Vauban, la Défense et la cohésion de l'économie nationale

Generally we take into account Vauban?s work as divided into two parts: the Traité de l?attaque des places on the one hand, the project of Dîme royale on the other hand. On the contrary we point out the profound unity of this work from a methodological point of view and from a political point of view. Whatever is the field considered, Vauban, as a scientist, starts by a meticulous observation in the form of depth enquiry, proceeded with numerous experimentations and after theorizes in the fortification work and in the tax system. This thought is directed towards action: as an economist, Vauban is preoccuped with money and men?s savings; as a sociologist, he aims at social status improvement, as a geographer, he intends to the ?pré carré? improvement. To put an end to this analysis, we consider the way of this work was considered by contemporary, historians or economists and what is its originality. JEL: B11, N43