The Ayyubids And military Architecture

Naiha Raza

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Table of Contents

List Of Images

Contents

1) The Ayyubids

a) Rise of the Ayyubid Empire

i) Saladin

ii) The crusades

2) Ayyubid Architecture

a) Building types

i) Religious architecture

(1) Schools of learning: madrasa

(2) Mosques

(3) Shrines

ii) Royal architecture:

(1) Palaces

(2) Mausoleums/tombs

iii) Military architecture

(1) Fortifications

(2) Citadels

b) Importance of Ayyubid military architecture

i) The Citadels

(1) Existing citadels on important locations

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(a) Turkey

(i) Harran: The Citadel Of Harran

(b) Jerusalem

(i) The Citadel Of Jerusalem

(c) Egypt

(i) Cairo: The Citadel Of Cairo

(d) Syria

(i) Damascus: The Citadel Of Damascus

(ii) Masyaf : The Citadel Of Masyaf

1. History of Masyaf:

2. Construction and location

(iii) Lattakia: The Citadel Of Saladin

1. History

2. Construction

(iv)Aleppo: The Citadel Of Aleppo

1. History

2. Construction

a. The Mound

b. The Moat

c. The Ring Walls and the Northern and Southern Advance

Towers

d. The bridge

e. The Main Gateway

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i. The Vaulted Ramp

The Gate

The first gate

The second gate

The third gate

ii. The Mezzanine

f. The Secret Passages

3) Fall of Ayyubid Empire

Bibliography and References

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The Ayyubids And military Architecture

The Ayyubids

Rise of the Ayyubid Empire

The Ayyubids originally Kurdish were the rulers of Yemen, Hejaz, Mecca, northern

Syria, Jerusalem and Egypt. Their rule extended from 1169 AD to 1260. The Ayyubid

territories were divided among the family of Saladin. (Fig.01)

1) Saladin

Ṣalāh ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb or Saladin (fig 02) was born in Tikrit, in modern-day

central Iraq. His conquest started with him being sent to Egypt to aid Shirkuh in a power

struggle against Shawar. Shawar was assassinated by Saladin and Shikuh took over, but

he died only after two months of gaining control. Thus Saladin became the vizier of

Egypt and eventually the sultan. After the death of Nur-ud-Din his former mentor,

Saladin took control of northern Syria thus establishing his rule. Later he took other cities

expanding his empire and finally set his eyes on Jerusalem which he also annexed into

his empire after the battle of Hattin. Saladin spent his days fighting off the crusader

armies led by Richard the lionhearted, until an eventual truce. He died of a fever in 1193

not long after Richard the loin heart's departure.

2) The Crusades

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Well before the Ayyubid period, the first crusade had already taken over Jerusalem and

surrounding cities into Christian land. (Fig 03) In 1187 Saladin recaptured Jerusalem

claiming it to be rightly Muslim territory, following the Battle of Hattin. When this news

reached the pope he called a crusade in order to reclaim the holy land the crusade was led

by Philip II of France, Richard I of England (Richard the Lion heart), and Frederick I,

Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick however died via route to Jerusalem in a drowning

accident. The crusader army took the city of acre and Jaffa but didn’t wage war on

Jerusalem and the crusade ended without accomplishing its original task. Richard left the

following year after negotiating a treaty with Saladin. The treaty allowed unarmed

Christian pilgrims to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land, while it remained under

Muslim control

Ayyubid Architecture

1) Building types

i. Religious architecture

1. Schools of learning: madrasa:

There was a very deep focus on the institution of learning

during the Ayyubid rule. Lots of new madrasas were built

and some were restored example of some of these

madrasas are the al-Firdaws Madrasa in Aleppo (fig 04),

Syria and the Sahiba Madrasa in Damascus, Syria. (Fig. 05)

2. Mosques

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Mosques were also very important during these times for

they stood marking the Muslim stronghold. A lot may new

mosques were built following the Ayyubid tradition. Often

the mosques were accompanied by a madrasa Examples

include the Great Mosque of Zabid, Yemen (fig.06) And the

Firdaws mosque and madrasa, Aleppo Syria. (Fig 04)

