Ravanda Castle

Ravanda Castle, locally known as Ravanda Kalesi, lies on a hill west of the village of Belenözü, in the province of Kilis in Turkey. In historical times the castle was known as Ravendel.

The site of Ravanda Castle, a high, conical hill with a flat summit, situated in a valley overlooking a bend in the Afrin river, was probably already used by the Hittites. When exactly Ravanda was built is unknown. During the 7th century the Taurus mountains to the west were a natural border between the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic states. In the area east and south of the mountains several fortifications were built by both parties which were recalled in historical documents. The castle of Ravanda, however, was not mentioned. So it is assumed that it didn't exist at that period.

The first mentions of the castle date back to 1097, during the time of the First Crusade, when it guarded the road between Antioch and Edessa. At that time it was held by the Seljuks. It was then taken by Baldwin of Boulogne and his troops with ease. Baldwin was on his way to Edessa and would become King of Jerusalem the next year, as Baldwin I. Ravanda became attached to the newly created County of Edessa.

During the next century Ravanda Castle would be ruled by Crusaders and Armenians. In 1144 The County of Edessa was conquered for the Seljuks, by the Turkmen atabeg, Imad al-Din Zengi, after which the castle fell into disrepair, although it was not claimed by Zengi. The Crusaders, unable to defend the region against Muslim attacks, then sold the castle to the Byzantines. In 1151, Nur ad-Din, the Emir of Aleppo, reconquered the castle for the Seljuks. Saladin, the Ayyubid Sultan, took the castle in 1176 during his conquest of Seljuk Syria. He then had it repaired and fortified.

The Ayyubids held Ravanda Castle until 1261 when the whole area was taken over by the Mongols. Around 1268 it fell into the hands of the Mamluks. They also repaired and strengthened the castle.

In the early 16th century the Mamluk Sultanate was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I and so the castle became an Ottoman property. But because the castle had no strategical value to the Ottomans, it lost its military importance. This caused it to fall to ruin during the next centuries.

What remains today of the castle is essentially the inner castle. Originally there would have been a defensive circuit wall at the foot of the hill, but this has disappeared.

Ravanda Castle is freely accessible. Although the castle is quite off the beaten path, a visit is recommended. It really feels like it is situated in the middle of nowhere and offers great views of the surrounding area. Do watch out for numerous holes in the ground which are cisterns and collapsed underground spaces.

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