Saone (Citadel of Salah Ed-Din, Saladin's Burcht)

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Country:  Syria Founder: 
Region: 
Building structure:  Donjon in curtain wall
Place:  Qalaat Salah ad-Din Castle type:  Rock castle
Era:  10-th century Condition:  Ruined/Partly remained

Description:  Emperor John I Tzimiskes gained control of the place from the Aleppan Hamdanid dynasty, and built the first of its defensive structures. It then fell in the hands of the Crusaders at around the beginning of the 12th century. It is mentioned that in 1119 it was owned by Robert of Saone who was given control of it by Roger, Prince of Antioch. Most of what is evident today was built at this time. The fortress was notable as being one of the few which were not entrusted to the major military orders of the Hospitaller and the Templars. The Crusader walls were breached by the armies of Muslim leader Salah ed-Din in July 1188, and it is from this victory that the castle takes its present name.
Remarkable:  One of the most magnificent features of the fortress is the 28 m deep ditch, which was cut into living rock probably by the Byzantines (it might have been completed by the Crusaders). This ditch, which runs 156 meters along the east side, is 14 to 20 meters wide and has a lonely 28 m high needle to support the drawbridge.
Website:  http://www.akdn.org/publications/hcp_syria_brief2.pdf
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Google map*:  Latitude: 35.595833, Longitude: 36.057222

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