Los Antonelli, constructores de murallas levantando pantanos. Sobre posibles trasvases tecnológicos de la ingeniería militar a la hidráulica

Abstract

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Antonelli family comprised one of the most important military engineering dynasties in the Mediterranean and America. Outstanding builders of fortifications in the service of the Spanish Crown, two members of the family —Juan Bautista and Cristóbal— played a fundamental role in designing and constructing the Tibi and Relleu dams, which were revolutionary at the time and world-wide predecessors of today’s arch and dome dams. Through a preliminary analysis of their professional careers, this communication explores the possible technology transfer from military engineering to hydraulics to explain the success of these constructions, for centuries the tallest and most slender dams in the world.