• Source: Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels

The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels (or the Royal Military Academy of the Low Countries; Spanish: the Academia Militar de Bruselas or the Academia Militar del Ejército de los Países Bajos, 1675–1706) was established in Brussels, Habsburg Netherlands, by Don Sebastián Fernández de Medrano at the request of Don Carlos de Aragón de Gurrea, 9th Duke of Villahermosa, Governor and Captain General of the Spanish Netherlands, in order to correct the shortage of artillerymen and engineers from the Spanish Tercio. The sole-director of the academy was Don Sebastián Fernández de Medrano.




History



The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels was the first modern military academy in Europe. Thanks to Sebastián Fernández de Medrano's work and dedication as the sole-director of the Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels, Spanish military engineering reached its highest levels and became comparable to that of traditional European schools. Regarding the Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels, Serafín María de Sotto, 3rd Count of Clonard wrote:

"The Spanish can rightly claim the glory of having advanced in the science of war more than the rest of cultured Europe."

The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels gained fame for its officer cadets' diverse backgrounds, its pioneering curriculum, and its comprehensive approach to theoretical and practical learning. These cadets, also referred to as the "Great Masters of War" by the treatise writer Count of Clonard, were notable for the significant assignments they undertook. This Academy was created in Brussels to train the most distinguished officers in the peninsula in the Art of War. This center can be considered as the first project of General Military Training as well as the forefather of the future Royal Military Academies of Barcelona, Cueta, Oran and the Academia General Militar.
The Royal Military Academy of Brussels was the most important military academy in the Spanish fortification project, but when it fell to the French army in 1697, it declined, leading to its dissolution in 1706.
After the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, marking the end of the War of the Spanish Succession and the transfer of the Southern Netherlands to the House of Habsburg of Austria, after having been under the House of Habsburg of Spain, the school was renamed the Military Engineering Academy with French as the language of instruction. It closed its doors in 1783 when it had become merely an equestrian academy without any military character.




= The director

=

Sebastián Fernández de Medrano (24 October 1646 – 18 February 1705) was the president and sole-director of the first modern Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels in Europe during the reign of Charles II of Spain and briefly Philip V of Spain. Sebastián was a military leader, Royal Master of Mathematics in the states of Flanders, General Prefect of the king, geographer, Captain and Maestre de campo of the Spanish Tercio, inventor, Chief Artillery Engineer of the Kingdom, author, and military architect in the Empire of Spain.




= Establishment of the Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels

=

The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels was established in 1675 as an educational institution to train military engineers with various fields of education such as arithmetic, geometry, artillery, fortification, algebra, cosmography, astronomy, navigation, etc. Among those fields, the education of arithmetic, geometry, and fortification were particularly important and related to one another. Many engineers were trained at this academy and were also dispatched to the colonial cities in the Americas. According to Don Sebastian Fernández de Medrano, the Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels aimed to combine theoretical and practical education in order to advance the art of modern war. Regarding the purpose of his military institution, Medrano writes in 1699:

"...I had partially fulfilled the honors owed to the Royal Clemency of His Majesty by establishing this Military Academy, as it was intended to nurture capable individuals in the Martial Art, just as similar seminaries in other Princedoms produced engineers, thus avoiding the reliance on foreign engineers, in whom confidence was risked, and recognizing the favor bestowed upon me in this regard, it quickly became evident how significant this Academy was when several capable individuals in Military Architecture emerged from it, not only for the domains of His Majesty but also for those of the Princes of the League, who have requested them on various occasions. Moreover, to facilitate the understanding of this doctrine for the dedicated, it was decided to publish various books on all aspects of the Mathematical Disciplines relevant to this profession, such as Geography or World Description, Geometry, Fortification, Squadron Formation, Artifices of Fire, and the usage and practice of Artillery and Mortars, all of which were lacking in our language. Having achieved all of this with recognized success and efficacy, I resolved to cease writing further, as the aforementioned works were sufficient and the multitude of plates required for these subjects caused considerable expense [more than eight thousand escudos]."

The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels was widely acknowledged for its excellence, as evidenced by the requests from Princes of the League, Dukes, and other prominent figures. They consistently sent students from different regions to receive instruction and training under the guidance of Sebastián Fernández de Medrano. Medrano himself personally trained numerous engineers, whom he later dispatched to His Majesty and subsequently to the Holy Roman Emperor. The Princes of the League also sought Medrano's expertise to fortify all the borders of their territories, praising his renown and the academy's prestige.




