Crusader Castle

The formidable strongholds built by thecrusaders are among the most iconic castlesof the Middle Ages. These mighty structuresoffer fascinating insights into the lives ofthose who built and occupied them, and therole they played in the region's deep history ofconflict. The castle of Kerak, in modernJordan, is one of the largest, most imposingand best preserved of them all, and MichaelFulton's detailed, authoritative and highlyillustrated account is the ideal guide to it.His close analysis of the fabric of thismonumental building, and his description ofthe centuries of conflict associated with it,make absorbing reading. He takes the readerthrough the early military history of thecastle - from the time it was constructed inthe 1140s by Pagan the Butler, through theprovocative actions of Reynald of Châtillonand Saladin's capture of the castle in 1188.He also recounts its later history underMuslim rule, when the castle served as atreasury for the Ayyubid and Mamluksultans of Egypt. Falling into decline underthe Ottomans, Kerak has since regained itsimportance as a tourist attraction. A part-by-part examination of the castle andsurviving elements of the adjoining medievaltown allows readers to appreciate the differentstages in the development of this incrediblestructure and to visualize how it evolved andfunctioned at different points in time. Thedetailed architectural guide will bean essential reference for readers who havethe opportunity to visit the castle and forthose who are keen to gain the best possibleunderstanding of it without going to the site.