Karak (also
Kerak) () is a city in
Jordan that contains a famous
Crusader castle. It is the capital city of
Karak Governorate.
Overview
Karak City is the capital and largest city of the
Karak Governorate.
Karak, once a part of the
Kingdom of Jerusalem, lies 140 km to the south of
Amman on the
King's Highway.
An ancient Crusader stronghold, it is situated on a hilltop about 1000 meters above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by a valley. Karak commands a magnificent view of the
Dead Sea. A city of about 20,000 people has been built up around the castle and continues to boast a number of restored 19th century
Ottoman buildings, restaurants, places to stay, and the like. The town is built on a triangular plateau, with the castle at its narrow southern tip, but it is undoubtedly Karak Castle which dominates. http://karak.com
History
Al Karak has been inhabited since at least the
Iron Age, and was an important city for the
Moabites (who called it
Qir of Moab). In the
Bible it is called
Qer Harreseth, and is identified as having been subject to the Assyrian empire; in the
Book of Kings (16:9) and
Book of Amos (1:5, 9:7), it is mentioned as the place whither the Syrians went before they settled in the regions north of Palestine, and to which
Tiglath-Pileser III sent the prisoners after the conquest of
Damascus. Evidently it eventually fell under the power of the
Nabateans, as the
Romans conquered it from them in 105 AD. During the late Hellenistic Period, Al Karak became an important town as was known as
Kharkha. Under the
Byzantine Empire it was a bishopric seat, housing the much venerated Church of Nazareth, and remained predominantly
Christian under
Arab rule.
Al Karak's greatest importance was during the Crusader and
Ayyubid periods which were responsible for most of the architectural remains to date.
Demographics
Karak City's Metropolitan population is estimated to be 68,800 (2003 estimate). making up 31.5% of the total population of the Karak Governorate. Most of the population of the city are Muslims, there is also a significant Christian population. In general the percentage of Christians in Karak City is among the highest in Jordan.
Castle
Al-Karak Castle.
Construction of the Crusader castle began in the 1140s, under
Pagan, the butler of
Fulk of Jerusalem. The Crusaders called it
Crac des Moabites or "Karak in Moab", as it is frequently referred to in history books.
Paganus was also
Lord of Oultrejordain (Transjordan), and Karak became the centre of his power, replacing the weaker castle of
Montreal to the south. Because of its position east of the
Jordan River, Karak was able to control
Bedouin herders as well as the trade routes from Damascus to
Egypt and
Mecca. His successors, his nephew Maurice and
Philip of Milly, added towers and protected the north and south sides with two deep rock-cut ditches (the southern ditch also serving as a cistern). The most notable Crusader architectural feature surviving is the north wall, into which are built immense arched halls on two levels. These were used for living quarters and stables, but also served as a fighting gallery overlooking the castle approach and for shelter against missiles from
siege engines.
In 1176
Raynald of Chatillon gained possession of Karak after marrying
Stephanie of Milly, the widow of Humphrey III of
Toron (and daughter-in-law of
Humphrey II). From Karak, Raynald harassed the trade
caravans and even attempted an attack on Mecca itself. In 1183
Saladin besieged the castle in response to Raynald's attacks. The
siege took place during the marriage of
Humphrey IV of Toron and
Isabella of Jerusalem, and
Saladin, after some negotiations and with a
chivalrous intent, agreed not to target their chamber while his siege machines attacked the rest of the castle. The siege was eventually relieved by
King Baldwin IV.
After the
Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin besieged Karak again and finally captured it in 1189.
In AD 1263, the
Mamluk ruler
Baybars enlarged and built a tower on the north-west corner. In AD 1840,
Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt captured the castle and destroyed much of its fortifications.
![An Ottoman cannon in the castle]()
An Ottoman cannon in the castle
During the Ottoman period, it played an important role due to its strategic location on the crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Greater Syria.
The castle extends over the southern part of the plateau. It is a notable example of Crusader architecture, a mixture of European, Byzantine, and Arab designs. Its walls are strengthened with rectangular projecting towers, long stone vaulted galleries are lighted only by narrow slits, and a contains a deep moat from the west which completely isolates the site.
In the lower court of the castle is the Karak Archaeological Museum, which was newly opened in 2004 after renovation work. It introduces local history and archaeology of Karak region – the land of Moab – from the prehistoric period until the Islamic era. The history of Crusaders and Muslims at Karak castle and town is introduced in detail.
Cuisine
Al Karak is widely accepted as the capital of Jordan's national dish
Mansaf.
Sister cities
See also