= Patron and protector of the Brussels Academy

=

The director Don Sebastian Fernández de Medrano naturally chose Don Francisco Antonio de Agurto Salcedo Medrano, 1st Marquess of Gastañaga, Governor and Captain General of the Habsburg Netherlands, as the patron and protector of the Brussels Academy. Sebastian dedicated his academic book "The Engineer Part One, of Modern Military Architecture" to the 1st Marquess of Gastañaga on 1 March 1687.
By 1691, Sebastian had already published 8 books for the academy. On 31 October 1691, in Brussels, the 1st Marquess of Gastañaga writes to King Charles II of Spain:

"[Sebastián] has published at his own expense eight books, all related to these military arts, with great clarity for the shortest teaching and understanding of the disciples, which has given him so much credit among foreigners that many princes desire his disciples and send subjects to his Academy to learn from him."

Soldiers and officers from all over Europe attended the Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels, especially the army of Flanders. In 1688, the army of Flanders led by the Marquess of Gastañaga numbered 25,539 officers and men and by 1689 the total strength of his army increased to 31,743 men. This was the peak strength of the Army of Flanders in the Nine Years' War.
Don Francisco Antonio de Agurto Salcedo Medrano, Marquess of Gastañaga, Captain General and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, became one of the schools greatest protectors. The Marquess, fully appreciating his qualities, always brought the academy director Sebastián Fernandez de Medrano with him to campaigns and visits to cities.




Alumni



A considerable number of engineers and artillerymen for the Spanish armies in the Netherlands came out of the academy. One of these students who went to Hungary, Reysenberg, became the Emperor's General Engineer, and another of King James II of England, some went into the service of the sovereign Dukes of Lorraine and Savoy, and a good number of them came to Spain in 1711, when Medrano's disciple Jorge Próspero Verboom, Marquis of Verboom, organized the Corps of Engineers. Don Sebastian Fernandez de Medrano personally taught and even wrote the texts used for the students' studies.
Joseph de Mendoza y Sandoval was a known disciple of Medrano. Another notable student, Alejandro de Retz, born in Paris, France around the 17th century and died in Cartagena, Murcia in 1732, served as a military engineer for the French monarchy from 1681 to 1703. He later worked for the Spanish Crown in Brussels alongside the general engineer Jorge Próspero Verboom.
Sebastian wrote his textbook "Geometric and Military Rudiments" in 1677 in order to "introduce into the military the teaching of that part of mathematics that belongs to a soldier," and "seeing my intention achieved so successfully that in addition to the 700 officers who have graduated from this Academy, many have gained some understanding of my works (as is well known)..."




= Enrollment and curriculum

=

The Academy's enrollment was annually refreshed with the induction of thirty students, including officers and cadets from infantry units. Officers underwent a one-year training program that included Geometry, Fortification, Artillery, Geography, and Squadron Formation. Those who excelled were selected for a second year to enhance their skills in Drawing and Fortification, and to engage in additional studies like speculative Geometry and "Treatise on the Sphere and Navigation".
This comprehensive training qualified them for engineering roles within the army and entitled them to diplomas. From these adept students, Medrano would sometimes select assistants (like the Marquess de Verboom). Academic activities were structured with mornings dedicated to self-study at the Academy—considered more conducive to learning than at home—while afternoons were reserved for theoretical lessons within the same institution.
This allowed students to consolidate their knowledge, address uncertainties, delve deeper into topics, and partake in practical exercises. Neglecting their studies was met with strict consequences, including the expulsion of the student from the Academy.




= Annual prizes

=
From 1694 onwards - Medrano presented the students with three annual prizes, which can be inferred to have been highly desired by the students. All of them consisted of a gold medal with the effigy of Charles II of Spain, surrounded by the inscription:

"Carolus Dei gratia Hispaniarum Rex (Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Spain)" on the obverse, and on the reverse, that of "Palladis et Martis studio haec proemia miles Medraenea tibi docta palaestra dicat, (This opening verse, taught by the training ground of Medrano, is dedicated to you, Palladian and Martian soldier)" over a plan representing a fortified pentagon supported by Mars and Pallas.




