The fortified fencearound Rosetta, field study in the maps of the French Campaign 1798-1801

Abstract

This research includes the study of the Mamluk fortifications around Rosetta, which is the wall established by Sultan al-Ghouri. It extended from the northern corner of the city and then surrounded it from the north and the west to the Nile coast to the south. The Nile River was a natural boundary of the city in the east.

The fence begins north of the Nile River east of the white Qushlaq area where there was a fort at the site where it was erected at the beginning of the fence through the northern gate (Abul Reash Gate), the only remaining part of the fortifications that surrounded the city, The western wall of the wall, while the western fence was extending south from al-Manzali Fort to al-Nishan fort, and deviating to the south-east to al-Nini fort, where the south-west gate is the Alexandria Gate, which was located between the Nishan fort and al-Nini fort. Then it ends by al-Abbasy fort on the Nile, at the Abbasid Mosque in the south, on the northern border of the hills of Abu Mandur on the Nile coast.

The study described the walls of Rosetta and reached its architectural features through the study of the astronomical map of Rosetta, which was prepared by the French campaign. The researcher was able to draw up a plan for these forts and lay down their limited architectural details and the most important elements on the map.

Keywords:Rosetta, fortified fence,Sultan al-Ghouri, the white Qushlaq, Abul Reash gate, al-Manzali fort, al-Nishan fort, Alexandria Gate, al-Nenni fort, al-Abbasi fort.