Kerak Castle
| Kerak Castle | |
|---|---|
| al-Karak, Jordan | |
Kerak Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Controlled by | Oultrejordain; Ayyubids; Mamluk Sultanate; Ottoman Empire |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 31°10′50″N 35°42′05″E / 31.180556°N 35.701389°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1142 |
| In use | 1142–1917 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Al-Karak (1183) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Pagan the Butler Raynald of Châtillon |
Kerak Castle (Arabic: قلعة الكرك, romanized: Qal'at al-Karak) is a large medieval castle located in al-Karak, Jordan. It is one of the largest castles in the Levant. Construction began in the 1140s, under Pagan and Fulk, King of Jerusalem. The Crusaders called it Crac des Moabites or "Karak in Moab", as it is referred to in history books. It was also colloquially referred to as Krak of the Desert.