What was the castle built by the Crusaders in Syria?

Krak des Chevaliers
Krak des Chevaliers is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement of Kurdish troops garrisoned there by the Mirdasids; as a result it was known as Hisn al-Akrad, meaning the “Castle of the Kurds”.

What was Krak des Chevaliers used for?

Krak des Chevaliers was among the most important, and acted as a center of administration as well as a military base. After a second phase of building was undertaken in the 13th century, Krak des Chevaliers became a concentric castle. This phase created the outer wall and gave the castle its current appearance.

What does Krak des Chevaliers mean in English?

Castle of the Knights
Krak des Chevaliers, (French-Arabic: “Castle of the Knights”) greatest fortress built by European crusaders in Syria and Palestine, one of the most notable surviving examples of medieval military architecture.

What are Crusader castles?

Description. The fortresses built between the 12th and 15th centuries – Montfort, Belvoir, Atlit, Arsuf (as well as Acre and Caesarea) – evidence broad European architectural movement to the Holy Land in this series of remarkable fortresses constructed in the course of the Crusader conquests.

Why did the Crusaders built castles?

When they were able to muster large numbers of fighting men (usually when crusading forces were in the Levant), the Crusader States used castles as places to resupply and leave wounded soldiers.

Did Jerusalem have a castle?

Kerak Castle It was built by the King of Jerusalem in the early 11th century and is the most well-preserved castle in the region. The castle is being refurbished in parts and the main interest of the Kerak Castle is an archeological museum that showcases the history and triumph of the castle.

Who built the Krak de Chevaliers?

the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem
The Crac des Chevaliers was built by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem from 1142 to 1271. With further construction by the Mamluks in the late 13th century, it ranks among the best-preserved examples of the Crusader castles.

Who originally lived in Gaza?

Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the Philistines’ principal cities. Gaza became part of the Assyrian Empire around 730 BCE.

How many ha is Krak des Chevaliers in Syria?

37.69 ha. Krak des Chevaliers (French pronunciation: ​[kʁak de ʃəvaˈlje]; Arabic: حصن الفرسان‎), also Crac des Chevaliers, Ḥoṣn al-Akrād (حصن الأكراد‎, literally “Castle of the Kurds”), formerly Crac de l’Ospital is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world.

Why is Krak called the castle of the Kurds?

As a result, it was known as Hisn al-Akrad, meaning the “Castle of the Kurds”. In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the Knights Hospitaller. It remained in their possession until it fell in 1271. It became known as Crac de l’Ospital; the name Krak des Chevaliers was coined in the 19th century.

Is Krak des Chevaliers the best Castle in the world?

Writing in the early 20th century, T. E. Lawrence, popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia, remarked that Krak des Chevaliers was “perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world, [a castle which] forms a fitting commentary on any account of the Crusading buildings of Syria”.

Why did the Hospitallers build Krak des Chevaliers?

The Hospitallers made Krak des Chevaliers a center of administration for their new property, undertaking work at the castle that would make it one of the most elaborate Crusader fortifications in the Levant. After acquiring the site in 1142, they began building a new castle to replace the former Kurdish fortification.