1633-1707

French military engineer whose tactics helped win a string of victories for King Louis XIV. Three years after joining the French engineer corps, Vauban served as engineer-in-chief at the successful siege of Gravelines in 1658. He went on to great acclaim for his work in enabling victories during 12 military engagements from 1667 to 1703. Vauban designed fortifications at Strasbourg and a number of other towns, and invented the socket bayonet. His De l'attaque et de la défense des places, published posthumously in 1737, was a highly influential study of fortifications and siege technology.