Mseilha Fort: Difference between revisions

Mseilha Fort
Mseilha Fort
Native name; قلعة المسيلحة (Arabic)
	The Mseilha Fort with the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory in the background
Location	Hamat, Caza of Batroun, Lebanon
Coordinates	34°16′26″N 35°41′24″E / 34.273804°N 35.690072°E
Built	c. 1624
Built for	Fakhr al-Din II
Governing body	Directorate General of Antiquities
	Location of Mseilha Fort in Lebanon

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The Mseilha Fort (Arabic: قلعة المسيلحة, romanized: Qal'at al-Msaylḥa) is a historic fortification located in northern Lebanon, strategically positioned on the right bank of the Al-Jaouz River, in Hamat, approximately 2.5 kilometers northeast of the city of Batroun in North Lebanon. The fort's location enabled it to oversee key passages through the valley and control the ancient pathways circumventing the coastal Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory, a significant geological formation along the Lebanese coast that historically posed challenges to travelers.

The name Mseilha originates from the Arabic term for "fortified place," a diminutive of musallaha* (Arabic: مسلحة), meaning "fortified." Constructed on a limestone rock formation, the current structure dates back to the 17th century, likely commissioned by Emir Fakhr al-Din II. It lacks Crusader-era architectural elements, though historical records suggest the site may have been fortified during the Crusades. The existing fort, a product of traditional sandstone masonry, consists of two main sections, fortified walls up to two meters thick, a triangular courtyard, and defensive arrowslits, with adaptive design suited to the surrounding terrain. The Mseilha Fort is conflated in some sources with the Puy du Connétable, a medieval Crusader estate and fortification that defended the nearby Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory. However, architectural and historical evidence suggests that these were distinct structures, with Mseilha constructed in the Ottoman period, likely on or near the site of the earlier Crusader fortifications. The Mseilha Fort has been featured on a 25 Lebanese Lira banknote.

Location

The Mseilha Fort stands on the right bank of Al-Jaouz river, to the south-east of Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory; a massive geological formation that cuts through the coast of Lebanon, making it historically difficult for travelers to circumvent.^[2] The fort is located within the municipal area of Hamat, 2.5 km (1.6 mi) northeast of Batroun,^[3] and is strategically located to control the crossing of the Al-Jaouz river and the pathways that climb the valley slopes or bypass the promontory.^[2]

Names and Etymology

Mseilha, derives from the Arabic word for "fortified place," being a diminutive form of musallaha (Arabic: مسلحة), meaning "fortified".^[3]^[4] An alternative romanization is: Qal'at al Mouseiliha,^[5] Musayliha,^[2] and Museiliha.^[6]

History

Strategic importance and early defenses

Following the collapse of the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory in the aftermath of the 551 CE earthquake,^[7] the coastal road linking the cities of Batroun, El-Heri and Tripoli was lost, transforming the northern shoreline into a high sea cliff.^[6]^[8] Consequently, a new road bypassing the promontory from the east was necessary to ensure communication between the coastal cities. Crossing the Nahr el-Jaouz valley, this road turns around Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory to reach the other side at a spot near El-Heri called Bab el-Hawa (meaning the "door of the wind").^[3] During the Crusades, the prominent land mass of Ras ash-Shaq'a held significant strategic value in the defense of the County of Tripoli. It guarded one of the region's most perilous road segments and overlooked the Bay of Heri, a coastal area well-suited for maritime landings. Due to its strategic importance, Ras ash-Shaq'a was designated as a separate lordship, distinct from the nearby fiefs of Nephin (modern Anfe) to the north and Boutron (modern Batroun) to the south.^[9] This territory was granted as a fief to the Constable of Tripoli, and there was likely a direct connection between holding the fortification of the fief and the office of constable.^[10]^[9]

Twelfth century historian of the First Crusade, Albert of Aix described the strategic position of the defensive fortification that then existed atop the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory to guard a narrow pass: ^[11]

This mountain, detached from the more distant mountain chain, extends over a vast area of land all the way to the sea. A tower that dominates and controls the route through one of its gates rises at the summit of this mountain. This small structure can hold no more than six men, but these few would be enough to defend the pass against all who live under the sky.^[12]

During the two centuries of Frankish occupation that followed, the Crusader Counts of Tripoli fortified Ras ash-Shaq'a, referring to the estate as "Puy du Connétable" (Hill of the Constable), "Puy Guillaume, and the mountain pass as "Passe Saint-Guillaume", all of which, according to historian Maxime Goepp likely also refer to the Mseilha Fort.^[11] In a 1109 document, Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, gifted the Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa full control over the Castle of the Constabulary (Latin: Castrum Constabularii) Gibellum (modern Jbeil), and one-third of Tripoli's territory.^[a]^[13] This lordship would be maintained until 1278, with the lords of Le Puy appearing as constables of the County up to that date.^[11] Around 1276, the vicinity of the Puy du Connétable was the site of a battle during the war between Guy II Embriaco of Gibelet and the Knights Templar against Bohemond VII, Count of Tripoli.^[14]

Connection to the Puy du Connétable

The Mseilha Fort is conflated in some sources with the Puy du Connétable,^[11] but the exact location and extent of the latter remains uncertain with historians like Emmanuel-Guillaume Rey (1837–1916),^[15] and Henri Lammens (1862–1937),^[16] suggesting that the Puy likely referred to the estate located north of the promontory in al-Heri,^[b]^[17]^[15] or to a previous structure at the location of the Mseilha Fort respectively.^[17] Scholars noted that while the rock on which the fort stands may have served as a military position in ancient times,^[18] the current fort structure does not include any elements from the Crusader era. The construction techniques, cutting methods, stone block sizes, and low arched doors and windows, among other elements, suggest that the current structure was built in the 17th century at the earliest.^[3] Nineteenth-century French historian Ernest Renan could not relate the architectural elements in Mseilha to anything earlier than the Middle Ages.^[6] Paul Deschamps, a 20th-century historian of Crusader architecture, confirmed the lack of any Crusader-era features in the current fort but did not rule out the possibility that it replaced earlier Crusader constructions, as surviving Frankish literature indicates the Crusaders had fortified the strategic pass between Ras ash-Shaq'a and the foothills of Mount Lebanon.^[5]^[3] Deschamps further posits, that the tower described by Albert of Aix during the march of the First Crusade in 1099 may have been located on the Mseilha rock, a theory echoed by French historians René Grousset and Jean Richard.^[5]^[19]^[20]

Modern scholars Davie and Salamé-Sarkis distinguish the Mseilha Fort from the historical Puy du Connétable. According to them, the entire promontory of Ras ash-Shaq'a was known from 1109^[13] to 1282^[21] in Crusader-era texts as Puy du Connétable.^[9] The estate was defended by the Castrum Constabularii, as mentioned in Bertrand of Saint-Gilles' 1109 document,^[13] which likely replaced an earlier tower described by Albert of Aix. According to scholars Davie and Salamé-Sarkis, this tower may have been situated at the summit of Jabal an-Nuriyya, a strategic position on the northern tip of the Ras al Shaq'a promontory, that enabled monitoring of both the mountain pass and the bay of Heri.^[9]

