Le Krak des Chevaliers was a fortress controlled by the Knights Hospitallers since 1144.[1] It was located at the top of a ridge line over looking the Bouqi Valley.[2] This valley rested between the cities of Antioch and Tripoli in modern Syria.
From a defensive perspective, the Krak des Chevaliers was an ideal castle. The ridge it rested on had a very steep slope, limiting the avenues of approach that an enemy could take to one side. It was defended by two walls, an inner moat, and the capability to garrison 2,000 men.[3] In addition, entry to the castle itself was confined to an upward sloping tunnel that was reinforced with many murder holes and gateways.[4]
This meant that any attacking force would have to travel along the ridge just to reach the outer walls. Once there, they would need to breach the first wall through bombardment or sappers. They would then have to breach the second wall and assault into the castle. The defenses of Krak des Chevaliers were so formitable that Saladin chose to bypass it completely and Baybars had to resort to forgery in 1271 to convince the Hospitallers to surrender.[5]
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