Crusader castle
As a crusader castle are castles which have in the context of the Crusades to the Holy Land were built or crusaders occupied.
The so-called "crusader architecture ", a mixture of European, Byzantine , Armenian and Arabic styles, is characteristic of crusader castles . Almost all of these castles experienced a checkered history of sieges, conquests and recaptures, often within a few years or decades. Constant reconstruction by the other rulers led to a mixing of the architectural styles . The castles, which are known as crusader castles, are mostly located in present-day Syria , on the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor and Levantine or in the near hinterland.
The castles in the Holy Land have also influenced the architectural style in Europe, examples are the Edwardian castles in Wales, such as Caerleon or Harlech , and Château Gaillard in France.
Choice of crusader castles
| Franconian name | location | Arabic name | Hebrew / Aramaic name | otherwise. | Order of knights | built | to Muslims |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archas | about 23 km northeast of Tripoli | 'Arqā (عرقا),' Irqa | - | - | Hospitaller | 11th century | 1271 |
| Arsur | north of Jaffa | Arsuf (أرصف) | אַרְסוּף, ארשוף | Apollonia | Hospitaller (from 1261) | 1101 | 1187, 1265 |
| Ahmid | near Beirut on Damor ( Damur ) | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Adelon | between Tire and Sidon | Ad'loun, Aadloun | - | Adlun, Ornithonpolis | - | before 1198 | after 1254 |
| Amouda | north of Osmaniye | - | - | Amuda, Amutay, (today) Hemite Kalesi | German Order (from 1211/12) | before 1145 | 1266 |
| Aruad | Tortosa Island | Ruad | - | Arwad | Templar | 1302 | |
| Baghras / Gaston | between Antioch and Alexandretta | - | - | Castron | Templar | before 1134 | 1188, 1268 |
| Beaufort , Belfort | at the litani | Qalaat al-Shaqif Arnun (قلعة الشئيف أرنون) | - | - | Templar (from 1260) | before 1139 | 1190, 1268 |
| Belhacem | east of Sidon | Qalaat Abi al-Hassan (قلعه ابو الحسن) | - | Bethasem | - | before 1128 | |
| Belmont | near Jerusalem | Suba | - | - | - | - | |
| Belveer | west of Jerusalem | al-Qastal | Hacastel | Castellum Belveer | - | - | |
| Belvoir | on the edge of the Galilean mountains at the Jordan -Furt Sinn al-Nabra | Kaukab al-Hawa | Kochawa | Coquetum | Hospitaller | 1168 | 1187, 1245 |
| Bethsan , le Bessan | about 25 km south of Tiberias | Baisān (بيسان) | Bet She'an (בית שאן) | Scythopolis | - | before 1099 | before 1187 |
| Bethsura | Bait Sahur , southeast of Jerusalem | Suba | - | Beth-zur | - | - | |
| Blanchegarde | between Ascalon and Jerusalem | Burj el-Sur | Tell it-Safi | Alba Specula, Alba Custodia | - | before 1142 | |
| Bourzey | Syria, Latakiya Province | Qalaat Marza | - | - | - | after 1103 | 1188 |
| Caco , Cachon | east of Caesarea | Kakun, Qaqun (قاقون) | Yikon | - | Templar, hospitaller | after 1101 | 1267 |
| Cafarlet | HaBonim , between Chastel Pelerin and Caesarea | Kafr Lam (كفرلام) | HaBonim (הַבּוֹנִים) | Kafer Latum | Hospitaller (from 1213) Templar (from 1255) | before 1099 | 1187, 1265, 1291 |
| Cafaraca , Gibelacar | east of Archas , about 25 km south of Krak des Chevaliers | Kafr Akka (كفر عقا), Qalaat 'Akkar (قلعة عكار),' Akkar al-Atiqua (عكار العتيقا) | - | Cafaracha, Akkar, Akkad | Hospitaller (from 1127) | 10th century | 1271 |
| Calansue | Qalansawe , northeast of Arsur | Qalansuwa (قلنسوة) | - | Qalansuwa, Calanson | Hospitaller (from 1128) | - | 1187, 1265 |
