La fortificación de Cartagena en las postrimerías del siglo XVIII. Teoría y realidad arquitectónica

In the second half of the 18th century an intense theoretical conflict was lived in Cartagena in order to conclude its fortification. The theoretical international debate offered different alternatives. The infallible French theories had been put in interdiction in the national area after the recovery of nationalistic character. At the same time the engineers were continuing the traditional debate between the theory and the military practice. The theoretical considerations were added to political interests inside the Corps of Engineers and to the frictions between different authorities in the local area. The final tracing of the fortification was the result of this situation. The reality of the fortification of Cartagena at the end of the 18th century only can be understood from the theoretical and social influences in the design moment, in the administrative decisions and in the constructive process. The present contribution is the result of diverse investigations related to the world of the modern and contemporary fortification completed by the authors until 2004, specially in Cartagena, one of the most interesting laboratories of the fortification in Spain