Kerak Castle | |
---|---|
al-Karak, Jordan | |
Kerak Castle | |
Coordinates | 31°10′50″N 35°42′05″E / 31.180556°N 35.701389°E |
Type | Castle |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Oultrejordain; Ayyubids; Mamluk Sultanate; Ottoman Empire |
Site history | |
Built | 1142 |
In use | 1142–1917 |
Materials | Stone |
Battles/wars | Siege of Al-Karak (1183) |
Garrison information | |
Past commanders | Pagan the Butler Raynald of Châtillon |
Kerak Castle (Arabic: قلعة الكرك, romanized: Qal'at al-Karak) is a large medieval castle located in al-Karak, Jordan. It is one of the largest castles in the Levant. Construction began in the 1140s, under Pagan and Fulk, King of Jerusalem. The Crusaders called it Crac des Moabites[1] or "Karak in Moab", as it is referred to in history books.[2] It was also colloquially referred to as Krak of the Desert.[3]