Krac Des Chevaliers: Cultures

The final clash of cultures! on the left; The Arab Mamluk style architecture and on the right the Hospitaler western style of castle building.

In later years when the Castle became a Citadel (Castles with cities in them are known as Citadels) the area you see became was transformed into a market street!


Story:

In 1271 the Mamluk Sultan Baybars (Mamluks are the Slave warriors who rose to power) surrounded the Krac (which was the last remaining crusader stronghold in the Area) for a final siege. and after nearly a Month of attacking the well built stronghold, both sides had not achieved anything! That is until a letter arrived for the small Hospitaler garrison from Tripoli stating that there was no reinforcements coming and that they should negotiate a surrender, Demoralised- they did so and where granted safe passage back to Tripoli.

on reaching their destination, they learnt that the letter had been fake and a trick by Baybars to take the castle, and so after 160 years of impenetrability the Fortress was taken by a well written letter!

I suppose it Completely gives new meaning to "the pen is mightier than the sword"!