Maniqa Castle

The castle dates back to the 11th century CE, during the Islamic era, and was established in 1028 by the Arab leader Nasr ibn Musharraf al-Ruwadi, with Byzantine support as part of a strategic effort to secure their coastal frontiers.
In the 12th century, it was captured by the Crusaders, who renamed it Château de Malecasse. It was later taken over by the Isma’ilis in the mid-12th century, before falling once again into Crusader hands toward the end of that same century.
By the late 13th century, the castle was reclaimed by the Mamluks, who reinforced its structure and used it as a formidable defensive fortress along the coastal frontier.