Dutch artillery general,
fortress expert
Menno Baron van Coehoorn was a Dutch artillery general, fortress builder and author of works on fortifications.
His versatile career began at the age of 16 when he was appointed captain. He showed his bravery during the defence of Maastricht in 1673, which was besieged and conquered by French troops. As a result of this performance, he was promoted to colonel in the same year. He eventually reached the position of lieutenant-general and inspector of the fortresses of the Dutch States General.
He conquered the fortress of Coevorden in 1680 and modernised it. Other important fortresses he was involved in were Zwolle, Nijmegen, Grave and Breda. Particularly noteworthy are the defences in Bergen op Zoom, which are among his masterpieces. His innovations and publications on fortification construction were trend-setting in the fortification sector until the 19th century.
In 1692, he was defeated by the attacking Vauban in the defence of the fortress of Namur. In 1695, he led the siege to recapture Namur and planned the reconstruction of the fortified city of Mannheim in 1698.
In addition to his military achievements, Menno van Coehoorn developed the portable Coehoorn mortar, which was used in the American Civil War and even in the trench warfare of the First World War.
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