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Line 1: − + − In [[Ancient Greece]], the [[Acropolis]] was important in the life of the people, serving as a refuge and stronghold in peril and containing military and food supplies, the shrine of the god and a royal palace. The most well-known is the [[Acropolis of Athens]], but nearly every Greek [[city-state]] had one - the [[Acrocorinth]] famed as a particularly strong fortress. + − + + + − + + + + + + + + + + + + +
KS update 1.1
[[File:Herat_citadel.png|thumb|200px|A citadel in [[Herat]].]]
[[File:Herat_citadel.png|thumb|200px|A citadel in [[Herat]].]]
A '''citadel''' is a large [[fortress]] mainly used to protect towns or castles from attacks or disaster, though citadels have been built for other reasons as well. The oldest known citadels were built in the [[Indus Valley Civilization]], where the citadel may have been used as a symbol of [[authority]], no one is fully sure about their purpose.
A '''citadel''' is a large [[fortress]] or [[castle]] that is usually built to protect [[City|cities]] or [[Town|towns]] from attacks or disaster, though citadels have been built for other reasons as well. Citadels are often built to be the final protection for a city or town, in case enemies break through other protections such as [[Wall|walls]] or [[Soldier|soldiers]].
== History ==
The ''Citadelle'' of [[Quebec]] still survives as the largest citadel still in official military operation in North America after more than two hundred years of existence.
=== 3300 BCE - 1300BCE ===
=== –1300 BCE ===
The oldest known citadels were built in the [[Indus Valley Civilization]], where the citadel may have been used as a symbol of [[authority]] (power), though no one is entirely sure why they were built.
{{military-stub}}
=== 800–600 BCE ===
In [[Ancient Greece]], the [[Acropolis]] was important in the life of the people, serving as a place of safety in times of trouble. It contained [[military]] supplies, food, a [[shrine]], and often a [[palace]] or citadel. The most well-known is the [[Acropolis of Athens]], but nearly every Greek [[city-state]] had one.
=== 167–141 BCE ===
Citadels were sometimes built so strongly that enemies could take over the rest of the city, but fail to take over the city's citadel. During the [[Maccabean Revolt]], the Maccabean [[Rebellion|rebels]] managed to take over all of [[Jerusalem]] except its citadel. It wasn't until 20 years later that they finally managed to take over the citadel too.
=== 1600 CE–present ===
Citadels were not always built to keep away a city's enemies. During the [[Anglo-Dutch Wars]], [[Charles II of England|King Charles II of England]] built a citadel at [[Plymouth, Devon|Plymouth]] that could not only keep out enemies, but also the city's people in case they tried to [[Rebellion|rebel]] against the King.
=== Modern Usage ===
The ''Citadelle'' of [[Quebec]] still survives as the largest citadel still in official military operation in [[North America]] after more than 200 years of existence.
Since the middle of the [[20th century]], citadels usually protect military center, rather than cities or towns. These citadels are built to protect the center from heavy attacks, such as aerial or nuclear bombardment. The military citadels under [[London]] are an example of this.{{military-stub}}
[[Category:Fortification]]
[[Category:Fortification]]