Historical mentions and construction

French traveler Jean de La Roque (1661–1743) passed near the Mseilha Fort in late 1689 on his route from Tripoli to Batroun. He recorded a local account attributing the fort's construction to Emir Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze former ruler of Lebanon.^[3] Nineteenth century Lebanese scholar Father Mansur Tannus al-Hattuni (1823–1910), recounting events of 1624, noted that Emir Fakhr al-Din II "ordered Sheikh Abu Nadir al-Khazin to construct the Mseilha Fort north of Batroun".^[c]^[23]^[3] Hattuni's source, Tannus al-Shidyaq (1794–1861), mentions that the fort was built by Fakhr al-Din II and added in his account of 1631—six years after the fort's construction—that Abu Nadir al-Khazin conducted restoration work on the fort.^[24]^[3] The year 1624 is accepted as the date of the fort's construction.^[3] Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (1784–1817), a Swiss traveler who visited the area in the early 19th century and confirmed that Mseilha Fort was of relatively recent origin.^[3] English traveler and clergyman Henry Maundrell (1665–1701), writing in 1697, referred to Mseilha Fort as 'Temseida,' likely a corruption of the local name due to Maundrell's limited familiarity with the language. He described it as a small fort perched upon a steep, perpendicular rock, with walls conforming to the rock's natural shape, commanding the passage into a narrow valley.^[25]

Image of a banknote with French writing — Reverse of the 1964 25 Lira banknote featuring the Mseilha Fort

Modern era

The Mseilha Fort was featured on the reverse of the 25 Lebanese Lira banknote issued between 1964 and 1983.^[26] In 2007, restoration works were undertaken to make the site safe for visitors. Funded by USAID, these works are a continuation of a project conducted by SRI International-INMA to rehabilitate the fort, in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture - Directorate General of Antiquities.^[3]

Architecture and description

The Mseilha fort is 15 m (49 ft) high,^[27] built on a narrow limestone rocky outcrop.^[28] Its walls range from 1.5 to 2 m (4.9 to 6.6 ft) in thickness, and were built with medium-sized sandstone blocks, although some larger limestone blocks are also present, likely repurposed from older structures.^[28]^[3] The fort was built in two phases, resulting in two adjoining sections that form a single architectural unit. It is approached through a narrow, steep path on the northern side of the rock, which incorporates steps carved directly into the bedrock. This path leads to a small masonry terrace and a low, rounded-arch doorway. The entrance opens into a narrow, triangular courtyard bordered by a two-bay vaulted building on the southern side, possibly used for storage, with as a cistern in its lower level.^[28] The curtain wall on the southern side rises approximately two meters higher than the northern wall, likely an intentional design to counterbalance the elevated mountain terrain to the south, which offers a natural strategic advantage controlling the entrance of the Nahr el-Jaouz valley.^[28] In the west tower, an archery chamber offers a vantage point with narrow arrow slits. The eastern section of the fort is more elevated and fortified, with a cluster of vaulted rooms surrounding a small inner courtyard. From this courtyard, a staircase leads to an upper level, where each room is similarly equipped with arrow slits for defense. At the easternmost tip, a square tower juts forward.^[28]

Van Berchem's sketches of the Mseilha Fort (1914)
The fort as seen from the North
East view of the fort
Ground floor plan
Partial upper floor plan
Cross section view of the fort
Main gate of the fort
West tower

Notes

^ The agreement read:
1109, June 26, indiction II. — Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, in the presence of Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, grants to the Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa, through the hands of William Embriaco, Oberto Ussumaris, Ingo Pedegola, Ansald Caput de Burgo, the entirety of Gibellum with its appurtenances, the Castle of the Constabulary, and also a third part of Tripoli from one sea up to another, as defined by the king's standard. Furthermore, it is promised to protect the islands of the city itself and the port, as well as their commerce and freedoms.^[13]
^ Misinterpreted as "Obreh" in Rey ^[15]
^ Abi Nadir al-Khazin was a muqaddam (tax collector), and key supporter and adjutant of Emir Fakhr al-Din II Ma'n. He held significant influence under Fakhr al-Din's rule, being tasked multiple times (in 1616, 1617, 1618, and 1621) with collecting taxes in the regions of Kisrawan, Jbeil, Batroun, and Jebbet Bsharri. In 1617, he was granted the tax farm of Kisrawan as an inheritable holding.^[22]

References

Citations

^ Lebanese Ministry of Culture 2004.
^ ^a ^b ^c Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, p. 5.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff 2007.
^ Berchem & Fatio 1914, p. 115.
^ ^a ^b ^c Deschamps 1973, p. 10.
^ ^a ^b ^c Renan 1864, p. 148.
^ John Malalas 2019, 18.485.
^ Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, pp. 23–27.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, pp. 31–32.
^ Richard 1945, pp. 49–50.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Goepp 2004.
^ Albert of Aix 1824, p. 307.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Röhricht 1893, p. 11, doc 55.
^ Grousset 1936, pp. 687–688.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rey 1883, p. 371.
^ Lammens 1906, pp. 268–270.
^ ^a ^b Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, p. 32.
^ Dussaud 1927, pp. 81–83.
^ Grousset 1934, p. 142.
^ Richard 1948, p. 56.
^ Röhricht 1893, p. 100, doc 1444.
^ van Leeuwen 1994, p. 82.
^ al-Ḥattūni 1884, p. 76.
^ Al-Shidyāq 1859, pp. 85, 326–329.
^ Maundrell 1740, p. 33.
^ Numista 2007.
^ Makarem 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Berchem & Fatio 1914, p. 114.

Sources

Albert of Aix (1824) [c. 1100]. Histoire des croisades [History of the Crusades] (in French). Dépôt central de la librairie (J.-L.-J. Brière).
Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff (26 December 2007). "لبنان: قلعة المسيلحة التاريخية رممت لتعود إلى الحياة" [Lebanon: The historic Mseilha Fortress has been restored to life]. Asharq Al-Awsat (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
Berchem, Max van; Fatio, Edmond (1914). Voyage en Syrie / par Max Van Berchem et [Voyage in Syria] (in French). Impr. de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale. pp. 113–116.
Davie, Michael F.; Salamé-Sarkis, Hassān (1990). "Le Théouprosopon-Ras Aš-ŠaQ'a (Liban): étude géo-historique" [The Theouprosopon-Ras Ash-Shaq'a (Lebanon): A Geo-Historical Study]. Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph (in French). 51. Beirut: Dar El-Machreq: 2–48.
Deschamps, Paul (1973). Les châteaux des croisés en Terre-Sainte (PDF) (in French). Vol. III - La défense du comté de Tripoli et de la Principauté d'Antioche. Paris: Paul Geuthner.
Dussaud, René (1927). "Chapitre II. De Tripoli à Carné. — L'Émésène" [Chapter II. From Tripoli to Carné. - The Emesene]. Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et médiévale [Historical topography of ancient and medieval Syria]. Bibliothèque archéologique et historique (in French). Beyrouth: Presses de l’Ifpo. pp. 75–115. ISBN 978-2-35159-464-3. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
Goepp, Maxime (2004). "Puy du Connétable". Forteresses d'Orient. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
Grousset, René (1934). Histoire des Croisades et du royaume franc de Jérusalem (in French). Vol. 1 - L'anarchie Musulmane et la Monarchie Franque. Plon.
Grousset, René (1936). Histoire des Croisades et du royaume franc de Jérusalem (in French). Vol. 3 - La Monarchie Musulmane et l'Anarchie Franque. Plon.
John Malalas (2019) [6th century AD]. "Chronography Bks 1-7, 10-18". Topostext. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
al-Ḥattūni, Manṣūr Tannūs (1884). نبذة تاريخية فى المقاطعة الكسروانية: تنطوى على مقدمة وثلاثة اقسام / Nabd̲a tārīḫīya fi ʼl-muqāṭaʻa al-Kasrawānīya: tantawi ʻala muqaddima wa-t̲alāt̲at aqsām [Historical Overview of the Kisrawan District: Containing an Introduction and Three Sections] (in Arabic). Beirut: Not specified. OCLC 235991808.
Khalil, Samir; R.Y. Ebied; Herman G.B. Teule (2004). Studies on the Christian Arabic heritage: in honour of Father Prof. Dr. Samir Khalil Samir S.I. at the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday. Eastern Christian studies. Vol. 5. Peeters Publishers. p. 364. ISBN 978-90-429-1464-3.
Lammens, Henri (1906). "Notes de Géographie Syrienne". Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph. 1 (1): 239–283. doi:10.3406/mefao.1906.895.
Lebanese Ministry of Culture (2004). "Ministère de la Culture" (in French). Archived from the original on 2004-11-24. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
van Leeuwen, Richard (1994). Notables and Clergy in Mount Lebanon: The Khāzin Sheikhs and the Maronite Church, 1736-1840. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-09978-4.
Makarem, May (20 October 2007). "Patrimoine - Les travaux de réhabilitation menés par la DGA sont financés par INMA, SRI et USAid Datant du XVIIe siècle, le fortin de Mseilha émerge d'un long sommeil" [Heritage - The rehabilitation work carried out by the DGA is funded by INMA, SRI, and USAID. Dating back to the 17th century, the Mseilha fort emerges from a long slumber]. L'Orient le Jour. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
Maundrell, Henry (1740) [1703]. A Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem at Easter, A.D. 1697. Oxford: A. Peisley.
Numista (2007). "25 Livres, Lebanon". Numista. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
Rey, Emmanuel-Guillaume (1883). Les colonies franques de Syrie aux XIIe et XIIIe siècles (in French).
Renan, Ernest (1864). Mission de Phénicie Dirigée par M. Ernest Renan [Mission to Phoenicia, directed by Mr. Ernest Renan] (in French). Paris: Imprimerie impériale. OCLC 763570479.
Richard, Jean (1945), "Chapitre III. Les institutions du comté de Ttripoli", Le comté de Tripoli sous la dynastie toulousaine (1102-1187), Bibliothèque archéologique et historique (in French), Beyrouth: Presses de l'Ifpo, pp. 44–57, ISBN 978-2-35159-537-4, retrieved 2024-10-28
Richard, Jean (1948). Questions de topographie Tripolitaine [Topographical Studies of Tripoli] (in French). Paris: Geuthner.
Röhricht, Reinhold (1893). Regesta regni Hierosolymitani (MXCVII-MCCXCI) (in Latin). Libraria Academica Wageriana.
Al-Shidyāq, Ṭannūs ibn Yūsuf (1859). كتاب اخبار الاعيان في جبل لبنان / Kitāb akhbār al-aʻyān fī Jabal Lubnān [The History of the Notables in Mount Lebanon] (in Arabic). Beirut: Not specified.

