Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1115
Crusader King Baldwin I builds Montreal (Mount Real or the Royal Mountain) - the
picture-perfect castle in Shobak. It withstood numerous attacks from the armies of
Saladin.
1142
The imposing Karak Castle is built to withstand Saladin's armies; in 1148 it is inher-
ited by the sadistic Renauld de Chartillon of France who delights in torturing prisoners.
1187
Despite superb defences at Shobak and Karak, Karak is overrun after an epic siege in
1183; Saladin goes on to beat the Crusader armies in the decisive Battle of Hittin.
1193
Saladin dies and the ensuing family in-fighting enables the Crusaders to recapture
much of their former territory.
1258
Mongols storm Baghdad and the armies of Genghis Khan's son reach Ajloun and Salt.
They are repelled by Mamluks who rebuild the castles at Karak, Shobak and Ajloun.
1453
Ottoman rule is established in Constantinople (modern-day İstanbul), creating one of
the world's largest empires that extends throughout the Middle East.
c 1516-1916
The Ottomans lavish their attentions on Jerusalem and Damascus while the area east of
the Jordan River becomes a cultural and political backwater.
1798
Napoleon Bonaparte invades Egypt, bringing the Middle East within the sphere of
Western political rivalry - a rivalry which influences the political landscape of Trans-
Jordan over the next 150 years.
