Timeline / 1100 to 1700 /

Date Country | Description

1115 A.D. Jordan

Baldwin I, the Crusader king of Jerusalem, erects a huge castle at Shawbak on a high mountain in Jordan in order to dominate the area, naming it Le Crac de Montreal.

1142 A.D. Jordan

Karak Castle is built by Payen le Boutellier. It is named Crac de Moab or simply le Crac by the Franks. It was a very important castle to Crusaders due to its position as a watch centre of the Islamic army movements.

1184 A.D. Jordan

The Ayyubid army leader Usama bin Mungidh erects Ajlun castle to counter the Crusader castle of Belvoir (Kawkab al-Hawa) to the west. In August of this year the Ayyubids besiege Karak Castle under the leadership of Salah al-Din (Saladin) the dynasty’s founder.

1187 A.D. Jordan

On 5 July Salah al-Din (Saladin) wins a great victory at Hittin over the Christian Frankish troops; he went on to destroy the power of the Crusaders in Palestine and Jordan.

1189 A.D. Jordan

The Ayyubids capture the Crusader castles of Karak and Shawbak, ending the Crusaders’ rule in Jordan.

1229 - 1249 A.D. Jordan

The Ayyubid king al-Nasir Dawud establishes an emirate at Karak; he erects a hospital (bimaristan) to treat the sick and to teach medicine.

1247 A.D. Jordan

The Ayyubid king al-Salih Najm al-Din orders the construction of a congregational mosque at Ajlun; it seems not to have had a minaret.

1260 A.D. Jordan

On 3 September the Battle of ‘Ain Jalut takes place in Palestine between the Muslim Mamluks and the nomadic tribes of Mongols who defeated the Islamic world in the 13th century, destroying cities and killing citizens. The Mamluk victory in this battle stops the march of the Mongol army in Jordan and Palestine.

1262 A.D. Jordan Date Country | Description

The Mamluk Sultan al-Zahir Baybars captures Karak castle from the Ayyubids, putting an end to Ayyubid rule there; he rebuilt some of its towers and transferred his wealth to it.

1311 A.D. Jordan

A madrasa for teaching Shafi’i rites (one of four Sunni rites in Islam) is established at Karak; King Muhammad ibn Qalawun sent his sons to study at this madrasa.

1328 A.D. Jordan

On 4 October a torrential stream destroys the buildings, markets and mosque of Ajlun.

1356 A.D. Jordan

The Mamluk Amir Sarghatmish builds a madrasa in Amman; it became the headquarters of , to teach Hanafi rites (one of the four Sunni rites in Islam).

1395 A.D. Jordan

In March several post offices between Cairo and Karak and between Karak and are erected during the Mamluk sultanate of Barquq.

1411 A.D. Jordan

Ajlun becomes the centre of an administrative district (Niabah) extending from the Zarqa river in the south to the Yarmouk river in the north and from the in the west to Badiya in the east.

1499 A.D. Jordan

On 11 October the governor of Sham, Junbalat, goes to southern Jordan to stop Bani Sakher tribes attacking pilgrim caravans and kills 20 of them.

1515 A.D. Jordan

Aqaba Castle is established on the shore of the Red Sea during the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Qansawh al-Ghawri.

1516 A.D. Jordan

On 23 August the Ottomans defeat the Mamluks in a decisive battle at Marj Dabiq, marking the end of the Mamluks’ rule in Egypt and Syria.

1531 A.D. Jordan

Ottoman Sultan Sulayman the Magnificent orders the establishment of Ma’an pilgrimage station.

1587 A.D. Jordan Date Country | Description

Ottoman Sultan Murad III ibn Salim Khan orders the renovation of Aqaba Castle; his name is inscribed on a medallion above the inscription which bears the name of the Mamluk Sultan Qansawh al-Ghawri.

1610 A.D. Jordan

Fakhr al-Din II Ma‘n, the powerful Amir of Lebanon, sends his deputy to Constantinople asking the Ottoman Sultan to give him the governorate of Irbid and Ajlun to strengthen his emirate.