External links

Media related to Mseilha Fort at Wikimedia Commons

[14] The agreement read:
1109, June 26, indiction II. — Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, in the presence of Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, grants to the Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa, through the hands of William Embriaco, Oberto Ussumaris, Ingo Pedegola, Ansald Caput de Burgo, the entirety of Gibellum with its appurtenances, the Castle of the Constabulary, and also a third part of Tripoli from one sea up to another, as defined by the king's standard. Furthermore, it is promised to protect the islands of the city itself and the port, as well as their commerce and freedoms.^[13]

[18] Misinterpreted as "Obreh" in Rey ^[15]

[25] Abi Nadir al-Khazin was a muqaddam (tax collector), and key supporter and adjutant of Emir Fakhr al-Din II Ma'n. He held significant influence under Fakhr al-Din's rule, being tasked multiple times (in 1616, 1617, 1618, and 1621) with collecting taxes in the regions of Kisrawan, Jbeil, Batroun, and Jebbet Bsharri. In 1617, he was granted the tax farm of Kisrawan as an inheritable holding.^[22]

[FOOTNOTELebanese_Ministry_of_Culture2004-1] Lebanese Ministry of Culture 2004.

[FOOTNOTEDavieSalamé-Sarkis19905-2] Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, p. 5.

[FOOTNOTEAsharq_Al-Awsat_editorial_staff2007-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff 2007.

[FOOTNOTEBerchemFatio1914115-4] Berchem & Fatio 1914, p. 115.

[FOOTNOTEDeschamps197310-5] Deschamps 1973, p. 10.

[FOOTNOTERenan1864148-6] Renan 1864, p. 148.

[FOOTNOTEJohn_Malalas201918.485-7] John Malalas 2019, 18.485.

[FOOTNOTEDavieSalamé-Sarkis199023–27-8] Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, pp. 23–27.

[FOOTNOTEDavieSalamé-Sarkis199031–32-9] Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, pp. 31–32.

[FOOTNOTERichard194549–50-10] Richard 1945, pp. 49–50.

[FOOTNOTEGoepp2004-11] Goepp 2004.

[FOOTNOTEAlbert_of_Aix1824307-12] Albert of Aix 1824, p. 307.

[FOOTNOTERöhricht189311doc_55-13] Röhricht 1893, p. 11, doc 55.

[FOOTNOTEGrousset1936687–688-15] Grousset 1936, pp. 687–688.

[FOOTNOTERey1883371-16] Rey 1883, p. 371.

[FOOTNOTELammens1906268–270-17] Lammens 1906, pp. 268–270.

[FOOTNOTEDavieSalamé-Sarkis199032-19] Davie & Salamé-Sarkis 1990, p. 32.

[FOOTNOTEDussaud192781–83-20] Dussaud 1927, pp. 81–83.

[FOOTNOTEGrousset1934142-21] Grousset 1934, p. 142.

[FOOTNOTERichard194856-22] Richard 1948, p. 56.

[FOOTNOTERöhricht1893100doc_1444-23] Röhricht 1893, p. 100, doc 1444.

[FOOTNOTEvan_Leeuwen199482-24] van Leeuwen 1994, p. 82.

[FOOTNOTEal-Ḥattūni188476-26] -Ḥattūni 1884, p. 76.

[FOOTNOTEAl-Shidyāq185985,_326–329-27] Al-Shidyāq 1859, pp. 85, 326–329.

[FOOTNOTEMaundrell174033-28] Maundrell 1740, p. 33.

[FOOTNOTENumista2007-29] Numista 2007.

[FOOTNOTEMakarem2007-30] Makarem 2007.

[FOOTNOTEBerchemFatio1914114-31] Berchem & Fatio 1914, p. 114.

