ABSTRACT
Recently published studies dealing with Frankish military architecture refer to the various “generations” of castle-building in the Latin East.1 These papers attempt to show how Frankish fortifications developed in the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in accordance with a changing political situation and in an effort by the Franks to counter the improved capabilities in siege warfare of their Muslim enemy. With notable resourcefulness, the Frankish-castle builders introduced elements of design and planning from the West and adopted ideas of fortification from the Byzantine and Muslim examples with which they came into contact. The outcome of their efforts was a significant advance in the design, quality, and defensive capabilities of Frankish fortifications.