| Château de Baudouin | at Eliad , about 9 km east of the Sea of Galilee | Qasr Bardawil (قصر برضَويل) | - | - | - | 1105 | 1106 |
| Chastel Béroard | between Asdod and Ascalon | Minat al-Qal'a (اشدود), Mahuz Azdud | - | Castellum Beroardi | - | before 1106 | - |
| Casal Imbert | Axially north of Acre | az-Zib (الزيب) | Axially | Castellum Ziph, Casale Huberti de Paci, Casale Lamberti | German medal | around 1123 | |
| Casal des Plains | Azor , southeast of Jaffa , on the road to Lydda | Yazur | Azor (אזור) | - | Templar | - | 1187, 1192 |
| Cave de Tyron | 16 km east of Sidon | Tirum el-Niha | - | Tyron Caves | German Order (from 1257) | - | 1133, 1165 |
| Château du Roi | Mi'ilya, about 20 km northeast of Acre | Mhalia (معليا) | Mi'ilya (מִעִלְיָא) | Castellum Regis | German medal | 1160 | 1187 |
| Chastel Hernaut | near Jerusalem | Yalu | - | - | - | around 1132 | |
| Chastel Blanc | Safita , east of Tortosa | Safita | - | - | Templar | 1102 or 1142 | |
| Chastel Neuf | Hunin, Galilee | - | - | - | Hospitaller (from 1157) | 1105 | 1167 |
| Chastel Rouge | Yahmur , southeast of Tortosa | Qal'at Ya'mūr | - | Yahmur | Hospitaller (from 1177/1178) | around 1108 | 1188, 1289 |
| Chastel Pelerin | at Haifa | 'Athletic | - | Château Pèlerin | Templar | 1218 | 1291 |
| Chastellet | at the "Jakobs" ford on the Jordan , 15 km east of Safed | Qasr al-'Atra, Bayt al-Ahzan (بيت الاحزان) | Metzad Ateret (מצד אטרת) | Vadum Jacob, Chastellet du Gué de Jacob | Templar | 1177/78 | 1179 |
| Château Maen | - | - | Beit Dayan | - | - | - | |
| cola | about 14 km northeast of Ramla | Qula (قولة) | - | Chola | - | - | |
| Coliath , La Colée | north of Archas | āl-Qoulīʻāt - القلي | - | la Colée | Hospitaller | - | 1207, 1266 |
| Cursat , le Coursaut | Kozkalesi / Kurşat Kalesi in Altınözü, 10 km south of Antioch | Qalaat al-Zau, قلعة الذو, Qalaat Qoseir | - | Castrum Patriarchae | - | before 1133 | 1275 |
| Therefore | at Dair al-Balah , about 6 km south of Gaza | - | - | - | - | - | 1170, 1192 |
| Le Destroit | 2 km east of Château Pèlerin | Casel Destreiz, Bayas | - | Districtum | Templar | before 1103 | 1187, 1264 |
| Effraon | Vallis de Cursu (Wadi al-Haramein) | Tayibe | - | - | - | - | - |
| La Fève | in the valley of Jezreel | al-Fula | Merchawia (kibbutz) | castrum fabe | Templar | before 1172 | 1187 |
| Gastria , La Castrie | Cyprus , on the northern edge of Famagusta Bay | - | - | Kastros | Templar | 1191/92 | - |
| Le grand Gerin | Jenin , Samaria | Jenin, tsar'in | Ganim | grande Gerimon, Geminum, Ginnin, Genon | - | - | - |
| Gibelin | Road from Askalon to Jerusalem | Beit Gebrin (بيت) | Beit Jibrin / Bet Guwrin (בית גוברין) | Bethogabri, Ibelin de l'Hospital | Hospitaller (from 1136) | 1134/35 | 1187, 1244 |
| Harenc | Harim , between Antioch and Aleppo | Harrim | - | - | - | 959 | 1149, 1164 |
| Habis Jaldak | on the south bank of the Jarmuk , Oultrejordain | al-Habis (الحبيس) | - | - | - | - | 1111, 1182 |
| Hazart | Azaz , 30 km north of Aleppo | Azaz (اعزاز) | - | Azart, Asart, Hasardo, Assardo | - | around 1118 | before 1267 |
| Hormuz | south of Montréal | Hurmuz (هرموز) | - | - | - | - | 1188 |
| Ibelin | Javne , 30 km south of Jaffa | Yabneh (يبنة) | יבנה | - | - | 1187 | |
| Iudin | northeast of Acre , south of Montfort | Qir Moab, Qalaat Djeddine, Yehi'Am | Judyn | - | German medal | - | 1142 to 1271 |
| Kerak | east of the Dead Sea | al-Karak (الكرك) | - | Crac des Moabites, Petra Deserti | - | 1140s | 1189 |
