The Sword and the Pencil. Narciso Aurispi: De extruendis propugnaculis
Abstract
This article examines the manuscript De extruendis propugnaculis, written by Narciso Aurispi as a technical and symbolic gift to Francesco Maria II della Rovere. Drawing from unfinished materials of Pompeo Floriani—veteran of Lepanto and expert in fortification—Aurispi systematizes reflections on how defensive architecture must adapt to geographical constraints. The treatise defines a typology of sites (plain, hill, mountain, and mixed) and emphasizes the role of water supply, soil depth, and accessibility in determining defensive strategies. Central to the text is the idea that engineering must allow few to resist many, merging geometry, natural conditions, and tactical foresight. The work belongs to the final phase of Italian humanistic military literature, in a context shaped by renewed conflict with the Ottoman Empire. Aurispi’s treatise thus exemplifies the synthesis of military practice, humanistic culture, and dynastic identity in early modern Italy.
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