User Contributed Dictionary
Pronunciation
/sɜ:kəmvæˈleɪʃən/Noun
- A rampart or other
defensive entrenchment.
- 1761: and in a word, would intrench and fortify them round with as many circumvallations and breast-works, as my uncle Toby would a citadel. — Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, vol. 3 (Penguin 2003, p. 201)
- 1819: The Saxon architect had exhausted his art in rendering the main keep defensible, and there was no other circumvallation than a rude barrier of palisades. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe
Extensive Definition
Investment is the military tactic of surrounding
an enemy fort (or town)
with armed forces to prevent entry or escape.
A circumvallation is a line of fortifications,
built by the attackers around the besieged fortification facing
towards the enemy fort (to protect itself from sorties by its defenders and to
enhance the blockade).
The resulting fortifications are known as 'lines of
circumvallation'. Lines of circumvallation generally consist of
earthen ramparts
and entrenchments
that encircle the besieged city. The line of circumvallation can be
used as a base for launching assaults against the besieged city or
for constructing further earthworks nearer the city.
In cases where the besieging army is threatened
by a field army allied to the enemy fort, the besieging army may
construct a contravallation, a second line of fortifications behind
the circumvallation facing away from the enemy fort. The
contravallation protectes the besigers from attacks by allies of
the city's defenders and enhances the blockade of the enemy fort by
making it more difficult to smuggle in supplies.
The Siege of
Alesia which took place in September 52 BC is one of the
most famous investments in history. Julius
Caesar in his
Commentaries on the Gallic War describes his text book use of
the circumvallation and contravallation to defeat the Gauls under their
chieftain Vercingetorix.
The basic objectives and tactics of a military
investment have remained the same down to today. During the
Second
World War there were many sieges and many investments. One of
the most famous sieges of the Second World War which demonstrated
the tactical use of investment was the siege
of Stalingrad. During the first half of the siege the Germans
were unable to fully invest the city so the Soviets were able to
get men and supplies into the city across the Volga River. In the
second half of the battle, the complete investment of Stalingrad by
the Soviets, (including air space which prevented the construction
by the Germans of an adequately large airbridge),
eventually forced the starving Germans inside the city to
surrender.
See also
References
circumvallation in German: Circumvallation
circumvallation in Dutch:
Circumvallatielinie
circumvallation in Portuguese:
Circunvalação