The Ajloun Castle in Jordan

The Ajloun Castle (which was known as Qalʻat ar-Rabad during the medieval period), is a 12th-century CE Muslim castle situated in the Ajloun Governorate in northwestern Jordan. The castle was originally constructed during the 12th Century CE by the Ayyubid Dynasty (1171 CE – 1341 CE), the founding dynasty of the medieval sultanate of Egypt. It was later expanded in the 13th Century CE by the Mamluk Sultanate (1250 CE – 1517 CE).

The Ajloun Castle

The original construction was conducted between 1184 CE and 1188 CE, on the site of an old Byzantine monastery, by the Ayyubid emir Izz al-Din Usama, who was a general in the army of Saladin. It is believed that the castle was intended to control traffic between Damascus (in Syria), Southern Jordan and Egypt, while providing safe passage to pilgrims and trade caravans traveling to Hejaz, and controlling the Bedouin tribes of the Jabal 'Auf. The castle was also intended to contain the expansion of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, while protecting the iron mines of the Ajloun region.

The outer view of the castle

The castle was expanded further by the Mamluk governor Aibak ibn Abdullah between 1214 CE to 1215 CE. By the mid-13th Century CE, it was used as an administrative center by Yousef ibn Ayoub, the emir of Aleppo and Damascus. Sections of the castle were destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1260 CE. Upon the Mamluk victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut, the castle was restored by Al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Bunduqdari (commonly known as Baybars/Baibars), the fourth Mamluk sultan of Egypt and Syria (reigned from 1260 CE to 1277 CE).

The interior of the castle

The structures within the castle

The use of the castle continued during the Ottoman Period. Historical records state that the Ottoman governor, Prince Fakhr ad-Din al-Ma'ni II used the castle during his fight against Ahmad ibn Tarbay in the 17th Century CE. The castle was affected by two major earthquakes in 1837 CE and 1927 CE; subsequent restoration efforts have brought to castle to the current state, making it a major tourist attraction in Jordan.