Crusader castles

During the crusades, armed religious orders like the Templars and Hospitallars established strongholds so they could continue their role of protecting pilgrims heading for Jerusalem. The most impressive crusader castle is Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, protected by steep mountainside, curtain walls and a deep moat. The central keep is built not on limestone, but basalt, making it almost impossible to undermine

Saladin's castle was built by the Arabs, captured by the Romans in 975 AD, handed over to the Franks in 1108, and retaken by the Muslims in 1188

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nH0dj6RfwrcC&lpg=PP1&dq=crusader%20castle&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false


Edited by Nick1986 - 12-Jan-2013 at 20:41

Originally posted by Nick1986 Alani, can you access the link now? Hugh Kennedy - Crusader Castles http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nH0dj6RfwrcC&lpg=PP1&dq=crusader%20castle&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Yes, Nick, the link is good.

Ollios, was Corycus Castle newly built by the crusaders, or a Turkish fortification? Its island location suggests it was built to defend against sea-based invasion

Originally posted by Nick1986 Ollios, was Corycus Castle newly built by the crusaders, or a Turkish fortification? Its island location suggests it was built to defend against sea-based invasion

Originally posted by Corycus was controlled by the Byzantine Empire. Justinian I restored the public baths and a hospital. Alexios I Komnenos re-equipped the fortress, which had been dismantled. At the beginning of the 12th century the Byzantines built a supplementary castle on a small island.

Originally posted by Corycus was conquered by the Armenians soon after it was rebuilt by the Byzantines. The Armenians held it until the end of the 14th century, as the last stronghold of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The city was then handed over to the Lusignans of Cyprus. It was taken by the Mamelukes, and again by Peter I of Cyprus. In the late 14th century it fell again to the Turks. From 1448 or 1454 it belonged alternately to the Karamanlis, the Egyptians, the Karamanlis a second time, and finally to the Osmanlis.

It was firstly rebuilt by Byzantines and it was captured by many different states. In the Turkey, many forts in  this region belongs to Byzantines or Armenian Kingdom, Latins just captured them and maybe they made a little reconstruction.

Originally posted by Nick1986 Thanks Ollios. Were the concentric walls a Byzantine invention?

Safe bet.  Reconstructed image of walls of Constantinople:

I am contiuning to tell you castles in Turkey. In previous post, I have mentioned castles in Mersin Province. Now I am talking about castles in Hatay Province. Maybe you don't know the name "Hatay". Let me help you. First of all it is centrum is Antakya but you know it as Antioch where has the longest walls after Constantinople in Turkey.

Antioch Citadel (it is also capital of Principality of Antioch)
http://www.castles.nl/tr/ant/ant.html




Bakras Castle
http://www.castles.nl/tr/bag/bag.html
http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Bagras.html







Trapesac Castle
http://www.castles.nl/tr/tps/tps.html



Koz Castle
http://www.castles.nl/tr/cs/cs.html





Edited by Ollios - 22-Jan-2013 at 06:25

Originally posted by Nick1986 Thanks Ollios. Any more?

Now, Castles in Adana Province

the most famous on is Snake Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C4%B1lankale



Anavarza Castle
"In late 1097 or early 1098 Anavarza Castle was captured by the armies of the first Crusade and was later incorporated into Bohemond's I Principality of Antioch."
http://www.castles.nl/tr/avz/avz.html



Amuda Castle
http://www.castles.nl/tr/am/am.html


Toprakkale Castle
http://www.castles.nl/tr/trk/trk.html

Kyrenia castle in Cyprus was built in the 16th century on the foundations of an older crusader fortification