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | native_language = Arabic
 | image = Mseilha fort, Lebanon.jpg
-| caption = The Mseilha fort dominates the Nahr El Jawz valley from atop its rocky spur, as seen here from the south
+| caption = The Mseilha Fort with the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory in the background
 | built_for = [[Fakhr al-Din II]]
 | architecture =
-| governing_body = Directorate General of Antiquities<ref name="DGA">{{cite web | last = Lebanese Ministry of Culture | title = Ministère de la Culture | format = ministerial | access-date = 2009-09-23 | url = http://www.culture.gov.lb/Sections/main.ASP?page=Archeologie | language = fr | archive-date = 2004-11-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041124142200/http://www.culture.gov.lb/Sections/main.ASP?page=Archeologie | url-status = live }}</ref>
+| governing_body = Directorate General of Antiquities{{sfn|Lebanese Ministry of Culture | 2004}}
 | designation1 =
 | designation1_date =
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 | designation2_offname =
 | location = [[Hamat]], [[Batroun District|Caza of Batroun]], [[Lebanon]]
+| built = {{circa|1624}}
-| built = Present structure dates to the 17th century
 | architect =
 | coordinates = {{coord|34.273804|35.690072|display=inline,title}}
 | locmapin = Lebanon
+| beginning_date =
 }}
@@ Line 64: / Line 65: @@
 |caption2 =
 }}-->
+The '''Mseilha Fort''' ({{langx|ar|قلعة المسيلحة|Qal'at al-Msaylḥa}}) is a historic fortification located in northern Lebanon, strategically positioned on the right bank of the Al-Jaouz River, in [[Hamat]], approximately 2.5 kilometers northeast of the city of [[Batroun]] in [[North Lebanon]]. The fort's location enabled it to oversee key passages through the valley and control the ancient pathways circumventing the coastal [[Ras ash-Shaq'a|Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory]], a significant geological formation along the Lebanese coast that historically posed challenges to travelers.
-The '''Mseilha Fort''' ({{langx|ar|قلعة المسيلحة|Qal'at al-Msaylḥa}}) is a fortification situated north of the city of Batroun in [[Lebanon]]. The current fort was built by Emir [[Fakhr-al-Din II|Fakhreddine II]] in the 17th century to guard the route from [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]] to [[Beirut]].<ref name = "pfl">{{Cite book | publisher = Petit Futé | isbn = 978-2-7469-1632-6 | page = 333 | last = Auzias | first = Dominique |author2=Jean-Paul Labourdette |author3=Guillaume Boudisseau |author4=Christelle Thomas | title = Le Petit Futé Liban | year = 2008 }}</ref> The fort is built on a long, narrow limestone rock near the [[Nahr el-Jawz|Nahr el-Jaouz]] River. Its walls are constructed with small [[sandstone]] blocks quarried from the nearby coast and built onto the edge of the [[limestone]] rock. The thickness of the walls ranges from 1.5 to 2 meters (4 to 6.5 feet). The larger [[limestone block]]s are the only remains of an earlier structure probably built for the same defensive reason.
+The name ''Mseilha'' originates from the Arabic term for "fortified place," a diminutive of ''musallaha''* ({{langx|ar|مسلحة}}), meaning "fortified." Constructed on a [[limestone]] rock formation, the current structure dates back to the 17th century, likely commissioned by [[Fakhr al-Din II|Emir Fakhr al-Din II]]. It lacks [[Crusades|Crusader]]-era architectural elements, though historical records suggest the site may have been fortified during the Crusades. The existing fort, a product of traditional sandstone masonry, consists of two main sections, fortified walls up to two meters thick, a triangular [[courtyard]], and defensive [[arrowslit]]s, with adaptive design suited to the surrounding terrain. The Mseilha Fort is conflated in some sources with the Puy du Connétable, a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] Crusader estate and fortification that defended the nearby Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory. However, architectural and historical evidence suggests that these were distinct structures, with Mseilha constructed in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman period]], likely on or near the site of the earlier Crusader fortifications. The Mseilha Fort has been featured on a 25 [[Lebanese pound|Lebanese Lira]] banknote.
 == Location ==
-The fort stands on the right bank of [[Jaouz River|Al-Jaouz river]], south of  [[Theoprosopon|Ras ash-Shaq'a]] promontory, It is located within the municipal area of [[Hamat]], 2.5 kilometers northeast of [[Batroun]].{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}
+The Mseilha Fort stands on the right bank of [[Jaouz River|Al-Jaouz river]], to the south-east of [[Theoprosopon|Ras ash-Shaq'a]] promontory; a massive geological formation that cuts through the coast of Lebanon, making it historically difficult for travelers to circumvent.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=5}} The fort is located within the municipal area of [[Hamat]], {{Convert|2.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Batroun]],{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} and is strategically located to control the crossing of the Al-Jaouz river and the pathways that climb the valley slopes or bypass the promontory.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=5}}
 == Names and Etymology ==
-''Mseilha'', derives from the Arabic word for "fortified place," being a diminutive form of {{transl|ar|musallaha}} ({{Langx|ar|مسلحة}}), meaning "fortified".{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} An alternative romanization is: {{transl|ar|Qal'at al Mouseiliha}},{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}} and ''Museiliha''.{{Sfn|Renan|1864|p=148}}
+''Mseilha'', derives from the Arabic word for "fortified place," being a diminutive form of {{transl|ar|musallaha}} ({{Langx|ar|مسلحة}}), meaning "fortified".{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=115}} An alternative romanization is: {{transl|ar|Qal'at al Mouseiliha}},{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}} ''Musayliha'',{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=5}} and ''Museiliha''.{{Sfn|Renan|1864|p=148}}
-==Architecture and description==
-The Mseilha fort is {{Convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} high,{{Sfn|Makarem|2007}} built on a narrow limestone rock. Its walls range from {{cvt|1.5|to|2|m|ft|sp=us}} in thickness, and were built with medium-sized sandstone blocks, although some larger limestone blocks are also present, likely repurposed from older structures.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} The fort was built in two phases, resulting in two adjoining sections that form a cohesive architectural unit. It is approached through a narrow path and small stairway cut into the northern side of the bedrock. A small platform precedes the low arched main gate.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}
-The main gate leads to a vaulted [[vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]], followed by a narrow triangular [[courtyard]], giving access to a small one meter (3 feet) wide passageway leading to the archery room of the west tower. At the southern side of the courtyard, two vaulted bays are constructed within a separate architectural block over large underground arched halls used as warehouses and [[cistern]]s.
-The more elevated part of the fort is accessed through the east side of the main courtyard. A doorway leading to a hall, followed by three vaulted rooms, gives access to the eastern tower. An internal stairway leads to the room on the first floor. This section is the most fortified and equipped part of the castle due to its strategic position controlling the entrance of the Nahr el-Jaouz valley.
 ==History==
+=== Strategic importance and early defenses ===
-[[File:Mseilha fort and bridge, Lebanon.jpg|thumb|Mseilha Fort and medieval bridge.]]
+[[File:Mseilha fort and bridge, Lebanon.jpg|thumb|Mseilha Fort and medieval bridge.]]Following the collapse of the [[Theoprosopon|Ras ash-Shaq'a]] promontory in the aftermath of the [[551 Beirut earthquake|551 CE earthquake]],{{Sfn|John Malalas|2019|loc=18.485}} the coastal road linking the cities of Batroun, El-Heri and Tripoli was lost, transforming the northern shoreline into a high sea cliff.{{Sfn|Renan|1864|p=148}}{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=23–27|1990}} Consequently, a new road bypassing the promontory from the east was necessary to ensure communication between the coastal cities. Crossing the Nahr el-Jaouz valley, this road turns around Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory to reach the other side at a spot near El-Heri called Bab el-Hawa (meaning the "door of the wind").{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} During the Crusades, the prominent land mass of Ras ash-Shaq'a held significant strategic value in the defense of the [[County of Tripoli]]. It guarded one of the region's most perilous road segments and overlooked the Bay of Heri, a coastal area well-suited for [[Invasion|maritime landings]]. Due to its strategic importance, Ras ash-Shaq'a was designated as a separate [[lordship]], distinct from the nearby [[fief]]s of [[Anfeh|Nephin]] (modern [[Anfeh|Anfe]]) to the north and Boutron (modern Batroun) to the south.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}} This territory was granted as a fief to the [[Constable]] of Tripoli, and there was likely a direct connection between holding the fortification of the fief and the office of constable.{{Sfn|Richard|1945|pp=49–50}}{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}}
