Artah

Artah guarded the approaches east of Antioch, on roads between the Orontes valley and Aleppo. Its walls and towered fortress earned it the description of Antioch's shield during the Crusades. In 1105 the regent Tancred led Frankish forces against the army of Ridwan of Aleppo near Artah and won a victory that secured the principality's eastern approaches. The stronghold remained a point of contention between the rulers of Antioch and their neighbours.