Vauban Defenses on the Narva, Estonia, 1700

Sabastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban (15 May 1633 - 30 March 1707), commonly referred to as Vauban, was - Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them. He also advised Louis XIV on how to consolidate Frances borders, to make them more defensible. Vauban made - radical suggestion of giving up some land that was indefensible to allow for - stronger, less porous border with Frances neighbors. The favorable location at the crossing of trade routes and the Narva River was behind the founding of Narva castle and the development of an urban settlement around it.