Overview

Bibliography

Kerak Castle is located on the primary north-south route in the Transjordan, the so-called “King’s Highway,” and an east-west route down to the Dead Sea. It is a spur-type castle built on a high ridge on the southern side of the town of Kerak. It was built by Pagan the Butler, who was the lord of Oultrejourdain, in 1142; it was built to replace Montreal (al-Shawbak) as the center of Oultrejourdain. One of Pagan’s successors, Reynald de Châtillion, used the castle as a base for raids against Arab caravans, which drew the ire of Salah ad-Din. He launched a series of assaults against the castle, which capitulated after an eight-month siege in 1188.

Under the Ayyubids, the castle was refortified and repaired from earthquake damage. The castle’s west entrance and galleries beneath the lower bailey were added during this period. Under the Mamluk sultans, Kerak became the chief town became the center of an administrative district, and the castle flourished. Baybars I refortified the western and southern sides of the castle, building up the palace at the southern end of the upper bailey as well.

Little excavation has been conducted at the castle. Robin Brown excavated part of the Mamluk palace in 1987 and published a brief excavation report. In conjunction, the palace was partially restored for visitors.