Possibly term "Redoubt" originates from the French word of “redoubt”, which means "shelter". In Britannic military terminology it was used to name the isolated defensive installation, equipped with all necessities to withstand a long siege.

As an artificial obstacle, a redoubt was a closed fortification shaped in a form of regular or irregular polygon strengthened by barrage and independent with relation to defense. Redoubts appeared in the fifteenth century and have been used as a main form of defensive installations until World War I (1914 - 1918).

Russian Tsar Peter I used redoubts on Poltava battle field as a frontline supporting points. To cover the open approach to the fortified camp of the Russian army and disrupt battle formation of an advancing enemy, Tsar Peter I ordered built two lines of square or rectangular redoubts placed in the form of letter T. Each redoubt was earthwork consisting of rampart and a deep ditch, protected by palisade. Belgorod regiment under the command of brigadier Aigustov was a basis of garrison deployed in redoubts. The artillery of the redoubts consisted of 16 guns. The Russian cavalry under the command of Menshikov was disposed behind the line of redoubts. While getting ready for the celebration of bicentenary of the battle of Poltava 10 obelisks were erected on the spots of assumed location of redoubts. Made of concrete, they were originally crowned by double-headed bronze eagles which were dismantled soon after the revolution of 1917. In 1939 they were replaced with granite pyramidal obelisks each 4,5m height. One redoubt was reconstructed in original form in 1953.