Capture of Margat Castle

Background

Marqab was a great castle built on a volcanic hill overlooking the sea near Baniyas (in Syria), held by the Hospitallers since 1186. It controlled the coastal road between Tripoli and Latakia. The Hospitallers' fighting alongside the Mongols at Homs in 1281 played a part in Qalawun's targeting of the castle.

Course of events

Qalawun besieged the castle on 17 April 1285. The army had difficulty setting up its catapults in the mountainous terrain, and the Hospitallers' catapults badly damaged the Mamluk siege engines.

Mamluk sappers dug tunnels under the great tower on the castle's south side. Around 23 May the tower partly collapsed. Seeing that the mines were advancing further, the defenders agreed to surrender. On 25 May the castle was handed over and the garrison allowed to leave with its own possessions.

Outcome and significance

Rather than demolish the castle, Qalawun had it repaired and installed a Mamluk garrison. The loss of Marqab collapsed the County of Tripoli's northern defence and isolated Latakia.

That the terms of Marqab's surrender were honoured, unlike at Safed, shows that the Mamluks could grant safe conduct to castles that surrendered by negotiation, thereby aiming to break the resistance of other castles.

Sources and debates

The father of the Mamluk historian and later ruler of Hama, Abu al-Fida, was present at the siege; Abu al-Fida and Ibn Abd al-Zahir describe it in detail. The Templar of Tyre gives brief information from the Latin side. The surviving parts of the castle are important for studying the traces of the siege.