The headland which overhangs the Cousin (almost 100 meters of unevenness between the composts of the Small Door and the river of the Cousin) is an occupied privileged site since Prehistory. Until the Gallic occupation, the enclosure probably consists of a ditch, liftings of ground, palisades, spears, hedges of spines... The city develops starting from the II E century, time Roman (Castrum, near the way of Clutched). It is the first period of construction of the primitive enclosure. End of the IX E century , to take cover from ceaseless attacks, Avallon is locked up little by little in an enclosure of ramparts. The city becomes a fortified town, coveted by the local lords. In 1031 , the city knows then a period of calms and raises its fortifications. It is the second period of construction of the external enclosure (it is prolonged to the XIV E century). About the middle of the XIII E siécle , the enclosure becomes too narrow and of many houses are built out of the walls. The fortifications are widened and repaired. At the beginning of the XV E century , Avallon is almost deserted, it remains only 94 "francs fires". In 1404 , there are at least 4 grosses towers at the strategic points; the defense of the doors is reinforced. During this century, 17 news towers is built. It is the third period of construction . 1435 : The treaty of Arras reconciles France and Burgundy. Benefitting from the lull, "one surrounds the place of one second formed enclosure of hedges of spines supported by piles"; all the makeshift solutions are employed in front of the threat which the "Flayers represent" (mercenaries then without work). Those make tremble the area until 1444 when they are demolished with the battle of Epoisses by the Burgundian ones. From 1440 to 1470 , one observes a reinforcement of the fortifications. The date of 1477 marks the end of the duchy of Burgundy which is joined together with the kingdom of France. The city knows a new period of calms. In 1543 , the population has triplet, prosperity returns. 1568 : "One made wall walls the two Cousins" by fear of Huguenots. This precaution appears effective when, in 1569, the city is besieged by Wolfang (or Volfgand), duke of the Two Bridges (duke of Lorraine). Avallon resists, but the suburbs are plundered. The engines of wars, increasingly powerful, oblige the construction of new means of defense, the such bastions, 4 are built in 1590-91 (Gally spur, Auxerroise Door, Beurdelaine tower and Small Door). The end of the XVI E century marks the fourth and last great period of construction of the fortifications. Wars between members of a league and royalists, plagues. Since 1624, and especially in 1681, the city rents turns, guérites and other fortifications with private individuals. This period marks the phase of abandonment of the fortifications . The kingdom of France east in peace and the enclosure become too narrow. The end of the XVIII E century sees the destruction of the three principal doors (Small Door, carries Auxerroise and Grande Door) in order to allow the urban expansion.
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