+Twelfth century historian of the [[First Crusade]], [[Albert of Aix]] described the strategic position of the defensive fortification that then existed atop the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory to guard a narrow pass: {{Sfn|Goepp|2004}}
-=== Historical strategic importance ===
-Following the [[Theoprosopon|promontory of Ras ash-Shaq'a]] collapse in the aftermath of the [[551 Beirut earthquake|551 CE earthquake]], the coastal road linking the cities of Batroun, El-Heri and Tripoli completely disappeared, transforming the northern shoreline into a high sea cliff.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=23–27|1990}} Consequently, a new road bypassing the promontory from the east was necessary to ensure communication between Batroun and the North. Crossing the Nahr el-Jaouz valley, this road turns around [[Theoprosopon|Ras ash-Shaq'a]] promontory to reach the other side at a spot near El-Heri called Bab el-Hawa (meaning the "door of the wind").{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} During the Crusades, the prominent land mass of Ras ash-Shaq'a held significant strategic value in the defense of the County of Tripoli. It guarded one of the region's most perilous road segments and overlooked the Bay of Heri, a coastal area well-suited for maritime landings. Due to its strategic importance, Ras ash-Shaq'a was designated as a separate lordship, distinct from the nearby fiefs of [[Anfeh|Nephin]] to the north and [[Batroun|Boutron]] to the south.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}} This territory was granted as a fief to the Constable of Tripoli, and there was likely a direct connection between holding the fortification of the Puy and the office of constable.{{Sfn|Richard|1945|pp=49–50}}{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}}
-Twelfth century historian of the [[First Crusade]], [[Albert of Aix]] described the strategic position of the defensive fortification that then existed atop the Ras ash-Shaq'a to guard a narrow pass: {{Sfn|Goepp|2004}}
 {{Quote2|This mountain, detached from the more distant mountain chain, extends over a vast area of land all the way to the sea. A tower that dominates and controls the route through one of its gates rises at the summit of this mountain. This small structure can hold no more than six men, but these few would be enough to defend the pass against all who live under the sky.{{sfn| Albert of Aix|1824|p=307}}}}
-The location of this structure, is still uncertain. During the two centuries of Frankish occupation that followed, the Crusader Counts of Tripoli fortified Ras ash-Shaq'a, referring to the estate as "Puy du Connétable" (Hill of the Constable), "Puy Guillaume:, and the mountain pass as "Passe Saint-Guillaume", all of which, according to Goepp likely also refer to the Mseilha fort.{{Sfn|Goepp|2004}} In a 1109 document, Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, gifted the [[Genoa Cathedral|Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa]] full control over the Castle of the Constabulary ({{Langx|la|Castrum Constabularii}}) [[Byblos|Gibellum]], and one-third of Tripoli's territory.{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} This lordship would be maintained until 1278, with the lords of Le Puy appearing as constables of the County up to that date.{{Sfn|Goepp|2004}} The agreement read:
+During the two centuries of Frankish occupation that followed, the Crusader [[Count of Tripoli|Counts of Tripoli]] fortified Ras ash-Shaq'a, referring to the estate as "Puy du Connétable" (Hill of the Constable), "Puy Guillaume, and the mountain pass as "Passe Saint-Guillaume", all of which, according to historian Maxime Goepp likely also refer to the Mseilha Fort.{{Sfn|Goepp|2004}} In a 1109 document, [[Bertrand, Count of Toulouse|Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles]], gifted the [[Genoa Cathedral|Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa]] full control over the Castle of the Constabulary ({{Langx|la|Castrum Constabularii}}) [[Byblos|Gibellum]] (modern Jbeil), and one-third of Tripoli's territory.{{Efn|The agreement read: {{quote2|1109, June 26, indiction II. — Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, in the presence of Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, grants to the Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa, through the hands of William Embriaco, Oberto Ussumaris, Ingo Pedegola, Ansald Caput de Burgo, the entirety of Gibellum with its appurtenances, the Castle of the Constabulary, and also a third part of Tripoli from one sea up to another, as defined by the king's standard. Furthermore, it is promised to protect the islands of the city itself and the port, as well as their commerce and freedoms.{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}}}}}}{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} This lordship would be maintained until 1278, with the lords of Le Puy appearing as constables of the County up to that date.{{Sfn|Goepp|2004}} Around 1276, the vicinity of the Puy du Connétable was the site of a battle during the war between [[Guy II Embriaco]] of [[Byblos|Gibelet]] and the [[Knights Templar]] against [[Bohemond VII of Antioch|Bohemond VII]], Count of Tripoli.{{Sfn|Grousset|1936|pp=687–688}}
-{{Quote2|1109, June 26, indiction II. — Bertrand, Count of Saint-Gilles, in the presence of Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, grants to the Church of St. Lawrence of Genoa, through the hands of William Embriaco, Oberto Ussumaris, Ingo Pedegola, Ansald Caput de Burgo, the entirety of Gibellum with its appurtenances, the Castle of the Constabulary, and also a third part of Tripoli from one sea up to another, as defined by the king's standard. Furthermore, it is promised to protect the islands of the city itself and the port, as well as their commerce and freedoms.{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}}}}
-Around 1276, the vicinity of the Puy du Connétable was the site of a battle during the conflict between Guy II Embriaco of Gibelet and the Knights Templar against Bohemond VII, Count of Tripoli.{{Sfn|Grousset|1936|pp=687–688}}
-The exact location of the ''Puy'' remains uncertain, historians like [[Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey|Emmanuel-Guillaume Rey]] (1837-1916),{{Sfn|Rey|1883|p=371}} and [[Henri Lammens]] (1862–1937),{{Sfn|Lammens|1906|pp=268–270}} suggest that the Puy du Connétable likely referred to the estate located north of the promontory in al-Heri (Obreh in Rey),{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=32}}{{Sfn|Rey|1883|p=371}} or to a previous structure at the location of the Mseilha Fort respectively.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=32}}
-=== Early historical mentions and construction ===
-[[File:2006 Mseilha Fort Batroun Lebanon 7352310250.jpg|thumb|A lateral view of the Mseilha fort, Lebanon]]French traveler [[Jean de la Roque|Jean de La Roque]] (1661–1743) passed near the Mseilha Fort in late 1689 on his route from Tripoli to Batroun. He recorded a local account attributing the fort's construction to [[Fakhr al-Din II|Emir Fakhr al-Din II]], the [[Druze]] former ruler of Lebanon.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} Nineteenth century Lebanese scholar Father [[Mansour al-Hatouni|Mansur Tannus al-Hattuni]] (1823–1910), recounting events of 1624, noted that [[Fakhr al-Din II|Emir Fakhr al-Din II]] "ordered Sheikh [[Khazen family|Abu Nadir al-Khazin]] to construct the Mseilha Fort north of Batroun".{{Efn|Abi Nadir al-Khazin was a ''muqaddam'' (tax collector), and key supporter and adjutant of Emir Fakhr al-Din II Ma'n. He held significant influence under Fakhr al-Din's rule, being tasked multiple times (in 1616, 1617, 1618, and 1621) with collecting taxes in the regions of Kisrawan, Jbeil, Batroun, and Jebbet Bsharri. In 1617, he was granted the tax farm of Kisrawan as an inheritable holding.{{sfn|van Leeuwen|1994|p=82}}}}{{Sfn|al-Ḥattūni|1804|p=76}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} [[Tannus al-Shidyaq]] (1794–1861), his source mentions that the fort was built by Fakhr al-Din II and added in his account of 1631—six years after the fort's construction—that Abu Nadir al-Khazin conducted restoration work on the fort.{{Sfn|Al-Shidyāq|1859|pp=85, 326–329}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}  The year 1624 is accepted as the date of the fort's construction, this date is further corroborated by [[Johann Ludwig Burckhardt]] (1784–1817), a Swiss traveler who visited the area in the early 19th century and confirmed that Mseilha Fort was of relatively recent origin.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} English traveler and clergyman Henry Maundrell (1665–1701), writing in 1697, referred to Mseilha Fort as 'Temseida,' likely a corruption of the local name due to Maundrell's limited familiarity with the language. He described it as a small fort perched upon a steep, perpendicular rock, with walls conforming to the rock's natural shape, commanding the passage into a narrow valley.{{Sfn|Maundrell|1740|p=33}}[[File:Mseilha fort floor plan.svg|thumb|The Mseilha Fort floor plan]]
