The site of Marqab had caught the attention of strategists well before
the Crusaders. Byzantines and Arabs had fought over it throughout the
11th century. This fortified lookout post was ideal for keeping watch
over the coastal plain, it commanded one of the routes across the
coastal range. The original castle changed hands several times before
1140.
That year saw the beginning of its major fortification by the Crusaders.
The years that followed were the hey-day of Margat - especially when it
was in the hands of the Hospitallers, that rich, enterprising,
intelligent and courageous order of knights. Even Salah al Din himself
avoided encounters with them during his campaign to re-conquer the
Syrian coast in 1188.
A contemporary chronicler estimated the permanent population of the
fortress at "a thousand persons, apart from the garrison". "They have
provisions," he said, "to withstand five years siege". Around 1240 the
Bishop of Valenia (present day Banias) took up residence within the
walls of the fortress.
But the days of Christian strongholds were numbered. Sultan Beybars
redoubled his attacks. In the spring of 1271, Crac itself fell, as well
as satellite forts such as Safita. However, it was not until 1285 that
the troops of the Re-conquest under Sultan Qalaoun defeated the last of
the knights at Margat. The surviving Hospitallers were granted "the
honors of war" and allowed to withdraw under safe conduct to Tortosa (Tartous)
and Tripoli.
There is an inscription commemorating the final victory of Islam, carved
on a band of white limestone at the top of the "Tour de l’Eperon" under
the keep. The name of Qalaûn is to be found there, as well as that of
Balbaan al Tabbakhi, Governor of Crac, to whom Margat - now Marqab once
more - was entrusted also.
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