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Site name:

The Navis II
project

Author:

Zaraza
Friedman



Bibliography:

Benvenisti M.,
1970: The
Crusaders in
the Holy Land;
Israel
University
Press,
Jerusalem
Carmel A. and Baumwoll Z. (eds.), 2000: Dichter Bernhard: Akko, Sites from the Turkish Period; Gothlieb-Schumacher Institute for Research of the Christian Activities in the 19th Century Palestine, University of Haifa

Kestern A., 1993: The Old City of Acre: Re-Examination report 1993; The Old Acre Development Company

Makhouly N., 1941: Guide to Acre; Government of Palestine, Department of Antiquities, Jerusalem

Raban A., 1993: Maritime Acco; in Stern E. (ed.): The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land; The Israel Exploration Society & Carta, Jerusalem .




(...) The Templars established a fort or police station close to the rock-cut passage (1118), the ruins of which are still visible. In 1218, during the Fifth Crusade, the Castle known as Castrum Perigrinorum, was built by the Templars on the rocky promontory, on the ruins of the Phoenician settlement. It was named after the pilgrims (peregrini) who came and helped to build it along with a chapel, a palace, a stable and several dwellings. The site was chosen because it could have a better control on the coastal road and also the way to recovering Jerusalem, which had been taken in 1187. The castle was completed while the main army of the Crusade was engaged into the Moslem siege at Damietta in Egypt (1218-1221). The main, east façade of the castle was doubled by the addition of a wall with three towers. A low wall along the outer edge of the fosse further strengthened it.

Through 1220, the Citadel was threatened by the Moslem conquerors. When in 1265, the Mameluk sultan Malik edh-Dhahir Baybars conquered the Atlit settlement he did not attack the Citadel. Only in 1291, when Akko (Acre, Acco) fell under the Mameluk Sultan Al-Malek al-Ashraf, the Citadel at Atlit was deserted. For the fear that the (?) of the Castle will be re-conquered by the Crusaders, the Mameluks destroyed the fortification walls on the eastern side of the promontory... (more)

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