spelled known translates citadel medieval arab islamic fortress syria located western banks adjacent city kilometers southeast situated atop mound elevation meters oversees syrian desert historically guarded valley described fortress fortress consists inner measuring meters protected enclosure measuring meters largely ruins today result erosion original site known ibn namesake founder located viewed muslim armies travelers key syria iraq vice versa tribes took control launching point invasions northern syria strategic location frequently fought muslim powers including local lords ibn destroyed earthquake years later current fortress built close desert edge lord descendants held hereditary granted oversaw major reconstruction early era late 13th 14th centuries fortress continuously restored strengthened result frequent important fortress administrative center terminal stop postal route fell ottoman rule early 20th century fortress primarily served shelter local flocks excavations carried site location etymology islamic history considered words 14th century traveler end iraq beginning syria fortress located kilometers southwest kilometer southwest modern syrian city kilometers southeast capital according 13th century site translates arabic flat water collects original location western bank current fortress situated artificial mound detached plateau west elevation meters sea level history ibn founding according historian hardly definite known history town muslim era medieval writers identified biblical town river medieval muslim historians written place called named monastery supposedly existed vicinity called 9th century persian historian asserts trace old city founded general ibn reign fortress town referred ibn muslim historians according syrian historian held significant strategic value key syria iraq stop syria bound coming iraq travelers armies proceed northwestward route traverse desert route damascus strategic value frequently fought rival muslim powers tribes particular main launch point invasions northern syria safe haven marketplace ibn served lord death succeeded son expelled following capture lord 10th century large town leader ibn imprisoned transferred custody time center province headquarters governor executed prompting partisans tribe submit early shortly turned forces routed ambush august following battles received round religious leaders march conquered scores inhabitants residents faced hardships years civil strife surrounding region peace established arrival certain commander named dispatched baghdad based subsequently governor valley regions period came rule years later district based time town described persian larger ancient opposite lord rebelled fled town drowned heavily damaged rebellion suppression granted favored son control district district revenues sons contested control aftermath father deposition ultimately passed son brother subordinate commander captured surprise attack walls rebuilt restored possibility enemy forming alliance undermine lost control captured inhabitants requested received governor assigned son town described late 10th century center district located edge desert having semi circular layout defended strong fortress noted wider vicinity characterized highly productive lands abundant date period early 11th century control contested preceding conflict appointed member tribe lord killed battle rivals led lost ibn victory short lived damascus soon captured fortified city northwest appointed governor returned damascus wealthy resident revolted took control town shortly departed able governor unable hold town outside support located amid crossroads regional powers town gained backing tribe conflict arose leading reconciled men captured fortified town sought support suppressing revolt opportunity kill eliminating lord allegiance major territory held establish northern syria son later succeeded principal power base advisers ministers originated later compelled hand ally turkish general revolted masters step loss loss provoked brother resolving restore revolt ultimately failed killed prompting capture april later august successfully defended advances lost vassal affiliated army allowing opportunity rout defenders afterward read town friday prayer instead formal recognition change allegiance sultan granted son muhammad period point arab allies lost ruler damascus captured towns following death possession reverted captured looted town held slave soldier sultan took control son deputy besieged town failed capture died december passed turkish named dismissed officers arrested suspicions coup renewed siege time welcomed townspeople forcing retreat citadel surrendered receiving guarantees safe passage syria according 12th century chronicler inhabitants treated reorganized administration town established garrison assigned governor tribe general sultan muhammad conquered month long siege recorded inhabitants suffered greatly siege informed weak point fortress defense return promises safety entered town sacked surrendered joined service lord din ibn besieged conquered attempted invasion syria fell ill died shortly taken left control ruled subordinate son din captured years later din brother received sponsored negotiations lords period destroyed earthquake years later din granted territories certain ibn administer behalf according 14th century historian rebuilt assertion incorrect fortress