Mamelon
Encyclopedia
A mamelon is a French name for a breast shaped hill
ock. At the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during the Crimea War the French called a strategic hillock the Mamelon. The British adopted the French name for the hill, but also called it Gordon's Hill.
In October 1854 the French attempted to capture the summit of the hillock with a coup de main
but were repulsed with casualties of about 600 officers and men. During the winter of 1854/55 the Russians built the Kamtschatka Redoubt
on the summit of the Mamelon as part of a comprehensive defensive ring of double and in some parts triple lines of continuous defensive works around Sevastopol.During the campaign season of 1855, after two more failed attempts, and following a heavy bombardment and the capture of the outlying defences, the Kamtschatka Redoubt was stormed and captured by the French in early June. During the final assault, the British who took some of the outlying works and suffered casualties of 30 offices and 350 other ranks. The French in the main assault deployed many more men and suffered about three times the British casualties.
, in which Major-General Stanley sings, "In fact, when I know what is meant by mamelon and ravelin
. . ."
Breast shaped hill
A breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...
ock. At the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during the Crimea War the French called a strategic hillock the Mamelon. The British adopted the French name for the hill, but also called it Gordon's Hill.
In October 1854 the French attempted to capture the summit of the hillock with a coup de main
Coup de main
A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense defines it as:The literal translation from French means a stroke or blow of the hand...
but were repulsed with casualties of about 600 officers and men. During the winter of 1854/55 the Russians built the Kamtschatka Redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
on the summit of the Mamelon as part of a comprehensive defensive ring of double and in some parts triple lines of continuous defensive works around Sevastopol.During the campaign season of 1855, after two more failed attempts, and following a heavy bombardment and the capture of the outlying defences, the Kamtschatka Redoubt was stormed and captured by the French in early June. During the final assault, the British who took some of the outlying works and suffered casualties of 30 offices and 350 other ranks. The French in the main assault deployed many more men and suffered about three times the British casualties.
Cultural references
The word appears in the Major-General's SongMajor-General's Song
I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General is a patter song from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. It is perhaps the most famous song in Gilbert and Sullivan's operas. It is sung by Major-General Stanley at his first entrance, towards the end of Act I...
, in which Major-General Stanley sings, "In fact, when I know what is meant by mamelon and ravelin
Ravelin
A ravelin is a triangular fortification or detached outwork, located in front of the innerworks of a fortress...
. . ."