File:Art and Architecture - Crusader Castles Art.IWMPST16958.jpg

whole: the five images are positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in black and in yellow. The text is separate and located across the majority, in black and in yellow. All set against a white background. image: depictions of five castles built during the era of the Crusades in the Middle East; including Ajlun Castle in Jordan and Krak Des Chevaliers in Syria. text: Art and Architecture CRUSADER CASTLES After the first Crusade had spent itself in the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, the remnant of the host settled down in the conquered territory. The local population was coaxed back to work the land under a feudal system. The feudal lord had to secure himself against a hostile population within his territory as well as without. He therefore built himself a strong tower, with a yard and buildings for animals and a strong surrounding wall. When the military Orders of the Temple and The Hospital came into being as a voluntary police force, they built similar forts along the main roads. Excellent examples can be seen at Byblos north of Beirut, and at Safita, near Tartus. On the frontiers larger forts were needed for garrisons. These were built on the Roman model, with rectangular enclosures about a stone's- throw each way, with towers at the corners. This type persisted into Turkish times, and an example may be seen at Solomon's Pools outside Jerusalem on the Hebron road. Among the earliest of the larger castles, occupying commanding hilltops chosen for their natural advantages, are two which belonged to feudal lords: Sahyum, east of Lattaqia and Kerak, east of the Dead sea. The best preserved example of this kind is Saladin's castle Ajlun in Transjordan, built to offset the Crusader castle of Belvoir. It was originally a square fort with corner towers; later, additions were made as shown in the accompanying drawing. After the Moslem reconquest of Palestine the Crusaders turned from attack to defence. During the 12th Century the Crusaders had relied on the strength of their forces in the field, but after emptying all their garrisons to fight, and be defeated at the battle of Hattin in 1187, they were compelled to rely on fortifications. The use of sappers by the besiegers made it necessary to use a new form of plan. The lines of defence were multiplied, so that a breach could be covered from behind. So while the previous features were still used, and 'machicolations' or overhanging galleries were improved, the important development of the new century was to design double concentric lines running close together. Examples are to be found in the Hospitaller castles at Marqub and the Krak Des Chevaliers, and the Templar castles of Belfort and Athlit. Of these 13 Cent. castles only Tartus and Athlit were never overcome. They were built at sea-level, (where mining was impossible) were impregnable from direct assault, and had easy access for supplies from the sea. For two hundred years the Crusaders from Western Europe fought in, and settled on these lands: here they created their own feudal system, and many traces can be found of their temporary rule. Crusader names bear witness to their intermarriage, but the more obvious traces are to be found in the city walls of such towns as Jerusalem, Acre, Tripoli and in many churches and castles. Unfortunately some of the finest examples of Crusader work, such as the Krak Des Chevaliers - seen above - are too remote for easy access, but there are many remains which may be visited by troops in Palestine, Syria or Cyprus. Pictorial Review No. 45 DECEMBER 29, 1945 Crown Copyright reserved A.B.C.A. Middle East A writer of the time, Jacques de Vitry, thus describes how the Holy Land was organized under the Crusaders: 'To ensure its greater safety, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was divided among a number of princes and barons, whose duty it was to hold and guard the land under the King. The King kept in his own hands the noblest and best parts of the land, to wit, the cities of Jerusalem, Sichem, Acre and Tyre, together with some other towns and villages. The liegemen of the Kingdom, bound by oath to serve the King with a certain number of knights, were the Count of Tripoli, the Lords of Beirut, Sidon, Haifa and Caesarea, the Prince of Galilee, who was also Lord of Tiberias, the Count of Jaffa and Ascalon, the Lord of Mont Real and of all the land beyond Jordan, the Lord of Ibelin, and some others; but these were the chief of them and the first in precedence and dignity.' Art and Architecture No. 13 Text based on lecture notes by Richard Johns. Photographs by Prof. C.B. Creswell. Prepared by Richard Leacroft.