The Cairo Citadel or Citadel of Saladin is an iconic monument in Islamic Cairo. Originally called Qalaʿat Salāḥ ad-Dīn in Arabic, the Citadel is a peak in history. The fort perches upon a deep slope, offering the most magnificent view of Old Cairo. El-Nasir Salah El-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub built this Citadel in Egypt.
The Sultan intended the fort to protect Cairo from potential crusader attacks. This magnificent structure has witnessed numerous historical events throughout history. Moreover, in 1976, UNESCO declared this monument part of the World Heritage Site.
Location of Cairo Citadel
The Citadel’s location on Mokattam hills commands a strategic position over the city. Located in the centre of Cairo, this area is the highest point in Cairo. You can find the Citadel 15 to 25 minutes from Downtown Cairo.
Who was Saladin?
Saladin happens to be the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He led the Muslim military campaign against the crusader states. Eventually, he won Jerusalem, making it an Islamic state. History describes him as a charitable and religious leader.
The Reason behind the Construction of Cairo Citadel
The fort was the most impressive and ambitious military fortification of its time. The Sultan started construction on a mass of land beneath the Muqattam Hills. Therefore, this setting made the Citadel a hard place to attack. The Citadel of Cairo remained the heart of the Egyptian government until the 19th century.
Kurdish Ayyubid ruler Salah al-Din (Saladin) started the project between 1176 and 1183 CE. Saladin set out to build a wall that would surround Cairo and Fustat.
Saladin took control of Egypt and decided that Cairo should have a better fortification. He felt that a fortified citadel would protect the city against future attacks. Moreover, the risk of crusader attacks was at a peak.
The Sultan found inspiration in the Syrian and Lebanese citadels. Furthermore, he recognised the importance of a massive fort in protecting Cairo.
History of construction
Construction of the fort began in 1176. However, it was not completed until 1182. The construction finished during the reign of Al Malek El Kamel. Thus, Al Malek became the first ruler to reside in the Citadel.
Saladin charged his close confidant, Baha al-Din Qaraqush, with overseeing the construction. Most of the structure comprises limestone quarried from surrounding hills.
Ancient stories say that Saladin took stones from some pyramids of Giza. Subsequently, these became a part of the fort. Perhaps the army soldiers and crusader prisoners worked on the construction.
If the Crusaders laid a siege on the fort, the soldiers would have a water supply. They dug a deep well inside the Citadel. During the 12th century, the construction of this well was nothing less than a marvel. Moreover, it was 90 metres deep and dug inside the hardest rocks.
The Citadel of Cairo is one of the most elegant fortresses of the Middle Ages. The Citadel would be an excellent place to retreat if enemies ever took Cairo. Moreover, its strategic location offered a birds-eye view of Old Cairo. Hence, it was the true definition of a fortress.
Initial Layout of the Fort
The initial fortress consisted essentially of today’s Northern closure and Southern closure. The original southwestern section of the fort has disappeared today. It probably extended around the current site of al-Nasir Muhammad’s Mosque. The southern part served as a residence to the king. In contrast, the northern part acted as a military fort.
Saladin surrounded the Citadel with several walls, towers and gates. He built a tower building every 100 metres. The current gate, Mokattam Gate, was constructed during the Ottoman Dynasty. Later, Muhammad Ali made a new gate in 1827.
El Mokatam Gate
Mokattam gate was constructed south of the tower of Mokattam. The construction of the gate took place in the Ottoman period. It’s called the Salah Salem gate, referring to its current location.
Over time, the gate suffered damages and was mainly lost when the Egyptian government made renovations. The Salah Salem door was built in 1955. Here, the construction of a new door took place. Therefore, it is the gate from where guests enter the Citadel today.
Bab EL Hadid or the Iron Gate
Mohammed Ali constructed the iron gate in 1822. Also, he paved a road that connected this gate to the rest of Cairo. Today, it is known as the Street of Bab Al Hadeed.
Further construction inside the Citadel of Cairo
- Mamluks
The Mamluks overthrew the Saladin’s Ayyubid dynasty. Then, later, they enlarged the complex. Magnificent palaces and harems became a part of the structure. The buildings constructed under the Mamluks dominated the city’s skyline. Al-Nasir Muhammad did significant work in the Citadel. However, most of them fell during the Ottoman period. The Sultan also renovated the Nile aqueduct.
The Mosque of al-Nasir is the primary construction of the Sultan’s reign. Built in 1318 AC and renovated again in 1335, the Mosque is still well preserved. However, the Ottoman Sultan later stripped most of its rich marble panelling to Istanbul.
- Ottomans
The most notable construction from the Ottoman period is the Mosque of Sulayman Pasha. No wonder it remained one of the few mosques in Cairo representing the classical Ottoman architectural style.
- Pasha Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali established himself as an independent ruler of Egypt. He invited the remaining Mamluk leaders into the Citadel. Later, his army opened fire on them. Hence, one of the most critical moments of the coup took place within the Citadel.
One of the most famous mosques in the world is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. This Ottoman-style masterpiece memorialised Muhammad Ali’s second son – Tusun Pasha. Notably, the Egyptians call it “the Alabaster Mosque” for the marble used for the building.
Muhammad Ali found his last resting spot inside this prayer house. The Sultan demolished many old structures to make way for his new Mosque. Eventually, this Mosque became the Citadel’s dominating Mosque. Undoubtedly, this beautiful structure serves as a treat for visitors presently.
Present-day
In 1983, the Egyptian government opened a big part of the Citadel. Moreover, they started repair work to convert old buildings into museums. Today, the site contains many Ottoman-period mosques and museums. Visitors can also see amazing views of Cairo and the desert beyond. So, the Citadel of Cairo is a desirable tourist attraction for Egyptians and tourists alike.
Conclusion
The Citadel of Saladin will remain one of the essential structures of Egypt. The marvellous architecture of the Citadel continues to awe people. At a particular time, the walls of this fort witnessed some of the most historic events. Visiting the Citadel allows visitors to take a peek into its history.
Welcome to the grand iconic monument which offers a wonderful view of Old Cairo and is built on a steep slope. It was built by the Sultan Al Nasir Salah in order to protect Cairo from the attack of the crusaders. UNESCO declaring it as a world heritage site makes it all the more important. It is situated on Mokattam Hills giving it a very strategic position back then. The sole reason to build this was the protection of Cairo from the crusaders. The impressive fort was built of limestone and has a huge well dug inside the fortress which served as a reservoir of water during war times. another of the famous buildings within the Citadel is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The beauty of this mosque is a feast to the eyes of a tourist. Now many of the buildings in the Citadel have been made to museums and so this place is an ideal tourist attraction.