Amouda

Cilician castle in Osmaniye, Turkey

The former Crusader castle of Amouda, in what was the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, and today close to the village of Gökçedam in the Turkish Province of Osmaniye.^[1] The castle was deeded by the Armenian king Levon I to the Teutonic Knights in 1212 (Barber 2008) and rebuilt by them in the 13th century. It earned revenue for the Teutonic Order from the surrounding land. According to contemporary sources, the castle provided shelter for 2,200 people during the invasion by the Mamluks in 1266.^[1]

In 1987 an archaeological and historical assessment of the site, as well as a surveyed plan, were published.^[1] From atop the outcrop this castle has clear inter-visibility with at least five others forts. Based on an analysis of the masonry, there were at least three major periods of construction and/or repair, with the most prominent contribution from the Crusader occupation. Unlike Armenian designs, it has a simple rectangular plan dominated at the southwest by a four-story keep with cisterns in the lowest level.

The design of Amouda is similar to the Teutonic Knights's castle at Montfort with a keep guarding the entrance (Molin 2001).

References

1 2 3 Edwards, Robert W. (1987). The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia: Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University. pp. 58–62, 281, pls.3a-5b. ISBN 0-88402-163-7.

Unknown crusader castles by Kristian Molin, Hambledon Continuum, 2001
The Military Orders: History and heritage By Malcolm Barber, Victor Mallia-Milanes. 2008
Extensive photographic survey and plan of Amouda / Amuda Castle

v t e Castles in Turkey
	Afyonkarahisar Castle Akçakoca Castle Alanya Castle Alara Castle Amasra Fortress Amasya Castle Anadoluhisarı Anavarza Castle Ankara Castle Ardahan Castle Babakale Castle Bagras Castle Bayburt Castle Belenkeşlik Castle Bodrum Castle Bodrumkale Castle Bolaman Castle Boyabat Castle Bozcaada Castle Cemilli Castle Çandarlı Castle Çandır Castle Çeşme Castle Dağlı Castle Diyarbakır Fortress Eğirdir Castle Foça Castle Gaziantep Castle Giresun Castle Gömeç Kulesi Gözne Castle Güvercinada Castle Harput Castle Harran Castle Hebilli Castle Hemite Castle Hisarın Castle Hoşap Castle İbrahim Pasha Casemates Kadifekale Kahramanmaraş Castle Kalepark Karacahisar Castle Karaman Castle Kara Castle Kars Castle Kastamonu Castle Kayseri Castle Kaysun Kevgürk Castle Kızıl Tower Kiz Kulesi Kızkalesi Kızlar Kalesi Kol Kalesi Koz Castle Kozan Castle Kuzucubelen Castle Loulon Mamure Castle Mancınık Castle Mardin Castle Marmaris Castle Meydan Castle Meydancık Castle Mut Castle Namrun Castle Pertek Castle Ravendel Riva Castle Rize Castle Roche de Roissel Roche-Guillaume Rumelihisari Rumkale Samsun Castle Sarvandikar Silifke Castle Sinap Castle Sinop Fortress Softa Castle Şanlıurfa Castle Şavşat Castle Şeytan Castle Şebinkarahisar Castle Şile Castle Tece Castle Tekkadın Castle Tirebolu Castle Tokat Castle Tokmar Castle Toprakkale Trabzon Castle Trapessac Turbessel Yaka Castle Van Castle Yedikule Fortress Yelbiz Castle Yeniyurt Castle Yılankale Yoros Castle Zerzevan Castle Zilkale

37°11′19″N 36°05′40″E / 37.18861°N 36.09444°E / 37.18861; 36.09444

This article about a castle in Turkey is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

This article about the Crusades is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

See also

References

Related Articles