Idea #565 – Visiting the muslim Ayyoubide Castle of Ajlun
The castle of Ajloun, known as Qal’ at Ar-Rabad, is a Muslim fortress of the XIIth century situated in the northwest of Jordan. Placed on a hill of Jabal Ajloun, the fort was watching three oueds which came down towards the Jordan Rift Valley.
Contrary to the other castles Jordanian as Chawbak and Karak, Ajlun was completely built by the Muslim strengths in 1184, to face the crossed castle of Belvoir, known under the name of Kawkab al-Hawa, on the West. It allowed to secure the communications of Syria in Egypt. He had to protect also probably the important iron mines of the dAjloun region. Through its modifications and constant enlargements, it is a good example of the Arabic military architecture of the XIIth and XIIIth centuries. Originally, the castle was designed as a square, consolidated in every angle by a squared tower. Towers and northeast and southwest walls were drilled by a headband of narrow murderesses. The main entrance was then made by the East. In 1214, the set was enlarged by a massive wall of connection between the north towers and the gate moved to the junction point of the new northeast wall of the tower. In 1260, new modifications were begun : two towers came to complete the castle, the new north tower being connected by a massive wall with the new tower. During this period, the southeast and south faces were remodelled by the addition of two other towres in the South and in the East by the massive wall. The gate was then transferred to the angle of the new tower. At the beginning of Ottoman period, the castle was of use to garrison of soldiers. At the beginning of the XVIIth century, it was the main base of the powerful Lebanese emir Fakhr al-Din al-Mani.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Ajlun Castle, Ajlun, Jordan