Bagras

P3

The castle in Amanosgebirge

Baghras ( Turkish Bakras, also Bagras or Gaston / Gastin, from Latin Castron ) was a medieval castle in the border area between the Principality of Antioch and the Kingdom of Lesser Armenia, now located in the province of Hatay in Turkey. She defended access to Syria from the north.

Location

The ruin is situated on a steep cliff above the level of the Orontes and controlled the trade route between Alexandretta (now Iskenderun ) and Antochia (now Antakya ). The castle was supplied by an aqueduct with water.

History

Baghras fell in 1134 or 1137 to the Templars. Thus, the fortress was, together with Roche Roussel and Darbsak the earliest possessions of the Templars in the Holy Land.

Baghras came into the possession of the Byzantines, and finally to the Rubeniden Thoros II. Emperor Manuel I commissioned Renaud de Chatillon, retake the fortress, but was beaten by this Thoros at Alexandretta. Thoros was Baghras back to the Knights Templar, who promised him in return for their support. 1160 to 1161 belonged to the Principality of Antioch Baghras. 1170 took Mleh prince of Lesser Armenia his former co-religionists, the fortress again, they were able to take possession again until after his death in 1175. It is now occupied as the northern headquarters of the Knights Templar.

1188 Saladin took a Baghras.

Fulk captured the fortress of Bouillon for his cousin, Prince Levon II of Armenia (from 1198 King Leo I of Armenia). This resided here in 1191 and had carried out major construction projects. In 1193 he was able to capture here Bohemond of Antioch, allegedly with the help of his wife. Only through repeated intervention of Pope Innocent III. Leo 1212 promised the return of all Templar property, and these were then in 1216 the castle actually back. In 1266 resisted the castle a siege by the Sultan of Aleppo.

After the Mamluk Sultan Baibars had captured and destroyed in 1268 Antioch, dragged the Templars Baghras and gave it without a fight.