|
The road to ‘Ajloun, located 25
kilometers west of Jerash and 73
kilometers from Amman, winds
through fertile green hillsides
lined with olive groves. The
main attraction in ‘Ajloun is
the stronghold of Qala’at
al-Rabadh, a fine example of
medieval Arab/Islamic military
architecture. The castle was
built between 1184-85 CE by the
nephew of
Salah Eddin al-Ayyubi
(known in the West as Saladin),
the great Muslim commander who
waged a successful campaign to
recover lands lost to the
invading Crusaders.
|
 |
Ajloun’s strategic position
commanding the Jordan Valley, as
well as the three small valleys
leading to it, made it an
important link in the defensive
chain against the Crusaders, who
spent decades unsuccessfully
trying to capture the castle and
nearby village. The fortress is
built upon the apex of the hill
above ‘Ajloun, and offers a
breathtaking view of the
surrounding countryside. On a
clear day you can see the Dead
Sea, the Jordan Valley, the West
Bank, and Lake Tiberias (the Sea
of Galilee).
The original fortress had four
corner towers, with arrow slits
and a 16-meter-wide moat. It was
enlarged in 1214-15 CE by the
Mamluk officer Aibak ibn
Abdullah, who added a new tower
in the southeast corner and
constructed the main one. In
1229, the castle fell to the
Emirate of Karak. In 1260, it
was largely destroyed by the
Mongol invaders, but was
reconquered and rebuilt almost
immediately by the Mamluk Sultan
Baybars.
The southwest tower was
constructed at that time. During
Mamluk times, Qala’at al-Rabadh
was one in a network of beacons
and pigeon posts that allowed
messages to be transmitted from
Baghdad to Cairo in only twelve
hours! |