3. Shrines

Shrines were not important in these times but they

nevertheless were built an example of these is the Farafra

Khanqah in Aleppo Syria. (fig.07)

ii. Royal architecture:

1. Palaces

Palaces were mostly built inside citadels so that they were

in the safest area far from any possible attack. Aleppo

citadel palace. (fig08)

2. Mausoleums/tombs

An example of a mausoleum built in the Ayyubid dynasty

is the Imam al-Shafi'i Mausoleum (fig 09)

iii. Military architecture

1. Fortifications

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Generally it is a wall surrounding a city to protect it from

any outside attack. Almost all of the cities of Ayyubid era

were fortified.

2. Citadels

The term citadel is derived from the same Latin root as the

word city, civis. It is basically a fortress for protecting a

town, sometimes incorporating a castle.

In a fortification, the citadel is the strongest part of the

system, sometimes well inside the outer walls and bastions.

It is positioned to be the last line of defense should the

enemy breach the other components of the fortification

system. (fig 10)

2) Importance of Ayyubid military architecture

Although the importance of any military structure cannot be denied as it is the basic

defense of a city, the importance however grows in the Ayyubid period. Indulged in

constant threat from the Christians and Muslims alike, the cities of Ayyubid time period

could be attacked any time thus proper measure needed to be taken for the empires

defense. This constant threat is what produced the greatest military architecture found in

the Islamic world.

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i. The Citadels

The citadels are one of the finest examples of a military defense

stronghold the Ayyubids built many citadels throughout their empire

the most important of which are discussed below

a. Existing citadels on important locations

Important citadels of this time are listed as follows

i. Turkey

1. Harran: The Citadel Of Harran

The present structure, in south of turkey was

constructed by the Ayyubids later, the Mamluks

repaired it. (Fig 11)

The citadel is a rectangular enclosure (130m x 90m)

with an inner courtyard, a moat and four polygonal

corner towers. (fig11.1) (fig11.2) Two rows of

embrasures line the walls and can be accessible

through a vaulted gallery. The entrance of the

citadel is from the southwest. The gate is in the

form of a horseshoe arch and is supported by pillars

with interlaced vegetal design and dogs carved in

relief.

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The inner core is a rectangular stone structure that

was mostly built by al-Adil in 1196.

ii. Jerusalem

1. The Citadel Of Jerusalem

The Citadel is situated on the western edge of

Jerusalem the citadel was built over earlier roman

fortifications (fig 12)

"The plan consists of five towers connected with fortification walls built in an irregular quadrilateral

plan oriented east-west. In the middle of the courtyard is the excavation of early Roman city walls, which cross the yard from its southeast

corner to the northeast corner. Two outworks to the east and west of the main fortification walls were

built at a later date. The entire structure is surrounded by a moat crossed by a single bridge

leading to the main entrance"i

iii. Egypt

1. Cairo: The Citadel Of Cairo

The Citadel of Cairo (fig 13) was built Saladin

himself from somewhere in 1176-1183 and the

construction kept on going even after the death of

Saladin.

iv. Syria

1. Damascus: The Citadel Of Damascus

(Fig 14)

i From Archnet.org

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Even though at the time no crusader threat was of

great significance to the sultan, al-adil but he was

on the other hand bothered by the constant threat of

his nephews. Between 1194 and 1201 Damascus

was attacked five times by the surrounding Ayyubid

princes and with extra incentive provided by the

earthquake of 1202, the sultan was eventually

forced to build a military stronghold to improve the

city's defense

2. Masyaf : The Citadel Of Masyaf

a. History of Masyaf:

Human settlement at Masyaf dates back to

the Aramaic era in the eighth century BC

wherein it was a military garrison

Arab Muslim troops entered this area around

638. In the 10th century, the Hamdanid came

to power and a war against the Byzantines

was started. It was in this time the

Hamdanids fortified the military outposts

that guarded the mountain routes, such as

Masyaf, to stop the advance of the

Byzantine troops.

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b. Construction and location

The citadel was constructed on a rocky outcrop

dominating an extensive lower plain that stretches

to the north, east and south.

