Castles of "Syria" HAREM vs BANI QAHTAN CASTLE

Harem or Harim (Arabic: حَارِم‎, romanized: Ḥārim, also Ḥāram is a Syrian city within the Idlib Governorate. It has an altitude of 160 meters and a population of 21,934. Harem is situated on the border with Turkey, 55 km west of Aleppo. There is an important castle in Harem which has been built in a unique military style. The city lies along the route between Antioch and Aleppo, and has been around since the Byzantine era. The castle was originally Byzantine and was built by Nikephoros II Phokas shortly after 959, it then fell to the Arabs and then to the Seljuk Turks. In 1097, it was taken by the Crusaders, who kept it for the next forty years, except for a short time in 1098 when it was taken by the Muslim Arabs. After Nur al-Din's victory over Raymond of Poitiers at the Battle of Inab, the castle fell to Muslim forces in 1149.It was taken back by the Crusaders under Baldwin III in 1158.However, Nur al-Din besieged the castle once more in 1164. When the Crusaders attempted to relieve the siege, Nur al-Din defeated them decisively at the Battle of Harim, capturing many of the Christian leadership including Raymond III of Tripoli, Bohemond III of Antioch, Hugh VIII of Lusignan, and Joscelin III of Edessa. After this, the castle remained in Muslim hands for the remainder of the Crusader period, though Count Philip I of Flanders unsuccessfully attempted to recapture it one last time during his pilgrimage to the east in 1177. When the Mongols led by Hulagu Khan invaded in 1260, much of Harem was destroyed including its castle, and its population was massacred. What is left of the castle dates back to the Muslim - Crusader battles between 1164 and 1268. The crusader castle was rebuilt by the son of Saladin, Malik Al Zaher Ghazi.In early 1800s, Barmada family rebuild Harem after it was completely destroyed by the mongols in the 13th century. Landlords of Harem between 1800s until 1963 consists of four main families: Barmada, Kayali, Al-Kikhia and Hananu. In 1980, the Syrian government confiscated all the properties and lands of Barmada family.

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Bani Qahtan castle (Arabic: بني قحطان‎) is found in the Syrian Coastal Mountains, about 40 km from Latakia city. The castle which was known as Bikisrail, was controlled by Byzantine doux of Antioch, Niketas of Mistheia, in 1032. It was later captured by Crusaders led by Tancred in 1111.The castle was later mentioned as being a stronghold in the hands of Nizari Ismaili in 1131, who surrendered it to Saladin in 1188. The castle is totally damaged and not much remained from it, as its ruins are dated back to the 12th century. It is reached by car road through Baniyas-Jableh road from west. External walls are well preserved, which contain the whole massive of the castle. The castle is situated on a high mountain, accessible only from the south through a narrow piece of land.

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