The Old Fortress began taking its recognizable form in the early fifteenth century, with major construction from 1544 or 1545 to 1555 and further work in the 1720s. The New Fortress was built from 1572 and was also modernized in the 1720s. Their scale could make Corfu extremely difficult to seize when properly supported. Yet the French did not have enough men to cover the city, the wider island, and the vulnerable batteries on Vido. Venetian planners had relied on local support and the possibility of a naval counterattack, advantages the isolated French garrison did not possess. Fortifications could multiply a defending force, but they could not replace manpower, naval support, or a cooperative population.
Notable Point · 53:47-57:42
Fortresses need garrisons and support
Corfu's Old and New Fortresses were formidable, but the French lacked the personnel and local backing needed to defend the whole island.