The castle as a whole measures 145 meters from

north to south and some sixty meters in width from

east to west. (Fig 15)

In 1165, additions were made to the original

Byzantine fortress. Larger stones were used

(seventy by fifty centimeters). A main entrance

located in the south-western corner tower was

added, another two towers on the western side, as

well as a tower which seems to have been erected to

control access to the main gate.

Later in the early thirteenth century the construction

work was directed to reinforce the castle walls and

areas that were prone to attack. Pentagonal towers

were added with machicolations

In 1220 construction was more focused on the

palace as well as restoration of the citadel.

3. Lattakia: The Citadel Of Saladin

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a. History

The original citadel of Salah al-Din is a composite

structure, a blend of a Byzantine fortress,

refurbished by Frankish lords and then reused in the

Islamic dynasties. This design was not destroyed

but was improved upon by the Ayyubids and their

successors, the Mamluks.

b. Construction

After the conquest the citadel was appointed to the

new governor, who went by the title of Assad al-

Ârin emir al-Mudjâhidin. He was responsible for

much of the restoration work that took place in the

Ayyubid period. The restoration of a section of the

defensive wall destroyed was one of the first

restoration projects carried out on the fortifications.

The rectangular towers on the front were restored.

(Fig 16)

On the western front of the higher plateau, that is,

the edge separating the two plateaux, modifications

were made by the Ayyubids. The tower which

overhangs the moat, known as Burj al-Banat, stands

as an example to the Ayyubid military design. The

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vaulted hall flanked by two small side rooms, and

the whole complex situated over another hall

accessible by a staircase.

Renovations to strengthen the old Byzantine

structures on the upper plateau were also

undertaken. The citadel also functioned as an

economic industry, indicated by the presence of two

millstones and six grain silos.

4. Aleppo: The Citadel Of Aleppo

(Fig 17.01)

a. History

The location on which the citadel stands was

originally a pagan temple of a storm god "Hadda".

It was first converted to a military fortification in

the Hellenistic period and continued to serve as a

military building through the Roman and Byzantine

empires. The Mirdasids who took over the citadel,

erected palaces and converted the two Byzantine

churches into mosques. During the crusades,

Aleppo was attacked but Imad Al-Zangid and his

son Nur-ul-Din withheld the crusaders from further

expansion. Thus the importance of the citadel

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increased during the Ayyubid rule under the prince

sultan Malik al-Zahir Ghazi (1186-1216, son of

Saladin) who was the ruler of Aleppo. Mongol

invasion took place in 1260 whence the Ayyubids

were defeated and driven out. The Mamluks took

over the citadel and rebuilt it after the Mongol

devastation.

After the Mamluks the ottomans took over Aleppo

and restored the mosques. Later the citadel became

a barracks for the French after which excavations

were initiated and the citadel finally, came under

the protection of AKTC. It now stands as a visitor

center and a museum.

(Fig 17.02)

b. Construction

i. The Mound

The citadel is situated on a natural hill. It was later

properly sloped and covered by stones (glacis) to

add to the military strategy of the time. These

renovations were ordered under the rule of Malik al-

Zahir Ghazi. (Fig 17.03a)

ii. The Moat

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The moat was originally dug to the ground water

level now it is mostly filled with debris (Fig 17.03b)

iii. The Ring Walls and the

Northern and Southern

Advance Towers

The original walls of the citadel that were

constructed by the Ayyubids were destroyed in the

Mongol invasion of 1260. These towers and walls

were rebuilt however by the Mamluks. (Fig 17.04a, b, c)

iv. The bridge

The bridge that leads up to the citadel is supported

by arches it is this bridge that serves as the only

entrance. Below the ramp, runs a well-constructed

system of sewage which can be still identified and

some of which is still in working condition. (Fig

17.05)

v. The Main Gateway

The main gate is one of the most important part of

the Ayyubid citadel it represents the excellence of

the Islamic military architecture throughout the

Islamic world. The building work of the main

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entrance began somewhere in 1182-1183 and was

completed almost thirty years later. Out of the

existing complex, the lower section belongs to the

Ayyubids. The upper section with the throne hall

was a later Mamluk extension. (Fig 17.06 a, b)

The Vaulted Ramp

The idea of the citadel was to make the

entrance as difficult as possible and

Ayyubids were well aware of it thus they

added creative solutions to bar as much of

the outside traffic without making the citadel

inaccessible. The ramp that was the

continuation of the bridge took five turns

and was provided with portcullises and

machicolations to protect it. Three wrought

iron gates were installed on these turns and

each gate was guarded. Guards were

stationed in the vaulted recesses on the side.

