ABSTRACT

The dense urbanisation of the regions most contested by the absolutist powers, notably northern Italy and the Low Countries, meant that control of fortified towns was central to success in the early-modern wars of western Europe. This paper offers a. brief overview of the archaeological, topographic and architectural evidence for the impact of land armies and militias on towns and cities in the period c. 1500–1900. The geographic coverage will concentrate on England, France and the Low Countries in the hope of drawing a few contrasts and comparisons. It will also highlight the necessity of an international perspective if we are to understand the true significance of local urban characteristics.