Al-Karak

Karak's fortified hill town east of the Dead Sea became deeply involved in Mamluk politics during the fourteenth century. Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad spent periods of exile there, cultivated support among local Arab groups and endowed the town with buildings serving courtly and civic life. His sons were sent to Karak to grow up and learn riding and hunting. In 1342 one of them, al-Nasir Ahmad, took the sultanate but withdrew from Cairo to Karak with royal insignia, treasure and followers. His attempt to rule from the fortress brought repeated campaigns against it before his successor recovered the stronghold. Karak's importance depended on more than thick walls: ties between the ruling house, townspeople and surrounding tribes made it an alternative base of power. In 1516 the town passed into the Ottoman Empire. Under the succeeding Burji dynasty Karak gradually lost some of its close links with Cairo, though its castle continued to dominate the settlement.