 === Connection to the Puy du Connétable ===
+[[File:Along the coast to Tripoli. Ras Esh Shekka. General view of the promontory LOC matpc.15432.jpg|alt=seaside cliff with sea|thumb|Picture of the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory viewed from al-Heri (1920)]]
-A number of scholars have studied the history and architecture of Mseilha. Some assume that the rock on which the fort stands was used since ancient times as a military position. However, the fort does not include in its current construction any element related to an earlier period, even the [[Crusades]]. The construction techniques, cutting methods, stone block sizes, and low arched doors and windows, among other elements, suggest that the current structure was built in the 17th century at the earliest.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007|p=}}  Nineteenth-century French historian [[Ernest Renan]] could not relate the architectural elements in Mseilha to anything earlier than the [[Middle Ages|Middle Age]].{{Sfn|Renan|1864|p=148}} [[Paul Deschamps]], a 20th-century historian of Crusader architecture, confirmed the lack of any Crusader-era features in the current fort but did not rule out the possibility that it replaced earlier Crusader constructions, as surviving Frankish literature indicates the Crusaders had fortified the strategic pass between Ras ash-Shaq'a and the foothills of [[Mount Lebanon]].{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007|p=}}  Deschamps further posits, that the tower described by Albert of Aix (5) during the march of the First Crusade in 1099 was located on the Mseilha rock, a theory echoed by French historians [[René Grousset]] and [[Jean Richard (historian)|Jean Richard]].{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}}{{Sfn|Grousset|1934|p=142}}{{Sfn|Richard|1948|p=56}}
+The Mseilha Fort is conflated in some sources with the Puy du Connétable,{{Sfn|Goepp|2004}} but the exact location and extent of the latter remains uncertain with historians like [[Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey|Emmanuel-Guillaume Rey]] (1837–1916),{{Sfn|Rey|1883|p=371}} and [[Henri Lammens]] (1862–1937),{{Sfn|Lammens|1906|pp=268–270}} suggesting that the Puy likely referred to the estate located north of the promontory in al-Heri,{{Efn|Misinterpreted as "Obreh" in Rey {{sfn|Rey|1883|p=371}}}}{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=32}}{{Sfn|Rey|1883|p=371}} or to a previous structure at the location of the Mseilha Fort respectively.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=|1990|p=32}}  Scholars noted that while the rock on which the fort stands may have served as a military position in ancient times,{{Sfn|Dussaud|1927|pp=81–83}} the current fort structure does not include any elements from the Crusader era. The construction techniques, cutting methods, stone block sizes, and low [[arched]] doors and windows, among other elements, suggest that the current structure was built in the 17th century at the earliest.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007|p=}}  Nineteenth-century French historian [[Ernest Renan]] could not relate the architectural elements in Mseilha to anything earlier than the [[Middle Ages]].{{Sfn|Renan|1864|p=148}} [[Paul Deschamps]], a 20th-century historian of Crusader architecture, confirmed the lack of any Crusader-era features in the current fort but did not rule out the possibility that it replaced earlier Crusader constructions, as surviving Frankish literature indicates the Crusaders had fortified the strategic pass between Ras ash-Shaq'a and the foothills of [[Mount Lebanon]].{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007|p=}}  Deschamps further posits, that the tower described by Albert of Aix during the march of the [[First Crusade]] in 1099 may have been located on the Mseilha rock, a theory echoed by French historians [[René Grousset]] and [[Jean Richard (historian)|Jean Richard]].{{Sfn|Deschamps|1973|p=10}}{{Sfn|Grousset|1934|p=142}}{{Sfn|Richard|1948|p=56}}
-Modern scholars Davie and Salame-Sarkis don't conflate the Puy du Connétable with the Mseilha fort. According to them, the entire promontory of Ras ash-Shaq'a was known from 1109{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} to 1282{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=100|loc=doc 1444}} in Crusader-era texts as ''Puy du Connétable''.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}} The estate was defended by a fortification known as ''Castrum Constabularii''. This fortification, mentioned in a document from 1109,{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} likely replaced an earlier tower described by Albert of Aix. It may have been situated at the summit of Jabal an-Nuriyya, positioned to monitor both the mountain pass and the Bay of Heri.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}}
+Modern scholars Davie and Salamé-Sarkis distinguish the Mseilha Fort from the historical Puy du Connétable. According to them, the entire promontory of Ras ash-Shaq'a was known from 1109{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} to 1282{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=100|loc=doc 1444}} in Crusader-era texts as ''Puy du Connétable''.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}} The estate was defended by the ''Castrum Constabularii'', as mentioned in Bertrand of Saint-Gilles' 1109 document,{{Sfn|Röhricht|1893|p=11|loc=doc 55}} which likely replaced an earlier tower described by Albert of Aix. According to  scholars Davie and Salamé-Sarkis, this tower may have been situated at the summit of [[Our Lady of Nourieh|Jabal an-Nuriyya]], a strategic position on the northern tip of the Ras al Shaq'a promontory, that enabled monitoring of both the mountain pass and the bay of Heri.{{Sfn|Davie|Salamé-Sarkis|pp=31–32|1990}}
-=== 21st century ===
+=== Historical mentions and construction ===
+[[File:2006 Mseilha Fort Batroun Lebanon 7352310250.jpg|thumb|A lateral view of the Mseilha fort, Lebanon]]French traveler [[Jean de la Roque|Jean de La Roque]] (1661–1743) passed near the Mseilha Fort in late 1689 on his route from Tripoli to Batroun. He recorded a local account attributing the fort's construction to [[Fakhr al-Din II|Emir Fakhr al-Din II]], the [[Druze]] former ruler of Lebanon.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} Nineteenth century Lebanese scholar Father [[Mansour al-Hatouni|Mansur Tannus al-Hattuni]] (1823–1910), recounting events of 1624, noted that Emir Fakhr al-Din II "ordered Sheikh [[Khazen family|Abu Nadir al-Khazin]] to construct the Mseilha Fort north of Batroun".{{Efn|Abi Nadir al-Khazin was a ''muqaddam'' (tax collector), and key supporter and adjutant of Emir Fakhr al-Din II Ma'n. He held significant influence under Fakhr al-Din's rule, being tasked multiple times (in 1616, 1617, 1618, and 1621) with collecting taxes in the regions of Kisrawan, Jbeil, Batroun, and Jebbet Bsharri. In 1617, he was granted the tax farm of Kisrawan as an inheritable holding.{{sfn|van Leeuwen|1994|p=82}}}}{{Sfn|al-Ḥattūni|1884|p=76}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} Hattuni's source, [[Tannus al-Shidyaq]] (1794–1861), mentions that the fort was built by Fakhr al-Din II and added in his account of 1631—six years after the fort's construction—that Abu Nadir al-Khazin conducted restoration work on the fort.{{Sfn|Al-Shidyāq|1859|pp=85, 326–329}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}  The year 1624 is accepted as the date of the fort's construction.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} [[Johann Ludwig Burckhardt]] (1784–1817), a Swiss traveler who visited the area in the early 19th century and confirmed that Mseilha Fort was of relatively recent origin.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} English traveler and clergyman Henry Maundrell (1665–1701), writing in 1697, referred to Mseilha Fort as 'Temseida,' likely a corruption of the local name due to Maundrell's limited familiarity with the language. He described it as a small fort perched upon a steep, perpendicular rock, with walls conforming to the rock's natural shape, commanding the passage into a narrow valley.{{Sfn|Maundrell|1740|p=33}}