Academy textbooks



All of the academy books were written by Sebastian Fernandez de Medrano and dedicated to prominent figures. According to the "Bibliography" by Almirante and in chronological order of publication, his works were as follows:

1677 - "Rudimentos geométricos y militares, que propone al estudio y aplicación de los Profesores de la milicia" (Geometric and military rudiments, proposed for the study and application of military professors) Published under the protection of the Duke of Villahermosa in Brussels.
1680 - "El práctico Artillero" (The practical artilleryman) This work was published in Brussels and was reprinted several times.
1691 - "El Perfecto bombardero y práctico artificial" (The perfect bombardier and practical artificial) Published as a continuation or evolution of "El práctico Artillero" in Brussels.
1696 - "El Ingeniero práctico" (The practical engineer) Published in Brussels.
1699 - "Account of a country that has recently been discovered in North America, larger than Europe, and which is brought to light in Spanish by the Sergeant General of Battle..." Published in Brussels.
1700 - "The Perfect Architect in Military Art" A corrected reprint of "The Engineer" from 1687, published in Brussels.
1700 - "Brief treatise on Geography divided into three parts..." Published in Brussels.
1709 - "Geography or modern description of the world and its parts." Published after his death in Antwerp.
Additionally, Medrano wrote "Elements of Euclid Amplified" and "Foundation and rules of the Academy called La Peregrina," with publication dates unspecified but contributing to his body of work primarily centered around military and geographical education.
The educational structure of the Academy in Brussels, which served as a model, featured a two-year curriculum: the first year focused on basic principles, and the second on specialized training for engineers and artillerymen.




= The Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Barcelona

=
In the late 17th century, plans were made to move the Royal and Military Academy of Mathematics from Madrid to Barcelona. Sebastián Fernández de Medrano was appointed as the general director of the academy.
After deciding to establish the Royal and Military Academy of Mathematics of Barcelona, the council of war sought guidance from Don Sebastián Fernández de Medrano on how he had structured his academy in Brussels, intending to replicate it in Barcelona. Unfortunately, Medrano died in 1705. Before his death, he had developed an outline for the future Academy of Mathematics in Barcelona, which he submitted to the king. Consequently, the establishment of the Royal Military Academy of Mathematics in Barcelona was established following Medrano's model and authorized by a Royal Decree from King Charles II on January 22, 1700.
On 12 August 1701, the implementation of Medrano's guidelines was officially ordered for the Barcelona Academy. Medrano's academic outline was published in a document titled "Formula with which the Sergeant General of Battle, D. Sebastián Fernández de Medrano, established by order of His Majesty the new and Royal Military Academy of which he is the Director". This occurred on 22 January 1700, the same day His Majesty issued a decree to establish the Military Academy in Barcelona and instructed that notices be posted in the War Secretariat to recruit teachers.
Due to the initiative of Sebastián Fernández de Medrano, his expertise and efforts played a crucial role in the founding of the Academy in Barcelona. Medrano expanded the Barcelona Academy's curriculum into a more comprehensive three-year program divided into four nine-month courses. The initial two courses were designed to cover the essential knowledge needed for an officer's duties, while the latter two focused on the skills necessary for engineers and artillerymen. This extended three-year curriculum aimed to provide thorough training in pure and applied mathematics, as well as general cultural education and practical skills pertinent to military engineering.
The curriculum of the Barcelona Academy as designed by Sebastián Fernández de Medrano comprises a comprehensive and structured approach to military education. Medrano's curriculum for Barcelona is based off his Academy in Brussels and is meticulously outlined across eight subjects, each focusing on different areas critical to military education:

Arithmetic: Fundamental mathematical operations, linear algorithms, fractions, ratios, principle of proportions, powers, roots, and progression.
Elementary Geometry: Study of Euclidean geometry, the division of figures using diagonals, properties of circles and straight lines and diagonals, rectangular prisms and parallelepipeds, pyramids, prisms, cylinders, spheres, conical curves.
Trigonometry: Techniques for drawing and measuring plane figures, inscribing and circumscribing circles and other figures, deformation of plane figures, use of tools, area measurements, volume measurement and level measurement.
Fortification Studies: Design of polygonal and irregular fortresses, effective fortification planning according to terrain, and reinforcement strategies.
Canon Studies: Examination of gunpowder, cannons, mortars, artillery mounts, artillery batteries, landmines, artificial fire, and the cataloging of fortress and artillery equipment.
Space Geography: Celestial spheres, geographical studies, waterway, navigation technique, and weather patterns.
Mechanics: Physics of movement with weight, the operation of mechanical devices, principles of irrigation, general overview on optics and projection drawing techniques.
Civil Architecture: Aesthetic design of architecture, ensuring their beautiful appearance, and the structural integrity and safety of construction.
The teaching legacy of the 'Medrano Military Academy' in Brussels significantly influenced the establishment of the Military Academies of Barcelona, Oran, and Ceuta, which were said to have "their origin in the one that had existed in Brussels in the previous century." When Lieutenant General Jorge Próspero de Verboom was appointed Chief Engineer on January 13, 1710, and tasked with organizing the Corps of Engineers, he proposed academies following the same model as his mentor's. The academies in Oran and Ceuta were later founded in 1732 and 1739, respectively.




References

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