Shughr-Bakas
Shughr-Bakas is a medieval double castle complex which was built on an altitude of 378 metres (1,240 ft), on a strategic terrain between Antioch, Apamea, Latakia and Aleppo. It is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwestern of Jisr al-Shughur.
| Shughr-Bakas | |
|---|---|
| Jisr al-Shughur District, Syria | |
 1935 aerial view of the castle complex | |
  Shughr-Bakas | |
| Coordinates | 35°51′11.1″N 36°17′03.8″E |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
History
The castle complex was initially inhabited by Arameans, as inscriptions on the walls of the site indicated. Afterwards, it was controlled by Palmyreans, Thamudis and the Romans. Later on, it became part of the Principality of Antioch following the First Crusade, to be defended by the Knights Hospitaller,[1] until it was captured by Saladin in August 1188. According to Ibn al-Athir, the garrison surrendered when the Muslims arrived, meanwhile Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad reported that the use of artillery caused the capitulation.[2]
The complex was ravaged during the Mongol invasions of the Levant in 1260, then rebuilt during the reign of Baibars.[3] It was struck by earthquakes in 1408, then in 1735, which caused heavy damage to its structure.
Features
According to Yaqut al-Hamawi, Shughr on the north formed a double castle complex with Bakas on the south, which was divided by a wide fosse.[4] It was connected with Antioch through a tunnel, discovered by Max van Berchem. The Shughr-Bakas complex (probably known as La Garde) had also wells linked to Nahr al-Abyad (tributary of Orontes River)[5] and nearby springs, and stones engraved by the name of Ayyubid emir Az-Zahir Ghazi.
See also
References
- Riley-Smith 2015, p. 131.
- Fulton 2018, p. 167.
- "Chapitre I. Le ğund de qinnasrīn et ses qualités". OpenEdition Books (in French).
- Ambraseys 2009.
- "Qalaat al-Shaghur". syriaphotoguide.com.
Sources
- Ambraseys, Nicholas (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: A Multidisciplinary Study of Seismicity Up to 1900. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781316347850.
- Fulton, Michael S. (2018). Artillery in the Era of the Crusades: Siege Warfare and the Development of Trebuchet Technology (PDF). Brill. ISBN 9789004376922.
- Riley-Smith, Jonathan (2015). Knights of St.John in Jerusalem and Cyprus. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 9781349152414.
