The
Fortress of Akkar el-Atiqa'a and Sergius Bacchus Church
The Caza or District of Akkar is one of the most beautiful
regions of Lebanon and gives its name to the region
Akkar el-Atiqa’a, with the addition of Atiqa’a, the
Old, in order to distinguish this particular area
from the caza as a whole. The region that interests
us particularly is 135km. from Beirut, with an altitude
varying between 750 and 1450 meters. The word Akkar
means a barrier or wall and the fortress played a
major role particularly during the Crusades and the
lordship of the Al-Saifa Tannoukhiyines.
It
was built some time towards the year 1000 by Muhriz
Akkar, who gave the place his own name. It is situated
on a mountain top strategically dominating the valley,
controlling the Tripoli-Homs road and protecting
the Arca Plain from Muslim attacks and in this way
ensuring free communication between the coast and
the interior.
The
fortress is now in a state of ruin, with only a
part of the northern tower remaining. A ladder is
needed for one to reach the door, which is three
meters, or about ten feet, above the ground. This
part was restored by Baybar.
The
area of Akkar el-Atiqa’a is one hundredth of that
of Lebanon, that is to say 100km.2, with forests,
plains and springs. As it is rich in natural resources,
one finds there water wheels, former cellars and
ancient churches.
The
fortress remained in the possession of the family
of Muhriz ibn Akkar up till the year 1019. It was
seized by the Fatimites some time between 1033 and
1094 and then retaken in 1170 by the Crusader King
of Jerusalem Amaury. Later, the fortress became
the property of the lords of Enfeh (Nephin) before
being ceded to the Counts of Tripoli in 1202.
It
was a veritable aerie and the Muslims under Baybar
resolved to take it out of the hands of the Crusaders
in 1271. Under the Ottoman Turks it was occupied
by the emirs of Beit Saifa until it was seized by
Fakhreddine II the Great, who then destroyed it.
The
castle was originally composed of a rectangular
tower with four lateral ones and with ramparts pierced
by arrow slits, staircases and vaulted roofs over
its halls. The Arabs rebuilt certain towers on which
one may see base-reliefs of lions with the insignia
of Baybar.
In
the valley overlooked by the fortress there flows
a river of pure water good for drinking that is
fed by springs and by the melting snows. It is in
full sight of other constructions. A tank was built
in order to assure the water supply for the castle
and one may see the ruins of a mosque and a small
monastery restored in 1916.
Youssef
Saifa, the chief of the Tanoukhiyines, was said
to be Greek Orthodox, which seems logical enough,
for to raise the banner of revolt and to become
independent, holding out against the Sublime Porte,
the Sultanate of Istanbul, one had to belong to
some community other than that of the Sunnites,
who were the most loyal subjects of the Ottoman
Empire and of its sultan, who incarnated the highest
Islamic authority, that of the caliphs.
Joseph Matar
Translated from the French by K.J. Mortimer
