Muslim Fortresses in the Levant: Between Crusaders and Mongols (66 page)
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Authors: Kate Raphael
Tags: #Arts & Photography, #Architecture, #Buildings, #History, #Middle East, #Egypt, #Politics & Social Sciences, #Social Sciences, #Human Geography, #Building Types & Styles, #World, #Medieval, #Humanities
Kahf 1273 |
| Destroyed | |
Qadmous 1273 |
| Destroyed | |
|
| Destroyed | |
Sarmīn |
| Destroyed | |
Jabal Sumaq |
| Destroyed | |
|
| Destroyed | |
Notes 1 Meinecke, M., 2 Mouton, J. M., “Shayzar,” |
Map 3.4
Mamluk fortresses in relation to the Īlkhānid state
The following account represents one of the most unusual examples of al-Ashraf Khalīl’s policy concerning fortifications. The fortress of Shawbak, taken by Baybars in 1263, was destroyed by al-Ashraf Khalīl in 692/1293–4. The only reason the sources give for this is the growing strength of the local Bedouin, who slowly gained control of the site, settled inside the fortress and probably disrupted security in the region. Rather than send a Mamluk contingent from Cairo to suppress the Bedouin, al-Ashraf Khalīl decided to destroy Shawbak.
al-Dīn Aybak al-Afram
was ordered to carry out the sultan’s plans. Al-Afram disagreed and voiced his opinion before al-Ashraf Khalīl:
Oh prince how can you destroy such a fortress, it is a well built site where people dwell, and is amongst the strongest Muslim strongholds.
137
The sultan did not change his mind and punished al-Afram severely for what he thought was bad advice and a somewhat arrogant stand. Al-Afram was arrested and his vast property confiscated.
138
Al-Aynī, who describes this incident, criticizes the sultan’s decision and says that the destruction of Shawbak showed poor judgment.
139
Table 3.2
sums the conquests and work of the first three Mamluk sultans.