- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1184 · 12th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Ajloun, Jordan
- Style
- Islamic architecture
- Coordinates
- 32.3252°, 35.7273°
History
The fortress was built in 1184–1185 by Emir Izz al-Din Usama, a commander in Saladin's service, to guard the routes from Damascus to Egypt, the iron mines of the Ajloun hills and the Jordan valley against the Crusaders. In 1214–1215 the governor Aybak ibn Abdullah enlarged it with a new tower and gate. After the Mongol raid of 1260 the castle was restored by the Mamluk sultan Baybars. A small garrison was stationed here in Ottoman times, and earthquakes in 1837 and 1927 badly damaged the walls. Since the 20th century the ruins have been gradually consolidated and rebuilt.
What to see
The walls look out over hills covered with oak and pine and down to the Jordan valley. Visitors explore a maze of vaulted passages, halls and stairways, towers with arrow slits and a moat cut into the rock. A small museum displays finds from the castle – pottery, coins and tools – and below the hill lies the town of Ajloun with a mosque from the Mamluk period.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q1480575
Popularity: articles about this site in 18 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).