Crac des Chevaliers, 1142

Crac des Chevaliers is a Crusader fortress in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world. The original fortress at the location had been built in 1031 for the emir of Aleppo.

During the First Crusade in 1099, it was captured by Raymond IV of Toulouse, but then abandoned when the Crusaders continued their march towards Jerusalem. It was reoccupied again by Tancred, Prince of Galilee, in 1110. In 1142, it was given by Raymond II, count of Tripoli, to the Hospitallers.

The Hospitallers rebuilt it and expanded it into the largest Crusader fortress in the Holy Land, adding an outer wall three meters thick with seven guard towers eight to ten meters thick, to create a concentric castle.

After many attempts, the fortress was captured by the Moslems in 1271.