Abstract
AL- Akrad fort is considered one of the Castles the crusaders found standing in Syria . After the crusaders’ occupation , it became one of the most important forts in Tripoli emirate and it represented a magnificent military architecture in the centuries (6 - 7A . H / 12 .13 A . D) .
The fort played an important political and military role because it is the first line of defense of Tripoli emirate and the strong guard which protect Tripoli from Muslims’ attacks . It is also a starting point for attacking Muslims lands in Syria The fort was also a center for local administration in which taxes and duties were imposed on the caravans that pass by the fort . The economic role of the fort is clear as it is located in Tripoli , which is economically wealthy , especially in agriculture . This fertile land has many fig and olive fields . The religious aspect of the fort was a main site for organizing religious – military institution . In addition to that, there was a charge for providing housing for the crusade warriors .
The fort was very strong that Muslims were unable to seize it for 170 years . After all, the study tackled the Islamic military attempts to capture the fort until it was freed in the era of the Sultan AL – dhaher Peppers (658 – 676 A.H / 1260 – 1277 A . D) . The Akrad fort is still standing till now after 800 years of its construction .
