Crusader Castles – Lucy Whitehead

Beaufort Castle, Lebanon

Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

The Franks also had a long

border to defend. Castles
The Franks had a lack of
helped to address this issue as
manpower. Castles only needed a
they were usually placed near
few people to defend them important settlements, like
therefore they were ideal for the ports, rivers etc.
Franks.

The castle of Chastellet was

Castles were also ideal as they acted extremely important in 1187 when
as potential bases for further the crusaders lost the Battle of
expansion. Jacob’s Ford which eventually led to
them losing Jerusalem to Saladin.

A lot of castles were given to the

military orders as they had the
resources and money to maintain
the castles.