-In 2007, restoration works were undertaken to make the site safe for visitors. Funded by [[USAID]], these works are a continuation of a project conducted by [[SRI International]]-INMA to rehabilitate the fort, in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture - Directorate General of Antiquities.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}
+[[File:25-Livres-back-Lebanon-1964.jpg|alt=Image of a banknote with French writing|thumb|Reverse of the 1964 25 Lira banknote featuring the Mseilha Fort]]
-== The Mseilha inscription ==
+=== Modern era ===
+The Mseilha Fort was featured on the reverse of the 25 [[Lebanese pound|Lebanese Lira]] banknote issued between 1964 and 1983.{{Sfn|Numista|2007}} In 2007, restoration works were undertaken to make the site safe for visitors. Funded by [[USAID]], these works are a continuation of a project conducted by [[SRI International]]-INMA to rehabilitate the fort, in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture - Directorate General of Antiquities.{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}}
-A Roman inscriptions, said to have been discovered in the Mseilha Fort by townspeople of Abrin who brought it to their town. The inscription was described by German classical scholar Theodor Mommsen in 1873, and marks the territorial boundaries of a "Sidonian village" and "Gigarta".{{Sfn|Mommsen|Hirschfeld|Domaszewski|1873|p=31|loc=insc. 183}}
-{| class="wikitable"
-|+
-!Latin Inscription
-!Translation
-|-
-|
-|Boundaries placed between
-the Caesarean people towards
+==Architecture and description==
-Libanum and Gigarta,
+The Mseilha fort is {{Convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} high,{{Sfn|Makarem|2007}} built on a narrow limestone rocky outcrop.{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=114}} Its walls range from {{cvt|1.5|to|2|m|ft|sp=us}} in thickness, and were built with medium-sized sandstone blocks, although some larger limestone blocks are also present, likely repurposed from older structures.{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=114}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2007}} The fort was built in two phases, resulting in two adjoining sections that form a single architectural unit. It is approached through a narrow, steep path on the northern side of the rock, which incorporates steps carved directly into the [[bedrock]]. This path leads to a small [[masonry]] terrace and a low, [[Basket-handle arch|rounded-arch]] doorway. The entrance opens into a narrow, triangular [[courtyard]] bordered by a two-bay [[Vault (architecture)|vaulted]] building on the southern side, possibly used for storage, with as a [[cistern]] in its lower level.{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=114}}  The [[Curtain wall (fortification)|curtain wall]] on the southern side rises approximately two meters higher than the northern wall, likely an intentional design to counterbalance the elevated mountain terrain to the south, which offers a natural strategic advantage controlling the entrance of the Nahr el-Jaouz valley.{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=114}} In the west tower, an archery chamber offers a vantage point with narrow arrow slits. The eastern section of the fort is more elevated and fortified, with a cluster of vaulted rooms surrounding a small inner courtyard. From this courtyard, a staircase leads to an upper level, where each room is similarly equipped with arrow slits for defense. At the easternmost tip, a square tower juts forward.{{Sfn|Berchem|Fatio|1914|p=114}}
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="110" caption="Van Berchem's sketches of the Mseilha Fort (1914)">
-we, the people of the Sidonian village,
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)2.jpg|The fort as seen from the North
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914).jpg|East view of the fort
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)3.jpg|Ground floor plan
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)4.jpg|Partial upper floor plan
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)5.jpg|Cross section view of the fort
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)6.jpg|Main gate of the fort
+File:Mseilha Fort sketch (van Berchem, 1914)7.jpg|West tower
+</gallery>
+== See also ==
-by order of the (governor/legate)
+* {{Annotated link|Museiliha inscription}}
-through the lord (emperor?)...
-|}
-Discovered in the village of Abrin (said to have been brought from the castle of Museilha) near the Nahr el Djôz, not far from the town of Batroun; now in the Paris museum.
 == Notes ==
@@ Line 138: / Line 125: @@
 === Sources ===
-* {{Cite book |last=Albert of Aix |first= |author-link=Albert of Aix |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Histoire_des_croisades/zsCT2hLtEUYC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |title=Histoire des croisades |date=1824 |publisher=Dépôt central de la librairie (J.-L.-J. Brière) |language=fr |trans-title=History of the Crusades |orig-date=c. 1100}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Albert of Aix |author-link=Albert of Aix |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zsCT2hLtEUYC |title=Histoire des croisades |date=1824 |publisher=Dépôt central de la librairie (J.-L.-J. Brière) |language=fr |trans-title=History of the Crusades |orig-date=c. 1100}}
 * {{Cite web |last=Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff |date=26 December 2007 |title=لبنان: قلعة المسيلحة التاريخية رممت لتعود إلى الحياة |trans-title=Lebanon: The historic Mseilha Fortress has been restored to life |url=https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?article=451346&issueno=10620 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903020234/https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?article=451346&issueno=10620 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Asharq Al-Awsat |language=ar}}
+* {{Cite book |last1=Berchem |first1=Max van |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k147418p |title=Voyage en Syrie / par Max Van Berchem et |last2=Fatio |first2=Edmond |date=1914 |publisher=Impr. de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale |pages=113–116 |language=fr |trans-title=Voyage in Syria}}
-* {{Cite journal |trans-title=The Theouprosopon-Ras Ash-Shaq'a (Lebanon): A Geo-Historical Study |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/M%C3%A9langes_de_l_Universit%C3%A9_Saint_Joseph/nlgqAQAAIAAJ |title=Le Théouprosopon-Ras Aš-ŠaQ'a (Liban): étude géo-historique |last=Davie |first=Michael F. |last2=Salamé-Sarkis |first2=Hassān |date=1990 |publisher=Dar El-Machreq |volume=51 |pages=2-48 |location=Beirut |journal=Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph |language=fr}}
+* {{Cite journal |trans-title=The Theouprosopon-Ras Ash-Shaq'a (Lebanon): A Geo-Historical Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nlgqAQAAIAAJ |title=Le Théouprosopon-Ras Aš-ŠaQ'a (Liban): étude géo-historique |last1=Davie |first1=Michael F. |last2=Salamé-Sarkis |first2=Hassān |date=1990 |publisher=Dar El-Machreq |volume=51 |pages=2–48 |location=Beirut |journal=Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph |language=fr}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Deschamps |first=Paul |url=https://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/a/a138216.pdf#page=392.40 |title=Les châteaux des croisés en Terre-Sainte |date=1973 |publisher=Paul Geuthner |volume=III -  La défense du comté de Tripoli et de la Principauté d'Antioche |location=Paris |language=fr}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Deschamps |first=Paul |url=https://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/a/a138216.pdf#page=392.40 |title=Les châteaux des croisés en Terre-Sainte |date=1973 |publisher=Paul Geuthner |volume=III - La défense du comté de Tripoli et de la Principauté d'Antioche |location=Paris |language=fr}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Dussaud |first=René |title=Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et médiévale |date=1927 |pages=75–115 |url=https://books.openedition.org/ifpo/3699#anchor-toc-1-1 |access-date=2024-11-10 |series=Bibliothèque archéologique et historique |place=Beyrouth |publisher=Presses de l’Ifpo |language=fr |trans-title=Historical topography of ancient and medieval Syria |chapter=Chapitre II. De Tripoli à Carné. — L’Émésène |trans-chapter=Chapter II. From Tripoli to Carné. - The Emesene |isbn=978-2-35159-464-3}}
