Fortificare in tempo di pace. Le nuove strutture di controllo della costa toscana (1785-1793)

In the second half of the 18th century, prior to the onset of the French Revolution, following detailed reconnaissance to evaluate the state of the coastal fortifications of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the construction of seven new forts was ordered at various points along the sandy coastline. This initiative also included the conversion of the abandoned Marze saltworks and the Trojan Tower into fortifications. The first of these, Forte dei Marmi, was constructed between 1785 and 1786. It featured a squat, three-storey quadrangular structure with an annexed semicircular platform on the seaward side, which served as a prototype for the remaining six forts: Cinquale, Bocca di Serchio, Marina di Bibbona, Marina di Castagneto, San Rocco (now Marina di Grosseto), and Bocca d’Ombrone. This undertaking commenced during a period of peace under the rule of Pietro Leopoldo of Habsburg- Lorraine, whose administration had adopted a strictly neutral stance. This policy led to the demobilisation of many urban and rural fortresses built by the Medici in inland Tuscany, alongside significant reductions in the size of the fleet and the army, as well as the resolution of border disputes with neighbouring states. Although the persistent, albeit diminished, threat of Barbary pirates remained, the reinforcement of the coastal defence system served additional purposes: health-related measures (primarily concerning the spread of the plague) and economic-commercial objectives, such as the enforcement of customs duties and the suppression of smuggling. By examining published studies and archival documentation, this paper aims to reconstruct the events involving Livorno governor Federigo Barbolani da Montauto and several prominent architects and engineers within the government’s circle. These individuals contributed to the drafting of projects, reports, maps, and drawings, which provide insights into the true motivations behind the strengthening of the coastal military system. These motivations encompassed not only the creation of well-armed defensive structures but also the establishment of health and customs houses.