Jordan has six Crusader castles, so named because they were built during or served important purposes during the Crusades—read our guide to some of their highlights and their glorious histories. [1], The castle is currently being investigated by an Italian archaeological team from the University of Florence[4]. The Crusaders called it Crac des Moabites or "Karak in Moab", as it is frequently referred to in history books . If you stand at Kerak's highest point, you can see what a strategic position it has, it is set on a hill with steep ramparts that I think would even make Jack and Jill sweat. I think when you are in ancient ruins like this, everything seems more mysterious and creepy....especially the dungeons....that was too creepy to take a photo (and too dark). He isn't talked about much, but ever since watching the movie Kingdom of Heaven; I became very fascinated with him. A city of about 32,216 people (2005[1]) has been built up around the castle and it has buildings from the 19th-century Ottoman period. Krak des Chevaliers is a stunning example of Crusader-era military architecture … You don't need to be a kid to love a good castle, and Jordan has plenty. Kerak Castle is an interesting place to visit, but it is far from its greatness. I have compared it to women - how when we wear our hair straight we are seen as well groomed, if it is frizzy we are looked at unkempt or too lazy to do our own hair. I never got to see the last 4 castles mentioned, but there will definitely be on my list when I go back to Jordan. But never forget that alone we couldn’t do so. [8] Saladin's younger brother, Al-Adil was governor of the district until becoming ruler of Egypt and Syria in 1199. Mamluk Sultanate remained in power until 1517 AD when the Ottomans conquered the region. Some of the castles were desert homes to the wealthy elite. Destroyed by the invading Mongols in 1260, and rebuilt shortly afterwards by Sultan Baybars, Ajloun is unique for never having fallen under Crusader control. Baybars captured Kerak in 1263 AD and reinforced the Castle further. Kerak Castle is a large Crusader castle located in al-Karak, Jordan. About a day's march from it is Mutah, where are the tombs of Ja'afar at Tayyar and his companions. Located roughly fifty miles north of Amman, the hilltop castle at Ajloun was built in 1184 by the local Arab opposition to the Crusaders under Azz ad-Din Usama, a close relative of Saladin himself. Mohammed Al-Majali who had control of Al-Karak in 1868, was involved in the events that led to the destruction of the Moabite Stone.[16]. Kerak Castle is a large Crusader castle located in al-Karak, Jordan. This, of course, got the attention of Saladin, the Sultan of Syria and Egypt. I have over 23 years of international travel experience and have a sincere passion for celebrating humanity, connecting with cultures, finding unique art and adventure. So be sure to stop by Kerak, and experience a little of what it was like to be among the Crusaders, let your mind contemplate about what it was like to be confined to the cold stone castles & how much dedication it must have taken to stay there --- which would have required a lot of devotion on my part to be confined to one place. Al-Karak, known in the Kingdom of Jerusalem as Kerak, is a city in Jordan known for its Crusader castle, the Kerak Castle. While visiting Jordan on my first solo travel trip we happened to visit Kerak castle, one of the few Crusader Castles left in the middle east. What looks like a pile of bricks, actually has a very interesting and rich history. [citation needed] The tribe consists of the families: Suheimat, Halasa{Halaseh}, Dmour, Mbaydeen, Adaileh, Soub, and Mdanat and Karakiyeen. Later on, it was the Mamluks who stopped the Seventh Crusade by capturing the Louis IX. [4], The area eventually fell under the power of the Nabateans. Just be sure to check it on your left, as it might be covered by a tourist bus. And so they did. They haven’t seen it as we did. While the history of Kerak castle itself dates to 1142 AD when the crusaders built it, the point where it stands dates almost to the very edges of known history of the humankind. In the Bible it is called Qer Harreseth or Kir of Moab, and is identified as having been subject to the Assyrian empire; in the Books of Kings (16:9) and Book of Amos (1:5, 9:7), it is mentioned as the place where the Arameans went before they settled in the regions in the northern of Levant, and to which Tiglath-Pileser III sent the prisoners after the conquest of Damascus. In 1389 Sultan Barquq was exiled to al-Karak where he gathered his supporters before returning to Cairo.[12]. If you appreciate my work, you can contribute to it by becoming a Patreon or subscribing to my newsletter. The sieges and ages throughout it stood, heavily damaged it. It is one of the largest crusader castles in the Levant. For other meanings of the Karak, see, Runciman, 1951, p. 468. It's amazing that this castle and small town have been predominantly Christian since the crusades, even with the country's majority Muslim religion. Amazon Prime Day 2020 UK: what date is the event and what are the best deals to look out for? Al-Karak was the birthplace of Ibn al-Quff, an Arab Christian physician and surgeon and author of the earliest medieval Arabic treatise intended solely for surgeons.