Margat
| Margat قلعة المرقب |
|
|---|---|
| Near Baniyas, Syria | |
 |
|
 Margat
قلعة المرقب |
|
| Coordinates | 35°09′04″N 35°56′57″E / 35.151111°N 35.949167°E |
| Type | Concentric castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruin, under renovation |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1062 |
| Materials | Basalt |
|
Al-Marqab المرقب |
|
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Al-Marqab
|
|
| Coordinates: 35°9′29″N 35°57′20″E / 35.15806°N 35.95556°E | |
| Country |
 Syria
|
| Governorate | Tartus |
| District | Baniyas |
| Subdistrict | Baniyas |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 2,618 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Margat, also known as Marqab from the Arabic Qalaat al-Marqab (قلعة المرقب, "Castle of the Watchtower") is a castle near Baniyas, Syria, which was a Crusader fortress and one of the major strongholds of the Knights Hospitaller. It is located around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Mediterranean coast and approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Baniyas. The castle remained in a poor state of preservation until 2007 when some reconstruction and renovation began.
Margat is located on a hill formed by an extinct volcano about 360 metres (1,180 ft) above sea level on the road between Tripoli and Latakia, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Arab sources, the site of Margat Castle was first fortified in 1062 by Muslims who continued to hold it within the Christian Principality of Antioch in the aftermath of the First Crusade. When the Principality was defeated at the Battle of Harran in 1104, the Byzantine Empire took advantage of their weakness and captured Margat from the Muslims. A few years later it was captured by Tancred, Prince of Galilee, regent of Antioch, and became part of the Principality.
In the 1170s it was controlled by Reynald II Mazoir of Antioch as a vassal of the count of Tripoli. The fortress was so large that it had its own household officials and a number of rear-vassals. Reynaud's son Bertrand sold it to the Hospitallers in 1186 as it was too expensive for the Mazoir family to maintain. After some rebuilding and expansion by the Hospitallers it became their headquarters in Syria. Under Hospitaller control, its fourteen towers were thought to be impregnable.
In 1188, Saladin marched on Margat having left Krak des Chevaliers in search of easier prey. According to Abu'l-Fida, "Recognising that Maqab was impregnable and that he had no hope of capturing it, he passed on to Jabala". It was one of the few remaining territories left in Christian hands after Saladin's conquests.
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Wikipedia