Archers were positioned behind the

embrasures from where they could defend

the citadel when it was under attack. (Fig 17.06

c)

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The Gate

Three gates were placed on strategic

locations.

o The first gate

The top arch of the first gate shows two

intertwined dragons, each with two

heads and gaping jaws. (Fig 17.06 d) It is a

classical representation of North Syrian-

Mesopotamian figurative art of the

twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The

dragons on this doorway represent

protection (fig 17.06 e)

o The second gate

On the top of the doorway are two loins

on hind legs (fig 17.06 f)

o The third gate

Shows "laughing" or "weeping" loins, a

symbol for protection (fig 17.06 g, h)

The Mezzanine

Near the second gate of the ramp, some

steep steps lead to the former upper floor of

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the Ayyubid towers where projectiles were

stored. It is now a mezzanine which leads up

to the throne hall.

The Secret Passages

Between the second and third gates of the

ramp is a door which leads to two secret

tunnels, one runs below the moat towards

The city they were once a part of the

Sophisticated underground escape

System another secret passage begins at the

"Satura” which was basically a well

in the north of the citadel. (Fig17.06 i)

Fall of Ayyubid Empire

In 1250 Turanshah, the last Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, was murdered and replaced by his

Mamluk slave general Aibek, who founded the Bahri dynasty.

The Ayyubids continued to rule Damascus and Aleppo until 1260, when they were driven

out by the Mongols, and following the Mongol defeat at Ain Jalut later that year, most of

Syria fell to the Mamluks. Local Ayyubid dynasties continued to rule in parts of Syria

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(most notably Hamah) for another 70 years, until the latter finally absorbed them in

1334.ii

Bibliography And Referencesii From wikipedia the free encyclopedia

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1) TERRY ALLEN, Ayyubid Architecture, an electronic publication,

http://www.sonic.net/~tallen/palmtree/ayyarch/

2) MARIANNE BARRUCAND, Medieval Syria: At the Crossroads of

Cultural Exchange and Architectural Development, Syria: Medieval

Citadels Between East and West, pg 23-36

3) PART II: THE SITES AND THEIR HISTORY, HEINZ GAUBE,.AHistory

of the City of Aleppo, Syria: Medieval Citadels Between East and West

4) JULIA GONNELLA, Introduction to the Citadel of Aleppo, Syria:

Medieval

Citadels Between East and West

5) THIERRY GRANDIN, Introduction to the Citadel of Salah al-Din,

Syria: Medieval Citadels Between East and West

6) HAYTHAM HASAN, Introduction to the Citadel of Masyaf, Syria:

Medieval Citadels Between East and West

7) STEPHEN BATTLE AND TONY STEEL, The Conservation Works on

the Three Citadels, Syria: Medieval Citadels Between East and West

8) KNUT LOHRER AND ANETTE GANGLER, Implementing New Visitor

Facilities at Aleppo Citadel, Syria: Medieval Citadels Between East and West

9) ADLI QUDSI, Changing Paradigms in Urban Conservation in Syria, Syria:

Medieval Citadels Between East and West

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10) ANETTE GANGLER AND JÖRG ESEFEL,D Designing Public

Open Spaces Around Aleppo Citadel, Syria: Medieval Citadels Between East and

West

11) Sabri Jarrar, András Riedlmayer, Jeffrey B. Spurr

RESOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL

SECTION

12) BARBARA FINSTER An Outline of the history of Islamic

religious architecture in Yemen

13) Ross Burns, Damascus pg 179-182

14) The Monuments, Chapter 6, Architecture of the Ayyubid

Period.

