Castles in the Crusader States 1119-49 Flashcards
what castles were built under baldwin ii?
1125: built Mons Glavianus near Beirut
why were more castles built under fulk than baldwin ii?
- 1129: The coming of Fulk as heir apparent and then as king gave an added impetus to castle-building
- Fulk had experience building castles in France; e.g. keep at Montrichard on the River Cher in France
give an example of a keep in france that fulk had previously built
at Montrichard on the River Cher in France
why was Ascalon a threat to Jerusalem?
- Ascalon remained in Muslim hands until 1153
- Sea communications with Egypt remained open and the garrison was regularly changed to avoid fatigue
- Made frequent sorties to ravage southeastern areas of K. of Jerusalem
what castles did fulk build in the south, in the Ascalon area
- 1132-33: Castle built at Castrum Arnaldi
- 1135/6: Bethgibelin built
- 1141: Ibelin built
- Spring 1142: Blanchegarde built
how was a Castle built at Castrum Arnaldi 1132-33?
built while the King was occupied with Antioch, so the patriarch and citizens of Jerusalem organised the construction of a castle of solid masonry
where was the castle of Castrum Arnaldi built?
on the road from the coastal plain to Jerusalem where a narrow defile had given Muslims the chance to ambush pilgrims; lay on a spur between 2 valleys in fertile land where the road from Jaffa begins ascent to Jerusalem
why was the castle of Castrum Arnaldi built 1132-33?
it was on a narrow defile which had given Muslims the chance to ambush pilgrims
where was Bethgibelin built 1135/6?
in countryside 40km to the east of Ascalon
who built Bethgibelin 1135/6?
built by ‘the people of the whole kingdom,’ the patriarch William, and the magnates
what was the structure of Bethgibelin?
high wall, outer walls, towers, and a moat on the plains near the city
who gained Bethgibelin?
handed over ‘by the common consent’ to the Knights Hospitaller
who built Ibelin 1141?
Fulk and the leading barons, with the patriarch and bishops organised it
where was Ibelin built 1141?
built to the north of Ascalon
who gained Ibelin castle?
entrusted to Balian, who became the founder of the most important of baronial families of the kingdom
how was Blanchegarde castle used?
served as a base for attacking the Ascalonites and as a place of refuge
what were 12th c. castles of the military orders in Jerusalem like?
mostly enclosure castles rather than simple towers (the use of the donjon by itself was, in the main, confined to the castles of secular lords)
what were exceptions to the general castle structure of the 12th c. military orders in Jerusalem?
isolated posts providing a refuge on exposed and dangerous highways
give an example of isolated posts providing a refuge on exposed and dangerous highways, used by military orders
Le Destroit by Chastel Pelerin on the coast road from Acre to Caesarea and Bait Jubr al-Tahtani on the pilgrim road from Jerusalem to Jericho
why did the Templars begin to construct fortifications shortly after being established?
to serve as local bases to defend pilgrim roads at dangerous places
where did the Templars construct fortifications?
2 guarded approaches to Jerusalem from the coastal part of Jaffa, the usual route for pilgrims
who gained Castrum Arnaldi?
Templars
how was Kerak castle used?
- became the centre of Pagan’s power, replacing the weaker castle of Montreal to the south
- controlled Bedouin hunters and the trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca
who built Kerak castle?
construction began in 1440s under Pagan, Fulk’s butler and Lord of Oultrejordain
why was bethgibelin built?
built to ensure control over the ports of Caesarea and Jaffa
give an example of a castle captured by the crusaders
1139: Beaufort castle captured by crusader forces and given to the lords of Sidon
