# Mahalibeh Castle

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thumb|View of Mahalibeh Castle
'''Mahalibeh Castle''' ({{langx|ar|قلعة المهالبة}}), formerly known as '''Balatanos''' or '''Balatunus''' (name derived from the Latin ''Platanus''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orient-latin.com/fortresses/balatanos |title=Qalaat Mehelbe |website=Forteressesd'Orient |language=French }}</ref> is located on a high mountain summit near [Lattakia](/source/Lattakia), 40&nbsp;km inland of the Syrian coast. The Mahalibeh Castle is also an inhabited place, administratively part of the [Jawbat Burghal](/source/Jawbat_Burghal) subdistrict of the [Qardaha District](/source/Qardaha_District) of [Latakia Governorate](/source/Latakia_Governorate). According to the [Syria Central Bureau of Statistics](/source/Central_Bureau_of_Statistics_(Syria)), it had a population of 772 in the 2004 census.<ref name="CBS">[http://www.cbssyr.org/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB06-22-2004.htm General Census of Population and Housing 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130113070658/http://www.cbssyr.org/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB06-22-2004.htm |date=2013-01-13|publisher=[Syria Central Bureau of Statistics](/source/Central_Bureau_of_Statistics_(Syria)) (CBS). Latakia Governorate.}}</ref>

== History ==
The castle was built in the 11th century by the princely Banu'l-Ahmar family. In 1031, the tribe surrendered it to [Niketas of Mistheia](/source/Niketas_of_Mistheia) of the [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire).{{sfn|Theotokis|Meško|2020|p=256}}{{sfn|Winter|2016|p=28}} In 1118, it was occupied by the [Crusaders](/source/Crusaders), led by [Roger of Salerno](/source/Roger_of_Salerno). The castle suffered many clashes and damages, and finally surrendered to [Saladin](/source/Saladin) in 1188, namely to his son [al-Zahir Ghazi](/source/al-Zahir_Ghazi), in 1194. In 1269, it was restored by the [Mamluk](/source/Mamluk_Sultanate) sultan [Baybars](/source/Baybars). In 1280, it was under the control of the Mamluk rebel emir [Sunqur al-Ashqar](/source/Sunqur_al-Ashqar), before being retaken by Sultan [Qalawun](/source/Qalawun) in 1285.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nouhworld.com/article/%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9_%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9.html|script-title=ar:قلعة المهالبة التاريخية بحلة جديدة|website=nouhworld.com|language=Arabic|date=}}</ref> In 1408, a strong earthquake considerably damaged the castle, and it was abandoned.

Under [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) rule, at least during the early 17th century, the castle was used by the authorities to store grain and rice belonging to the state. By the early 18th century, the castle had become identified with the Muhalaba or (Mahalibeh), an [Alawite](/source/Alawite) tribal grouping predominant in the area, which also became referred to as the Muhalaba in Ottoman government records.{{sfn|Winter|2016|p=143}} 

The castle is substantially damaged but was being restored as of 2018. The outer walls surround the bulk massive of the castle. There are cisterns, underground rooms, and remnants of premises in the middle, plus some arches and towers are visible. The only attaching section to the surrounding land is through a southern piece of connecting lane, where the road goes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sana.sy/?p=783125|script-title=ar:قلعة “المهالبة”.. تحفة أثرية في اللاذقية|website=SANA|language=Arabic|date=16 July 2018}}</ref> The castle is accessed through a paved road via [Qardaha](/source/Qardaha) from the west and [Jawbat Burghal](/source/Jawbat_Burghal) from the east.

== See also ==

* [List of castles in Syria](/source/List_of_castles_in_Syria)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last1=Theotokis |first1=Georgios |last2=Meško |first2=Marek |title=War in Eleventh-Century Byzantium |publisher=Routledge |year=2020 |isbn=9780429576881 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Winter |first1=Stefan |title=A History of the 'Alawis: From Medieval Aleppo to the Turkish Republic |date=2016 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton and Oxford |isbn=9780691167787 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Suf-CwAAQBAJ}}

{{Latakia Governorate|qardaha}}
{{Castles in Syria}}
{{coord|35|30|29|N|36|5|14|E|display=title}}

Category:Castles in Syria
Category:Buildings and structures in Latakia Governorate
Category:Archaeological sites in Latakia Governorate

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mahalibeh Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalibeh_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalibeh_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.