# Chartaque > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chartaque > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chartaque.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartaque > Source revision: 1252943445 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Ottoman watchtower}} [[File:Chartaque Wachturm (Niefern-Öschelbronn).jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of a ''chartaque'' on the [Eppingen Lines](/source/Eppingen_Lines)]] A '''chartaque''' ({{langx|ota|چارطاق}}, from {{langx|fa|چهارتاق}} ''[chahartaq](/source/chahartaq_(architecture))'', literally "having four arches"; in {{langx|de|Tschartake}}, in {{langx|tr|Çardak}}) is a [watchtower](/source/watchtower) and important element of the fortification systems in the time of the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire). == Construction == [[File:Barockschanze Gersbach.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of a ''[schanze](/source/schanze)'' and chartaque on the Barocque ''schanze'' near [Gersbach](/source/Gersbach_(Schopfheim)) in the [Black Forest area](/source/Baroque_fortifications_in_the_Black_Forest)]] [[File:Tschartake nearBurgauStyria.jpg|thumb|upright|Reconstruction of a chartaque on the [Lafnitz](/source/Lafnitz), the old border between Styria and Hungary, east of [Burgau](/source/Burgau_(Styria))]] The original form, to which the name relates, was built of four logs, but over time ''chartaques'' were built in different sizes depending on the number of defending units. Fundamentally they were places of observation and defence. A characteristic structural feature of ''chartaques'' is that they consisted of a lookout tower with a [palisade](/source/palisade) around the base. Other defensive works such as ''[schanzen](/source/schanze_(fortress))'', [abatis](/source/abatis), [ramparts](/source/rampart_(fortification)) and [ditches](/source/ditch_(fortification)) were often built in the vicinity as additional protection against an enemy. The construction of a ''chartaque'' was an operation that lasted several weeks. In 1706, during the time of the [Kuruc wars](/source/Uprising_of_Francis_II_R%C3%A1k%C3%B3czi), precise details are known about the fortifications of the ''[Kuruc schanzen](/source/Kuruc_schanzen)'' in eastern Styria. For one four-man ''chartaque'', thus a relatively small one (there were also ''chartaques'' for up to 20 men), which was to be built in [Goritz bei Radkersburg](/source/Goritz_bei_Radkersburg), about three kilometres north of the town of [Radkersburg](/source/Radkersburg), the following was assessed to be needed: 20 workers ([socage](/source/socage)rs from the surrounding villages), eight [log](/source/Trunk_(botany)) posts each of three [fathoms](/source/fathoms) (ca. 18 feet long), 24 logs for beams and wall benches, 18 logs for the upper and lower floors, 25 battens, 75 wide boards, 400 batten nails, 1,000 shingle nails, 67 carts and, as for tradesmen, master [carpenter](/source/carpenter): 18 man days and carpenter's apprentices: 54 man days. Such a ''chartaque'' came at a cost of 28 [guilders](/source/guilders) and 24 [kreuzer](/source/kreuzer_(coin)) (plus the "free" socage). For two or three ''chartaques'' an overseer was appointed in addition to the crews of each ''chartaque''.Fritz Posch: ''Flammende Grenze. Die Steiermark in den Kuruzzenstürmen.'' 1st Edition. Verlag Styria, Graz 1968, p. 203. 2nd edition as: a publication by the [Styrian Archives](/source/Styrian_Provincial_Archives). Volume 5. Styria, Graz-Vienna-Cologne, 1986. {{ISBN|3-222-11691-1}}. {{ZDB|561078-3}} For the rebuilding of another ''chartaque'' which was burned down to its supporting posts, the cost was estimated at 30 guilders.Posch: ''Flammende Grenze.'' p. 250. There were also ''chartaques'' that were additionally protected by a small [redoubt](/source/redoubt) (''redutierte Tschartaken''), the redoubt costing an estimated 40 guilders.Posch: ''Flammende Grenze.'' S. 201, 203–204 For larger ''chartaques'' for 12-15 men, 32 construction-quality logs (''Stubenbäume''), six rafter logs (''Gesparrbäume''), four complete trees for the posts, 75 standard boards and 1,500 batten nails were needed.Posch: ''Flammende Grenze.'' p. 194 == History == The [Ottomans](/source/Ottoman_Empire) took over these installations from their eastern neighbours, the [Persians](/source/History_of_Iran), who had long been their enemies, and used the idea against their western enemies. Thus ''chartaques'' found their way to the [Styria](/source/Styria)n-[Hungarian](/source/Kingdom_of_Hungary) border area and were adopted, in turn, by their opponents. At first they were built by the Styrians and [Lower Austria](/source/Lower_Austria)ns as part of their defence against the Ottomans and later strengthened to defend their lands against the [Kurucs](/source/Kurucs). ''Chartaques'' were usually erected in lines in order to be able to relay warning shots and other visual and audible messages. Depending on the state of the terrain, they might be arranged at intervals of about one to three kilometres. They were supporting elements of defensive lines. For example, between Radkersburg and [Fehring](/source/Fehring), a distance of about 27 kilometres [as the crow flies](/source/as_the_crow_flies), 13 ''chartaques'' were built, and between Fehring and [Fürstenfeld](/source/F%C3%BCrstenfeld) from the [Raab](/source/Raab_(river)) valley to the [Lafnitz](/source/Lafnitz_(river)) valley, a distance of about 15 kilometres, 18-19 ''chartaques'' were erected.Posch: ''Flammende Grenze.'' pp. 194–203. The description of these military installations has survived to the present day.[https://www.sagen.info/forum/media/tschartake.7550/ ''Chartaques''], information and photographs of ''chartaques'' at sagen.at They were also installed as part of the [Baroque lines of fortification](/source/Baroque_fortifications_in_the_Black_Forest) in southwest Germany, where they were also called ''chartaques''. Today only a very few ''chartaques'' have survived. In several places, however, they have been faithfully reconstructed. For example, in [Burgau](/source/Burgau_(Styria)) in 1995, a ''chartaque'' was reconstructed on the [Lafnitz](/source/Lafnitz_(river)), once the border river between [Austria](/source/Empire_of_Austria) and [Hungary](/source/Kingdom_of_Hungary).[http://root.riskommunal.net/riskommunal/zusatzseiten_detail.asp?gnr=1331&sprache=1&onr=219561399&iMenuId= Tschartake in Burgau]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, die nachgebaute Tschartake in Burgau Other reconstructions are found on the [Eppingen Lines](/source/Eppingen_Lines). == See also == * [Blockhouse](/source/Blockhouse) == References == == External links == {{Commons category|Chartaques}} {{fortifications}} Category:Fortified towers by type Category:Alarms --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chartaque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartaque) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartaque?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.