Vauban, le vagabond du roi

A remarkable engineer who helped Louis XIV secure the borders of France . During wars with Spain, Luxembourg and Holland. Fortified cities, canals to create ports for the Navy ships and battle trenches and tunnels. Away from family, wife, death of children he'd never seen. He worked tirelessly to meet the King's demands. He did eventually receive a chateau in recompense, but fell ill before it was renovated to enjoy. He also was called by Louis XIV to Versailles, where he needed Vauban's knowledge and genius to provide the gravitational water flow from the River Eure and the Seine from Paris, diverted to have gravity forced water for the many fountains to operate in the gardens at Versailles Palace! He also saw the suffering of the peasants, pre-revolution (1789 Bastille, Louis XVI, guillotine), and worked to establish a census, of the people of France to know the numbers accountable of people under the King's Reign, to establish fair taxation! He cared passionately for the betterment of the common people. His remains were eventually buried in Les Invalides near the tombe of Napoleon, who had great respect and regard for the achievements of Vauban. A TRUE civil servant of France, in a difficult period of French history.