Questions people actually ask
Short answers, each with its source. Longer ones live on the topic pages.
What made Crusader castles different?
UNESCO says these castles differed from the more passive defence systems of European castles. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din UNESCO says the Crusader castles show influences passing between peoples, and how fortification developed in the Byzantine, Crusader and Islamic periods. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
Who built Crac des Chevaliers?
The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem built Crac des Chevaliers between 1142 and 1271. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din The Mamluks added further building in the late 13th century. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
What does Crac des Chevaliers mean?
Crac des Chevaliers means Crac of the Knights. The name Crac may come from the Castle of the Kurds, through Crat in Latin sources. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006) Today the castle is known as Qal’at al-Hosn. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
Who were the Knights Hospitaller?
By 1080, monks led by Brother Gerard ran a hospital in Jerusalem for pilgrims who fell ill. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order After the Crusaders took Jerusalem, the Hospitallers also took on a military role, as the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order
Who were the Templars?
The Temple Church says Hugh of Payns, a knight of Champagne, founded the Templars in 1118 to 1119. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187 Besides the monks’ vows, the Templars took a fourth vow: to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187
What is a glacis?
On the west and south sides is a sloping glacis, over 25 metres wide at the base, called the Mountain. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006) The slope made it hard for attackers to set up equipment for climbing the walls. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
What were the narrow slits in the towers for?
The towers have carefully placed loops: narrow openings for shooting at an enemy. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
What is the eight-pointed cross?
Their symbol is a white eight-pointed cross on a black background. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order The same eight-pointed cross is now the badge of St John Ambulance. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order
Where did the Knights of St John go after Acre?
After 1291 the Order moved briefly to Cyprus, then in 1309 to Rhodes. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order From Rhodes the Order moved to Malta, and stayed until 1798, when the island was surrendered to Napoleon. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order
Is Crac des Chevaliers a World Heritage site?
Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din were inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2006. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din UNESCO lists Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din on the List of World Heritage in Danger: “2013 - Present”. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
Are there buildings in England linked to the orders?
The Temple Church in London was built by the Knights Templar. The Temple Church: History Henry II gave the manor of Strood to the Knights Templar in 1159. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor
Where does this fit in the national curriculum?
At KS3, one non-statutory example for medieval Britain 1066 to 1509 is “Christendom, the importance of religion and the Crusades”. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study The Crusades are not named in the Key Stage 2 history programme of study; the only mention is the non-statutory Key Stage 3 example. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study
Our sources give dates in different ways, and some disagree by a year or tell a story differently. We copy each figure as its source gives it, rather than converting, so every figure matches its link. Every fact was checked against its source on the date shown on the sources page. See when sources disagree for the open questions side by side.