| Carmel | in the Carmel Mountains south of Haifa | Kurmul | - | - | - | - | - |
| Krak de Chevaliers | between Tartus and Homs | Qalat al-Hosn / Hisn al-Akrad | - | - | Hospitaller (from 1142) | 1031 | 1271 |
| Magna Mahomeria | at Ramallah , north of Jerusalem | al-Bira | - | - | - | - | |
| Parva Mahomeria | Emmaus , 11 km northwest of Jerusalem (perhaps identical to Toron des Chevaliers ) | al-Qubaiyba | - | - | - | - | |
| Maldouin , Cistern rouge | on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem | Qalaat ad-Dam (قلعة الدم) | Maale Adumim | Castrum Dumi, Cisterna Rubea, Turris Rubea | Templar | 12th Century | 1187 |
| Manueth | at Acre | Manawat | - | - | - | - | |
| Margat | Djebel al Ansariye , above Buluniya, on the coastal road from Tartus to Latakia | Marqab | - | - | Hospitaller | 1062 | 1285 |
| Merle | at Dor | Tantura, Tell Dor | - | - | Templar | 12th Century | 1187, 1264? |
| Mirabel | Migdal Afek or Migdal Tsedek, east of Jaffa | Mejdel Yâbâ, Mejdel Sadiq | Majdal Yaba | Mirabellum | - | before 1134 | 1187 |
| Mont Pèlerin | outside the walls of Tripoli | Qalat Sandschil | - | Mons Peregrinus, Pilgrim Mountain, Citadel of Raymond of Saint-Gilles | - | 1103-1104 | 1289 |
| Mont Tabor | on Mount Tabor , near Belvoir | Ğebel eţ-Ţōr | - | - | Hospitaller (from 1255) | 1211 | 1267 |
| Mont Glavien | east of Beirut | Deir Qal'a | - | - | - | - | - |
| Montferrand | approx. 50 km east of Tortosa , Syria | Barin (بعرين) | - | Mons Ferrandus | - | 1100 | 1105, 1115, 1137 |
| Montfort | northeast of Acre on Keziv , Galilee | Qal'at Qurein | - | Starkenberg, Franc-Chastiau | Templar; German Order (from 1220) | 1180s; 1226-1229 | 1271 |
| Montjoie | fortified monastery north of Jerusalem | Nabi Samwil | - | - | - | - | - |
| Montréal | Shobeq, south-southeast of the Dead Sea | al-Shawbak (الشوبك) | - | Mons Regalis, Castrum Saboach | - | 1115 | 1189 |
| Munition Malvel | - | Khirbet el-Neiraba | - | - | - | - | - |
| Puy du Connétable , Le Puy | before Batrun | Mousaylaha, Qalaat Mseilha | - | Castrum Constabularii | - | before 1109 | 1187, 1282 |
| Nephin | Efne between Batrun and Tripoli | Enfé (انفا) | - | - | - | - | 1282 |
| Noire Garde , Qalaat Doubiye | Doubiye, about 3 km east of Toron | Qalaat Doubeih | - | - | - | - | |
| Norpert | west of Silifke | - | - | Castellum Novum, (today) Tokmar Kalesi | Hospitaller (from 1210) | End of the 12th century | |
| Quarantenel | at Jericho | Qilat el-Rahib | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ra'ban | on the Euphrates between Aleppo and Samosata | - | - | Altınaşkale | - | - | - |
| Raheb | at Acre | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ramelie | Ramlah | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Le Saffran | Schefar'am, east of Haifa | Schfar'am | - | - | Templar | 12th Century | 1187, 1291 |
| Safed | Galilee | Sapphet | Tzefat | - | Templar (from 1240) | 1102 | 1188, 1266 |
| Sahyun | at Antioch | Qal'at Salah ed-Din, Qalaat Sahyun | - | Saone or Saladinsburg | - | - | 1188 |
| Sarmenia | 8 km north of Bourzey | Sarmaniye (سرمانية) | - | - | - | before 1149 | 1188 |
| Scandalion | south of Tire | - | - | Iskandarouna, Skanderune, Alixandre | German Order (from 1280) | 1116 | 1232 |
| Selá | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Le Saforie , Séphorée | 7 km north of Nazareth | Saffurya, Ṣafūrīah (صفورية) | - | Sepphoris, Zippori | - | - | 1187 |
