Ibelin (castle)

Castle Ibelin was a fortification in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was the fief of the noble house of Ibelin, which later achieved great prominence in the kingdom. Ibelin was built in 1141 by King Fulk of Jerusalem to guard the kingdom's southern border, though its importance declined as the border moved south. The castle was captured by Saladin in 1187 after the crusader defeat at Hattin, and was destroyed.

Castle Ibelin was built in 1141, one of four castles on the southern border of the kingdom, between the crusader city of Jaffa and the Fatimid city of Ascalon. Ibelin, and the other castles, were built to guard against attacks from Ascalon, to provide shelter for the people when attacked, and to serve as a base for crusader attacks of Fatimids.

Ascalon was a threat to the kingdom during the first half of the 12th century; the Fatimids staged raids from the city in most years aimed at Jaffa and the surrounding country, while its strong defences and harbour made it impervious to crusader attack. The city could be resupplied by sea in the event of a siege, and the garrison was relieved regularly. The construction of Ibelin and the other castles went some way to alleviate this situation, leading to a successful campaign in 1153 which saw the fall of Ascalon to the crusaders.

The construction of Ibelin and the other castles had a number of benefits; William of Tyre wrote that 'the people began to place reliance on the castles and suburban places grew up around them; the whole district became safer because it was inhabited, and a more plentiful supply of food for the surrounding area became possible'.

The importance of Ibelin and the other forts declined in 1153 with the fall of Ascalon to a siege and assault by King Fulk and the crusader army, and by the building of fortifications further south at Gaza and at Darum. However, in 1187 Ibeiin fell to Saladin's army when he conquered the kingdom after the battle of Hattin, and the Ibelin family fell back to their other holdings in Cyprus and at Beirut. Ibelin was left in ruins, and was not rebuilt.

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