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Crusader Castle System

Type Object Region West Asia Time c. 1100–1291

A Latin Kingdom defensive network formed in the Levant after the First Crusade, controlling trade routes and key passes with stone castles laid out i…

Timeline

  1. c. 1100–1115Kingdom of Jerusalem · LevantIn the early years of the Crusader states, defenses mainly consisted of converted Byzantine and early Islamic fortresses, forming a sparse network of frontier outposts.
  2. c. 1121–1130Transjordan · JordanUnder Baldwin II and Fulk, large-scale new stone castles were built; fortresses such as Kerak (expanded around 1142) and Montreal (from 1115) controlled desert trade routes, embodying concentric defense and self-sustaining agricultural colony design.
  3. c. 1140–1180Levantine coast and interior · LevantThe Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar took over major castles (such as Krak des Chevaliers and Belvoir), forming military order territories and supply chains.
  4. 1187–1291Levant · LevantAfter the Battle of Hattin, territorial losses accelerated; between 1187 and 1291 castles fell one after another or were converted, and the fall of Acre marked the end of the Latin military system in the East.

Sources