege warfare. The fortifications are rendered with particular attention to the layout of ramparts and defensive barriers, crucial for understanding the military tactics of the era. Annotations provide context on the city’s capture and recapture, notably during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Rhine Campaign of 1796, where Kehl saw significant action.
The depicted fortifications of Kehl were central to the city’s role in European military history, particularly during its sieges and recaptures which punctuated its history until its surrender to Austrian forces on January 9, 1797. Post the Napoleonic Wars, the fortress was dismantled under the terms of the peace restoring Kehl to the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1815, marking an end to its military prominence.
