Vaux Moise

Vaux Moise ( Latin: Vallem de Mesa, Arabic: al - Wu'aira ( الوعيرة ), also: le Val Moïse, li Vaux Moysi, Val Moyse, Wadi Musa ) is a small Crusader castle, above the modern town of Wadi Musa ( Gaia ) in Jordan.

The castle stands on a hill above the so-called "Valley of Moses", after the castle is named. About 3 kilometers to the south-west there is the ancient city of Petra.

The castle was an outpost of some 25 kilometers further north Crusader fortress Montréal and belonged to the rule Oultrejordain. The Crusaders were able from this and other castles in Oultrejordain control the pilgrimage and caravan route from Damascus to the Red Sea, which gave them immense customs revenue.

History

In order began in 1107 King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, with regular raids on the Muslim caravan routes east of the Jordan. 1115 began, the Crusaders, the region as a rule Oultrejordain to take permanent possession. To maintain this rule, Baldwin established in the same year the Montreal castle and probably the castle of Vaux Moise. Probably the castle was initially only a provisional fixed outpost on the remains of an ancient Nabataean or Roman system. 1142 Castle of Pagan Montreal was significantly expanded.

In 1144, the castle was attacked by local Bedouins, captured in a surprise attack and killed the Frankish garrison. At that time, the Crusaders were in a weak position because their king had died and his successor, Fulk, Baldwin III. still a minor. The only 13 -year-old king had then equip his first expedition, lay siege to the castle and reclaim. The castle was again equipped with a solid garrison withstood a siege by the Fatimids in 1158. After Saladin's victory at Hattin Vaux Moise was finally conquered by the Ayyubids in 1188.