15) YASSER TABBAA, CIRCLES OF POWER: PALACE,

CITADEL,AND CITY IN AYYUBID ALEPPO pg 181- 200

16) YASSER TABBAA, Geometry and Memory in the design in

the madrasat Al-Firdows in Aleppo

17) Saladin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladin

18) The Citadel of Harran

http://www.archnet.org/library/images/thumbnails.jsp?

collection_id=&location_id=9829&place_id=&start=19&limit=9

19) The metropolitan museum of art, The Crusades (1095–1291)

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crus/hd_crus.htm

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20) Archnet.org Digital Library Building Style Ayyubid.

http://www.archnet.org/library/images/sites.jsp?key=Ayyubid&select=style

21) The citadel of damascus wikipedia the free encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_Citadel

22) Ayyubid Dynasty, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyubid

23) Google books http://books.google.com

24) Archnet digital library www.archnet.org

25) Historical Maps of the islamic World,

http://www.edmaps.com/html/islamic_world.html

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Images

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Fig 01 Extent of the Ayyubid Empireiii

iii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ayyubid_Dynasty_1171_-_1246(AD).PNG

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Fig 02 Victorious Saladin 19th centuryiv

Fig 03 The crusader empirev

iv http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saladin_the_Victorious.jpg

v http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crus/hd_crus.htm

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Fig 04 Firdaws Madrasa in Aleppovi

Fig 05 Sahiba Madrasa in Damascus, Syriavii

Fig 06 Great Mosque of Zabid, Yemenviii

Fig 07 Farafra Khanqah in Aleppo Syriaix

vihttp://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=4082&image_id=64130 vii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9262&image_id=99268viii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9515&image_id=57267ix http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=10321&image_id=98470

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Fig 08 Aleppo citadel palace, interiorx

x Ayyubid palace, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 131

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Fig 09 Imam al-Shafi'i Mausoleumxi

Fig 10 Casale Monferrato, planxii

xi http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=4808&image_id=61835

xii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Casale_Monferrato_map_(018_003).jpg

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Fig 11 Harran: The Citadel Of Harranxiii

Fig 11.01 Inner courtyardxiv

Fig 11.02 Towerxv

xiii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9829&image_id=63308

xiv http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9829&image_id=99241xv http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9829&image_id=99239

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Fig 12 Citadel of Jerusalemxvi

Fig 13 Citadel of Cairoxvii

xvi http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=9834&image_id=63617xvii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1393&image_id=54163

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Fig 14 Citadel of Damascusxviii

xviii Ross Burns, Damascus, pg 181

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Fig 15 Citadel of Masyafxix

xix citadel of Masyaf, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 194

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Fig 16 Citadel Of Saladinxx

Fig 17.01 Citadel of Aleppo xxi

xx Citadel of Saladin, Syria medieval citadels between east and west pg 160xxi http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64070

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Fig 17.02 history of construction over the citadelxxii

Fig 17.03a The mound (glacis)xxiii

Fig 17.03b The moatxxiv

xxiiJulia Gonnella, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 117xxiii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64087xxiv http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64085

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Fig 17.04a South barbicanxxv

Fig 17.04b North barbicanxxvi

xxv http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64073xxvi http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64072

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Fig 17.04c The south towerxxvii

Fig 17.05 the bridgexxviii

xxvii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=98416xxviii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64083

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Fig 17.06a Elevation of the Gatewayxxix

Fig 17.06b Plan of the Gateway showing the vaultxxx

xxix Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 119xxx Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 119

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Fig 17.06c Vaulted passagexxxi

Fig 17.06d front view of the first gatexxxii

xxxi http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=64075xxxii Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 131

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Fig 17.06e The first gatexxxiii

xxxiii http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image.jsp?location_id=1430&image_id=27536

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Fig 17.06f Second gatexxxiv

Fig 17.06g The third gatexxxv

Fig 17.06h The third gate detailxxxvi

xxxiv Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 130

xxxv Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 130xxxvi Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 130

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Fig 17.06i secret passage at the "Satura"xxxvii

xxxvii Aleppo citadel, Syria medieval citadels between east and west, pg 120

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