All articles tagged with #crusades
Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle, a Crusades-era fortress perched above the Litani gorge in southern Lebanon, in what researchers describe as the deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than 25 years; the site’s long history spans Frankish construction in 1139, Saladin’s 1190 conquest, and a later period of Knights Templar control before returning to Muslim rule.
A 12th‑century Crusader sword was spotted protruding from the seabed off Israel by a graduate student in maritime archaeology. A hospital CT scan confirmed its one‑handed design and Crusader origin, and the Israel Antiquities Authority approved its excavation, a finding that adds rare insight into Crusader presence and medieval maritime warfare along the Mediterranean coast.
A Crusader sword discovered off the coast of Israel, believed to be from the 12th to 13th century, was found bent and covered in concretions. X-ray analysis revealed the sword's original outline and confirmed that it remained bent, suggesting it was damaged during the Crusades. The sword, known as the Newe-Yam sword, was likely used by a Crusader warrior who settled in the Holy Land after the First Crusade. Swords from this period are rare finds, and losing one during a naval battle would have been detrimental. The discovery provides insight into the battles fought between Crusaders and Muslims in the region.