Medieval fortifications in Cilicia : : the Armenian contribution to military architecture in the Middle Ages / / by Dweezil Vandekerckhove.

• Superior document: History of warfare ; Volume 128
• VerfasserIn: Vandekerckhove, Dweezil,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston : : Brill,, [2020]; ©2020
• Year of Publication: 2020
• Language: English
• Series: History of warfare ; Volume 128.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

In Medieval Fortifications in Cilicia Dweezil Vandekerckhove offers an account of the origins, development and spatial distribution of fortified sites in the Armenian Kingdom (1198-1375). Despite the abundance of archaeological remains, the Armenian heritage had previously not been closely studied. However, through the examination of known and newly identified castles, this work has now increased the number of sites and features associated with the Armenian Kingdom. By the construction of numerous powerful castles, the Armenians succeeded in establishing an independent kingdom, which lasted until the Mamluk conquest in 1375. Dweezil Vandekerckhove convincingly proves that the medieval castles in Cilicia are of outstanding architectural interest, with a significant place in the history of military architecture.

Table of Contents

Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- List of Illustartions -- Sources and Historiography -- 1.1 Historiography: The Discovery of Armenian Cilicia -- 1.2 Sources -- 1.2.1 / The Armenian Sources -- 1.2.2 / The Syrian Sources -- 1.2.3 / The Greek Sources -- 1.2.4 / The Latin and Frankish Sources -- 1.2.5 / The Arabic Sources -- 1.3 Archaeological Research -- 2 Historical Outline of Cilicia (969–1375) -- 2.1 The Geography of the Armenian Kingdom -- 2.1.1 / Cilicia Trachea (or Rough Cilicia) -- 2.1.2 / Cilicia Pedias -- 2.1.3 / Rubenid and Hetʿumid Region in the Taurus Mountains -- 2.1.4 / Amanus Region -- 2.2 Armenian Settlement (969–1097) -- 2.2.1 / From the Caucasus to the Mediterranean Sea -- 2.2.2 / The Establishment of Armenian Baronies in the Eastern Mediterranean Coastlands -- 2.2.3 / The Origin of the Hetʿumids and Rubenids in Cilicia -- 2.3 Norman Cilicia (1097–1112) -- 2.3.1 / The Arrival of the First Crusade in Cilicia (August–September 1097) -- 2.3.2 / A Multitude of Rulers: Hetʻumids, Rubenids, Franks, and Seljuks in the Cilician Plain (September–October 1097) -- 2.3.3 / Tancred, Norman Master of Cilicia (1097–1099) -- 2.3.4 / The Second Norman Conquest of Cilicia and the Battle of Harran (1101–1104) -- 2.3.5 / The Expansion of the Principality of Antioch and the Treaty of Devol (1106–1112) -- 2.4 Towards an Armenian Kingdom (1112–1198) -- 2.4.1 / Komnenian Intervention (1081–1143) -- 2.4.2 / The Rise of the Rubenids (1143–1188) -- 2.4.3 / From Baron to King -- 2.5 The Armenian Kingdom (1198–1375) -- 2.5.1 / Levon and the Role of the Military Orders -- 2.5.2 / Hetʿum I (r. 1226–1269) -- 2.5.3 / From the Rise of the Mamluks to the Fall of the Armenian Kingdom (1269–1375) -- 3 Fortifications and Geography -- 3.1 Fortifications in their Historical Landscape -- 3.1.1 / Cilicia: Crossroads between the West and East -- 3.1.2 / Settlement Patterns in Byzantine Cilicia (450–650) -- 3.1.3 / Cilicia on the Islamic-Byzantine frontier: The Construction of the Frontier or al-thughūr -- 3.1.4 / Cilicia on the Islamic-Byzantine Frontier: A Process of Incastellamento or Kastroktisia -- 3.1.4.1 Byzantine Skirmishing Tactics in the Taurus Region (650–950) -- 3.1.4.2 Process of Incastellamento or Kastroktisia -- 3.1.4.3 Phrouria, Aplèkta, Kastra, and Kataphygia -- 3.1.4.4 Arab Occupation of the Cilician Plain and Amanus Mountains (650–950) -- 3.1.4.5 Byzantine Re-conquest and Construction of Fortifications -- 3.2Strategy and the Spatial Distribution of Fortifications -- 3.2.1 / General Principles -- 3.2.2 / A Google Earth Analysis -- 3.2.2.1 The Spatial Distribution of Fortifications -- 3.2.2.2 Newly Built Constructions (1075–1350) -- 3.2.2.3 Refortification and Occupation -- 3.2.3 / Land Routes, Rivers and Topography as Variables for the Distribution of Fortifications .