Bani Qahtan Castle

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Bani Qahtan Castle
Latakia Governorate, Syria
Bani Qahtan Castle is located in Syria
Bani Qahtan Castle
Bani Qahtan Castle
Coordinates35°35′N 36°04′E / 35.583°N 36.067°E / 35.583; 36.067Coordinates: 35°35′N 36°04′E / 35.583°N 36.067°E / 35.583; 36.067
TypeCastle

Bani Qahtan castle (Arabic: بني قحطان) is found in the Syrian Coastal Mountains, about 40 km from Latakia city.

History[]

The castle which was known as Bikisrail,[1] was controlled by Byzantine doux of Antioch, , in 1032.[2] It was later captured by Crusaders led by Tancred in 1111.[3] The castle was later mentioned as being a stronghold in the hands of Nizari Ismaili in 1131, who surrendered it to Saladin in 1188.

Structure[]

The castle is totally damaged and not much remained from it, as its ruins are dated back to the 12th century. It is reached by car road through Baniyas-Jableh road from west. External walls are well preserved, which contain the whole massive of the castle. The castle is situated on a high mountain, accessible only from the south through a narrow piece of land.

Reference[]

  1. ^ France 2002, p. 91
  2. ^ Theotokis & Meško 2020, p. 256.
  3. ^ "Qalaat Bani Qahtan". Monuments of Syria. 1 January 2014.

Bibliography[]

  • France, John (2002), Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades 1000-1300, Routledge, ISBN 9781135365066
  • Theotokis, Georgios; Meško, Marek (2020). War in Eleventh-Century Byzantium. Routledge. ISBN 9780429576881.
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