 * {{Cite web |last=Goepp |first=Maxime |date=2004 |title=Puy du Connétable |url=http://www.orient-latin.com/fortresses/mseilha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608212606/http://orient-latin.com/fortresses/mseilha |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Forteresses d'Orient}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Grousset |first=René |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Histoire_des_Croisades_et_du_royaume_fra/2VC4wwEACAAJ?hl=en |title=Histoire des Croisades et du royaume franc de Jérusalem |date=1934 |publisher=Plon |volume=1 -  L'anarchie Musulmane et la Monarchie Franque |language=fr}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Grousset |first=René |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VC4wwEACAAJ |title=Histoire des Croisades et du royaume franc de Jérusalem |date=1934 |publisher=Plon |volume=1 - L'anarchie Musulmane et la Monarchie Franque |language=fr}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Grousset |first=René |url= |title=Histoire des Croisades et du royaume franc de Jérusalem |date=1936 |publisher=Plon |language=fr|volume=3 - La Monarchie Musulmane et l'Anarchie Franque}}
+* {{Cite web |last=John Malalas |date=2019 |orig-date=6th century AD |title=Chronography Bks 1-7, 10-18 |url=https://topostext.org/work/793 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112084321/https://topostext.org/work/793 |archive-date=12 November 2024 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Topostext}}
-* {{Cite book |last=al-Ḥattūni |first=Manṣūr Tannūs |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B0%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%81%D9%89_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7/94w4_LnRNFQC |title=نبذة تاريخية فى المقاطعة الكسروانية: تنطوى على مقدمة وثلاثة اقسام /  Nabd̲a tārīḫīya fi ʼl-muqāṭaʻa al-Kasrawānīya: tantawi ʻala muqaddima wa-t̲alāt̲at aqsām |date=1884 |publisher=Not specified |location=Beirut |language=ar |trans-title=Historical Overview of the Kisrawan District: Containing an Introduction and Three Sections |oclc=235991808}}
+* {{Cite book |last=al-Ḥattūni |first=Manṣūr Tannūs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=94w4_LnRNFQC |title=نبذة تاريخية فى المقاطعة الكسروانية: تنطوى على مقدمة وثلاثة اقسام / Nabd̲a tārīḫīya fi ʼl-muqāṭaʻa al-Kasrawānīya: tantawi ʻala muqaddima wa-t̲alāt̲at aqsām |date=1884 |publisher=Not specified |location=Beirut |language=ar |trans-title=Historical Overview of the Kisrawan District: Containing an Introduction and Three Sections |oclc=235991808}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Khalil |first=Samir |title=Studies on the Christian Arabic heritage: in honour of Father Prof. Dr. Samir Khalil Samir S.I. at the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday |author2=R.Y. Ebied |author3=Herman G.B. Teule |publisher=Peeters Publishers |year=2004 |isbn=978-90-429-1464-3 |series=Eastern Christian studies |volume=5 |page=364}}
 * {{Cite journal |last=Lammens |first=Henri |date=1906 |title=Notes de Géographie Syrienne |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/mefao_0256-5587_1906_num_1_1_895 |journal=Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=239–283 |doi=10.3406/mefao.1906.895}}
+* {{cite web |last=Lebanese Ministry of Culture |date=2004 |title=Ministère de la Culture |url=http://www.culture.gov.lb/Sections/main.ASP?page=Archeologie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124142200/http://www.culture.gov.lb/Sections/main.ASP?page=Archeologie |archive-date=2004-11-24 |access-date=2009-09-23 |language=fr |format=}}
-* {{Cite book |last=van Leeuwen |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.nl/books?redir_esc=y&id=IFDkfiE-ZUcC |title=Notables and Clergy in Mount Lebanon: The Khāzin Sheikhs and the Maronite Church, 1736-1840 |date=1994 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-09978-4 |language=en}}
+* {{Cite book |last=van Leeuwen |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IFDkfiE-ZUcC |title=Notables and Clergy in Mount Lebanon: The Khāzin Sheikhs and the Maronite Church, 1736-1840 |date=1994 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-09978-4 |language=en}}
 * {{Cite news |last=Makarem |first=May |date=20 October 2007 |title=Patrimoine - Les travaux de réhabilitation menés par la DGA sont financés par INMA, SRI et USAid Datant du XVIIe siècle, le fortin de Mseilha émerge d'un long sommeil |trans-title=Heritage - The rehabilitation work carried out by the DGA is funded by INMA, SRI, and USAID. Dating back to the 17th century, the Mseilha fort emerges from a long slumber |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/573368/Patrimoine_-_Les_travaux_de_rehabilitation_menes_par_la_DGA_sont_finances_par_INMA%252C_SRI_et_USAidDatant_du_XVIIe_siecle%252C_le_fortin_de_Mseilha_emerg.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527150812/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/573368/Patrimoine_-_Les_travaux_de_rehabilitation_menes_par_la_DGA_sont_finances_par_INMA%2C_SRI_et_USAidDatant_du_XVIIe_siecle%2C_le_fortin_de_Mseilha_emerg.html |archive-date=27 May 2016 |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=L'Orient le Jour}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Maundrell |first=Henry |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/A_Journey_from_Aleppo_to_Jerusalem_at_Ea/GVRKAAAAYAAJ?hl=en |title=A Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem at Easter, A.D. 1697 |date=1740 |publisher=A. Peisley |location=Oxford |language=en |orig-date=1703}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Maundrell |first=Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GVRKAAAAYAAJ |title=A Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem at Easter, A.D. 1697 |date=1740 |publisher=A. Peisley |location=Oxford |language=en |orig-date=1703}}
+* {{Cite web |last=Numista |date=2007 |title=25 Livres, Lebanon |url=https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note213112.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103091114/https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note213112.html |archive-date=3 November 2024 |access-date=3 November 2024 |website=Numista |language=en}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Mommsen |first=Theodor |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Inscriptiones_Asiae_provinciarum_Europae/3xOmnCwwDHMC |title=Inscriptiones Asiae provinciarum Europae Graecarum Illyrici Latinae |last2=Hirschfeld |first2=Otto |last3=Domaszewski |first3=Alfredus |date=1873 |publisher=Georgius Reimerus |language=la}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Rey |first=Emmanuel-Guillaume |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6275863f |title=Les colonies franques de Syrie aux XIIe et XIIIe siècles |date=1883 |language=fr}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Renan |first=Ernest |author-link=Ernest Renan |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5529563s |title=Mission de Phénicie Dirigée par M. Ernest Renan |date=1864 |publisher=Imprimerie impériale |location=Paris |language=fr |trans-title=Mission to Phoenicia, directed by Mr. Ernest Renan |oclc=763570479}}
 * {{Citation |last=Richard |first=Jean |title=Chapitre III. Les institutions du comté de Ttripoli |date=1945 |work=Le comté de Tripoli sous la dynastie toulousaine (1102-1187) |pages=44–57 |url=https://books.openedition.org/ifpo/4451 |access-date=2024-10-28 |series=Bibliothèque archéologique et historique |place=Beyrouth |publisher=Presses de l'Ifpo |language=fr |isbn=978-2-35159-537-4}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Richard |first=Jean |title=Questions de topographie Tripolitaine |date=1948 |publisher=Geuthner |location=Paris |language=fr |trans-title=Topographical Studies of Tripoli}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Röhricht |first=Reinhold |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Regesta_regni_Hierosolymitani_MXCVII_MCC/qgwgAAAAMAAJ |title=Regesta regni Hierosolymitani (MXCVII-MCCXCI). |date=1893 |publisher=Libraria Academica Wageriana |language=la}}
+* {{Cite book |last=Röhricht |first=Reinhold |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qgwgAAAAMAAJ |title=Regesta regni Hierosolymitani (MXCVII-MCCXCI). |date=1893 |publisher=Libraria Academica Wageriana |language=la}}
-* {{Cite book |last=Al-Shidyāq |first=Ṭannūs ibn Yūsuf |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/كتاب_اخبار_الاعيان_في/Jzk-AAAAcAAJ |title=كتاب اخبار الاعيان في جبل لبنان / Kitāb akhbār al-aʻyān fī Jabal Lubnān |date=1859 |publisher=Not specified |location=Beirut |publication-date= |language=ar |trans-title=The History of the Notables in Mount Lebanon }}
+* {{Cite book |last=Al-Shidyāq |first=Ṭannūs ibn Yūsuf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jzk-AAAAcAAJ |title=كتاب اخبار الاعيان في جبل لبنان / Kitāb akhbār al-aʻyān fī Jabal Lubnān |date=1859 |publisher=Not specified |location=Beirut |language=ar |trans-title=The History of the Notables in Mount Lebanon}}
-{{Castles in Lebanon}}
+== External links ==
+* {{Commons category-inline|Mseilha Fort}}
+{{Castles in Lebanon}}{{Crusader sites}}
 [[Category:Castles in Lebanon]]