| Tafilet, taphila | between Kerak and Montréal | aţ-Ţafīlah (الطفيله) | - | Tafilé, Traphila | - | before 1156 | around 1188 |
| Gate de l'Hospital , Cor de lospital | Burj al-Shemali, 2 km east of Tire | Burj al-Asbetar (برج الاسبتار), Burj al-Rahib | - | - | Hospitaller | - | |
| Tour Rouge | between Arsuf and Caesarea | Burj al-Ahmar | - | Turriclee, Turris rubea | Templar (from 1191) | 1187 | 1265 |
| Toron | between tyros and banyas | Tibnin | - | Tinenin | German Order (from 1229) | 1105 | 1187, 1266 |
| Trapesac | northeast of Baghras , Turkey | Darbsaq | Darbsak | - | Templar (from 1131/1137) | 1188, 1268 | |
| Toron des Chevaliers | Latrun , on the Jaffa-Jerusalem road | el-Toron | - | Toronum Militum, Castellum Boni Latronis | Hospitaller / Templar | 1168 | 1187 |
| Tortosa | between Tripoli and Latakia | - | - | Tartus | Templar (from 1157) | around 1102 | 1291 |
| Turbessel | Euphrates ford near Karkemisch , Turkey | Tell Bashir | - | - | - | before 1097 | 1151 |
| Vaux Moise , le Val Moïse, li Vaux Moysi | south of Montréal | al-Wu'aira (الوعيرة) | - | Vallem de Mesa | - | before 1107 | 1144, 1188 |
| - | west of the Jezreel valley | 'Ar'ara | - | Castellum Arearum | - | - | - |
| - | east of the Jezreel valley | Bel'ame | - | Castellum Beleismun | - | - | - |
| - | at Caesarea | Khirbet el-Shumariya | - | Castellum Feniculi | - | - | - |
See also
- List of Templar castles
- List of castles in Lesser Armenia
- List of castles and fortresses in Turkey
- List of castles and fortresses in Syria
- List of castles and fortresses in Lebanon
- List of castles and palaces
literature
- Paul Deschamps: Les Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte.
- Vol. I: Le Crac des Chevaliers. Étude historique et archéologique . Paris 1934
- Vol. II: La Défense du Royaume de Jérusalem. Étude historique, geographique et monumentale . Paris 1939
- Vol. III: La Défense du Comté de Tripoli et de la Principauté d'Antioche. Étude historique, geographique, toponymique et monumentale . Paris 1973
- Hansgerd Hellenkemper : Crusader castles in the county of Edessa and in the Kingdom of Lesser Armenia. (= Geographica Historica 1 ) Habelt, Bonn 1976, ISBN 3-7749-1205-X
- Wolfgang Müller-Wiener: Castles of the Crusaders . Munich / Berlin 1966.
- Walter Hotz : Small art history of the German castle . 5th edition. Komet, Frechen 1991, ISBN 3-89836-220-5 , pp. 166-173.
- Hugh Kennedy: Crusader Castles . Cambridge 1994, ISBN 0-521-42068-7
- David Nicolle , Adam Hook: Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1097-1192 . Osprey, Oxford 2004, ISBN 1-84176-715-8 . (= Fortress, No. 21)
- David Nicolle: Knight of Outremer. 1187-1344 AD . Osprey, Oxford 2003, ISBN 1-85532-555-1 . (= Warrior, No. 18)
- David Nicolle: Knight Hospitaller. 1100-1306 . Osprey, Oxford 2002, ISBN 1-84176-214-8 . (= Warrior, No. 33)
- David Nicolle: Knight Hospitaller. 1306-1565 . Osprey, Oxford 2002, ISBN 1-84176-215-6 . (= Warrior, No. 41)
- David Nicolle: The Crusades . Osprey, Oxford 2002, ISBN 0-85045-854-4 . (= Elite, No. 19)
- Mathias Piana (ed.): Castles and cities of the crusade . Imhof, Petersberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-86568-039-6
- Hans Wolfram Kessler / Konrad Kessler: Knights in the Holy Land: Crusader sites in Israel . Philipp von Zabern, Darmstadt 2013, ISBN 978-3805345521
Web links
Commons : Crusader Castle - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Map with all linked sites: