Osprey Fortress 32 : Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1192-1302

The debacle of the Second Crusade in 1148 caused the Crusader States to realise the necessity of developing a more cautious strategy. The original expansionist spirit largely disappeared, and the Crusader States made priorities of strengthening their existing fortifications and towns and building new castles. These structures encompassed core aspects of Western European military architecture with the integration of rapidly developing Arab and Islamic traditions. This book examines the design, development and defensive principles of some of the best-known Crusader fortifications and castles, including Crac des Chevaliers, Castel Blanc, Arsuf, Margat, Atlit, Montfort and Acre. Text by David Nicolle with illustrations by Adam Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The Development of Crusader Fortifications
• The Principles of Defence
• A Tour of Five Crusader Fortifications
• Life in the Holy Land Castles
• The Crusader States at War
• The Fate of the Fortifications
• Visiting the Fortifications Today
• Further Reading
• Glossary
• Index