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Wulfrick
Member 		posted 04-12-2001 05:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wulfrick   Click Here to Email Wulfrick     Edit/Delete Message
Ok, first allow me to appologise for my dubious spelling.

I was reading a book the other day about the Crusades when I suddenly realised what the name of this mighty fortress actually means- AFAIK the name means literally "Castle of the Knights".

Anybody know who gave it this name? Did the Knights Hospitaller have another name for it?

Cheers, WUlf.

Gordon
unregistered 		posted 04-12-2001 08:06 AM           Edit/Delete Message
I suspect that Krak de Chevalliers is the site to which you are referring. http://babsouria.online.fr/gald772.htm

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Marko
Senior Member 		posted 04-12-2001 11:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marko   Click Here to Email Marko     Edit/Delete Message
The following info is partially derived from the book "Castles and churches of the Crusading Kingdom" by TSR. Boase.
Krak des Chevaliers is in origin an Arab fortress called Hisn-al-Akrad (don't know what that means). In 1099 it was captured by Raymond of St.Gilles and in 1142 the Knights of the Order of the Hospital; the Hospitallers, were established at the castle by Raymond II of Tripoli. From then on the castle was rebuild until its present form. The Arab name was turned into Le Crat by the Franks and then, by some analogy with Kerak (fortress) into le Krak, or, from its tenure by the Hospitallers, Krak des Chevaliers.
So I think the knights themselves just called it Le Krak.

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[This message has been edited by Marko (edited 04-12-2001).]

Marko
Senior Member 		posted 04-12-2001 11:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marko   Click Here to Email Marko     Edit/Delete Message
If you take a look at the following link: http://almashriq.hiof.no/syria/600/620/623/the_work_of_men/
you'll read that the original Arab name meant Fortress of the Kurds. Its also a nice article about its history mixed with some personal experience.

Peter
Member 		posted 04-12-2001 12:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Peter   Click Here to Email Peter     Edit/Delete Message
In his book 'Crusader Castles', Hugh Kennedy states ... " They decided to establish their main base overlooking the plain at the Castle of the Kurds, so called because an 11th century Amir of Homs had established a Kurdish garrison there.
C.U.P. 1994:

All times are PT (US)

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