Gastria Castle
| Gastria Castle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Medieval |
| Country | de jure Cyprusde facto  Northern Cyprus |
Gastria Castle(Greek:Κάστρο της ΓαστριάςTurkish:Gastria Kalesi) is a ruined castle inNorthern Cyprus.It is first mentioned in 1210 as aKnights Templarfortress. It was dismantled in 1279 byHugh III of Cyprus.It passed into the possession of theKnights Hospitallerin 1308, falling into obscurity afterwards.
History
[edit]The castle was situated on the northern side of Famagusta Bay, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the south-west ofGastriavillage. In 1191, Cyprus was taken byRichard the Lionheartduring his campaign against the island's rulerIsaac Komnenos of Cyprus.Richard subsequently sold the island to theKnights Templar,whose rule abruptly ended after a major revolt inNicosia.Cyprus was then resold toGuy of Lusignanof theHouse of Lusignan.Gastria Castle is first mentioned in 1210, when the royal regentWalter of Montbéliardsought refuge in the fortress with his allies the Templars.[1]He had previously refused to render an account of his administration of the royal treasury to the newly crownedHugh I of Cyprus,subsequently fleeing to theKingdom of Jerusalem.A period of peace ended with the death of Hugh in 1218.[2][3]
Astruggleover who should act as the kingdom's regent ensued, pitting theHouse of Ibelinwith the local supporters ofFrederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.Frederick's arrival inLimassolin 1228 escalated the conflict into an open war. In 1229,John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirutreturned to Cyprus through Gastria's port. In 1232, after a defeat at theBattle of Agridi,Frederick's few remaining supporters requested permission to hide in Gastria. Having fought Frederick atAcrein 1229 the Templars refused and those who attempted to hide in the ditch were apprehended. Afterwards, the Lusignans continued their reign interrupted only by occasional palace coups.[4][5]In 1279,Hugh III of Cyprusdismantled the castle and expelled the Templars, after the latter declared their support forCharles I of Naples.In 1308, the castle was granted to theKnights Hospitaller.In 1310,Henry II of Jerusalempassed through Gastria while en route to his exile to Armenia. It was no longer mentioned as a castle from that point on.[6][7]
Architecture
[edit]Gastria was a small rectangular fort located at the end of a long narrow ridge. It was separated from the ridge by a rock-cut ditch 7.9–4.5 metres (26–15 ft) wide and 2–2.6 metres (6.6–8.5 ft) deep. The ditch was once crossed by a drawbridge or a wooden bridge. True to the characteristics of small Templar fortresses, Gastria had no towers. The center of the fort housed a circular cistern. To the east a natural vantage point in the form of a rocky outcrop overlooking both the sea and the fort bears signs that it was once occupied. The outcrop was once separated from the fort by a channel that is now filled in. To the north of the fort, the outcrop and the isthmus, is a watercourse that served as a harbor.[6][7]
Footnotes
[edit]- ^Petre 2010,pp. 205–207.
- ^Furber 1969,p. 605.
- ^Edbury 1991,p. 44.
- ^Petre 2010,pp. 120–123, 126.
- ^Morelle 2014,pp. 293–295.
- ^abPetre 2010,pp. 203–205.
- ^abMolin 1995,pp. 225–226.
References
[edit]- Edbury, Peter W. (1991).The Kingdom of Cyprus and the Crusades, 1191-1374.Cambridge University Press.ISBN0-521-26876-1.
- Furber, Elizabeth Chapin (1969). "The Kingdom of Cyprus, 1191-1291". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Wolff, Robert Lee; Hazard, Harry W. (eds.).A History of the Crusades, Volume II: The Later Crusades, 1189-1311.The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 599–629.ISBN0-299-04844-6.
- Molin, Bengt Kristian (1995)."The Role of Castles in the Political and Military History of Crusader States and the Levant 1187 to 1380"(PDF).Leeds University Thesis.Leeds University: 1–448.Retrieved8 May2017.
- Morelle, Nicolas (2014)."The Castle of Kantara - a key to the evolution of active defense in the 13th century between the Eastern and the Western Worlds".The Castle Studies Group Journal.Castle Studies Group: 292–318.Retrieved8 May2017.
- Petre, James (2010)."Crusader Castles of Cyprus: The Fortifications of Cyprus Under the Lusignans 1191– 1489"(PDF).University of Cardiff Thesis.University of Cardiff: 1–413.Retrieved8 May2017.