built fell state point century end case new fortress known relocated kilometers west western bank original site ibn situated died territories reverted din nephew founder conquered muslim syria syrian coast hands early 12th century granted son hereditary according era chronicler time resident fortress rebuilt grandson easternmost fortress based principal centers personally oversaw demolition ruins construction new fortress remained hands descendants years annexation period sultan replaced governor officers egypt garrison commander held high place military hierarchy fortress north emerged principal invasions syria eastern frontier important fortress traditional muslim center valley 10th century large population refugees areas ruled settled people adjacent town site ibn modern day terminal stop postal route administrative center periods situated near tribal territory joined small army egypt based dispatched recapture baghdad reached stop rode damascus campaign ultimately failed killed ambush iraq inflicted significant damage wars fortress restored point end reign syria rebelled took refuge ibn requested intervention ruler help fled incoming army fortress failure capture month long siege commanded ruler marked final attempt invade son rebelled sultan muhammad pursued army far ensuing confrontation fortress destroyed ottoman era ottomans conquered syria iraq early 16th century military use apparently diminished middle ages road important syrian desert route importance declined ottoman rule shelter nearby villages flocks visited venetian traveler noted dilapidated fortress inhabitants known living french traveler mentioned kilometres southwest fortress travels circa french traveler passed mentioning fortress ruined site excavations fortress deteriorated considerably result erosion excavations carried including presumed site ibn bank auspices syria museums later years surveys site surrounding desert valleys carried multi disciplinary teams syrian american european archaeologists french plans elevations fortress detailed architecture excavations foot fortress revealed medieval settlement enclosure walls measured meters long meters high walls generally thickness meter unearthed structures probable remains khan mosque small cavalry barracks system canals brought fresh water emptied sewage artifacts found fortress settlement beneath pottery coins numerous feather belonging arrows left ongoing syrian civil war looting illegal digging occurred affected areas include fortress storage rooms medieval settlement foot architecture specifications components citadel described historian fortress fortress core consists story pentagon shaped roughly measuring meters enclosed pentagon shaped wall roughly measuring meters outer wall shape described triangle parallel angles having substituted short curtain walls artificial mound fortress sits moat depth meters width meters moat considerably deeper era desert fortresses large makes lowest floor built external walls fortress western southeastern sides contained largest largest measuring meters smallest meters supported heavy defensive artillery height surpassed towers probably forts locations isolated hills state art defensive artillery according contrast enemy siege engines placed close level fortress smallest northern vulnerable wall measures meters external walls fitted positioned meters higher counterparts external wall establish secondary defensive line enabled building defenders shoot arrows attackers breached external walls core building linked external fortifications corridors chambers construction phases large parts building ruins excavations determined went construction phases probably starting early period phase utilized different architectural techniques fortification concepts phases affected entire extent building time common theme phases restoration strengthening western southeastern sides faced desert plateau exposed areas fortress contrast northern facing population centers remained largely unchanged phase saw walls built common feature area structures shape building initial phase determined size likely corresponded current building small northern wall dates phase second phase construction added twice size northern new placed citadel faced desert west builders second phase reinforced walls roughly cut blocks fixed high quality mortar phase higher quality western curtain wall elevated southwestern curtain wall replaced decorated bands arabic inscriptions addition large brick dome built atop ground level chamber northwestern external walls fortress reached final form phase later decades fourth phase low lying casemates added western southwestern provide additional platform defenders use walls particularly eastern reinforced fifth phase attributes efforts contemporaries strengthen fortresses syria building technique phase likely necessitated significant funds equipment technical expertise changes including southeastern tower rebuilt northeastern tower reinforced additional wall vaulted story northern slope outer wall strengthened built large blocks building center erected phase likely replacing older structure courtyard major building phase sixth saw restoration eastern western external walls severely damaged northeastern smaller eastern western built masonry fifth phase reused reconstruction new limestone materials seventh eighth phases consisted western external walls
Al-Rahba