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Also called Fort de Chartres. French military fort on left bank Mississippi river, about 25 miles above the mouth of Kaskaskia river. Built 1717, it was the seat of government of the Illinois. In 1756, it was rebuilt, an irregular quadrangle with four bastions, of stone plastered. Walls were from 2 feet to 3 feet thick and 15 feet high, with loop-holes and port-holes, surrounding several enclosed buildings. Bougainville in his mémoire says that this fort was dependent on New Orleans. It was generally believed to be the best built of the interior French forts. It was the last of the old French forts to be surrendered to the British after the conquest, being surrendered in 1765. In 1772 the Mississippi river had undermined the west side and the wall fell. This fort together with Cahokia, Kaskaskia and St. Géneviève in the immediate neighborhood commanded the approach to the Illinois country by the Mississippi. It is shown on map of French claims 1756 (No. 10), on Bellin's 1755 (No. 93) and Danville 1755 (No. 97).