Muslim Fortresses in the Levant: Between Crusaders and Mongols (14 page)

Thus it appears that fotresses were built and designed with due consideration and after assessing the enemy’s strength, general abilities in the field of warfare and particular abilities in siege warfare. Fortresses such as Mount Tabor, which bordered Frankish territory, were built primarily against probable Frankish aggression. This was more than likely the case also at
(although it was built on a much smaller scale), which was refortified by
after the Franks attacked it on two occasions. Even at times of family feuds, it is unlikely that the
route would be disrupted by an Ayyubid force.
does not have a clear position. It was probably built with the intention of resisting a possible joint force of Crusader, Frankish and Ayyubid armies, but in actual fact it did not suffer a severe assault until the arrival of the Mongols in 1260.

, as we have seen, was built against a local menace in the form of the
, who were growing in strength. While the fortress is well built, it is relatively small in size. The fotress was assaulted by an Ayyubid force, but was never besieged or threatened by the Franks. The builder and gvernor
,
⁶⁴
according to Abu ‘l-Fidā’, was thrown into jail in 609/1212 by the Sultan’s son,
;
⁶⁵
the reason being
suspicion that Usama was conspiring against him.
⁶⁶
This was the only occasion during the Ayyubid period that the fotress of
was attacked. Usāma’s garrison tried to defend it but eventually surrendered the fortress to
.
⁶⁷
The latter then presented it to one of his faithful amirs,
Aybak, governor of
, who enlarged and strengthened it. The last Ayyubid owner of
was
(d. 658/1260); no significant changes were made during his reign. As in the case of
, the fortress was eventually besieged by the Mongols (658/1260). Obeying the order of the Mongol commander Kitbughā,