The famous Citadel of Saladin stands on a rocky outcropping in Cairo. You can see the tall minarets of the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which stand out on the skyline of Old Islamic Cairo and further away. This beautiful building once called Qalaat Sal ad-Din in Arabic, now has museums showing the Middle East’s history and modern Egypt.
In these museums, you can see everything that has to do with how Egypt was run during these times. The Citadel of Saladin is on top of the city in the Mokattam Hills neighborhood. From the center of Cairo, it shouldn’t take more than 25 minutes to get there.
Saladin:
The Salah El-Din Fortress in Cairo is one of Egypt’s most famous historical sites. Dr. El-Nasir Salah El-Din This castle was built by Yusuf Ibn Ayyub. He will always be known as Salah el-Din, a brave warrior, in the history books. He was the first person to rule Egypt and Syria. At the same time, he set up the dynasty of the Ayyubids. He was born in Iraq, which is where the Ayyubid dynasty began. Even though he was strong and could take over many countries, he was a kind and religious king.
He said, “I warn you not to spill blood, enjoy it, or make money from it.” At the young age of 14, he joined a military academy. Later, as leader of the Muslim army, he oversaw its campaigns against the Crusader powers. The tremendous success of his life was taking over the holy city.
His name is Arabic, and it is made up of two Arabic words: Salah and Din. The words “righteousness” and “religion” mean the same thing. Historians think he died at age 56 in Syria and was buried at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus City. He had many things happen to him, and he did many things in his life.
History of Saladin’s Citadel:
The Citadel of Salah El-Din, also called the Citadel of the Mountain (Qala’a Al-Jabal), was built by the Egyptian Sultan Salah El-Din to protect Cairo from the Crusaders. It stands out because it is a fortress that can withstand any significant attack and is in the hills just outside Cairo’s downtown. From this point of view, an attack would be pointless.
During a large part of Egypt’s history, this Citadel was the king’s home and the place where the government was run. Egypt was ruled by several dynasties from the Citadel, such as the Ayyubids, the Mamluks, and the Ottomans. When Khedive Ismail took over as ruler of Egypt, he moved the government from the Citadel to the Abdeen Palace.
Salah El-Din, the Sultan of Egypt, gave the order to build the Salah El-Din Citadel in 1176. Salah El-Din never really lived in the Citadel because it wasn’t finished until 1182, when Al Malek El Kamel was a pharaoh of Egypt. Al Malek El Kamel took over Salah El-Din as Egypt’s second ruler. Salah ad-Din wanted to protect himself from his enemies, so he planned to build a huge castle out of the stones of many smaller pyramids in Giza.
The building was also influenced by the strong defenses of Syrian and Lebanese citadels. So it was possible for the building to have a striking and beautiful look. Salah ad-Din built the Citadel, and it had wells for his troops to use. Inside the walls of the Citadel are about thirteen towers, such as El-Mokatam, al-Karkialan, and Al-Turfa. The El-Mokatam Gate, the New Gate, the Middle Gate, and the Citadel Gate are the four entrances.
There are many palaces and mosques in the Citadel. When people go to the National Military Museum, they can see real weapons like cannons and tanks used in real wars. When you go to the National Prison Museum, you can see the cells where prisoners were kept.
Inside the Citadel:
In the Salah el-Din Citadel, you can find the Alabaster Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Many people think it is one of the most beautiful pieces of Islamic architecture ever made. The Ottoman Caliph Muhammad Ali Pasha signed the order that made it possible for this mosque to be built. Muhammad Ali Pasha built this mosque to memorialize his son Tusun, who died in 1816 and took him about 18 years.
Mohamed Aly:
Even though he was born in Greece, most people think Muhammad Ali was Egypt’s king. A military leader named Muhammad Ali invaded Egypt and took the throne away from the French, who were there because of Napoleon. Napoleon was forced to leave Egypt by the British, and Muhammad Ali became ruler in the end. He was given the title of Pasha, the highest honor in the Ottoman Empire.
When he was the king of Egypt, he changed the country’s schools, factories, and farms. From 1805 to 1848, he was in charge of Egypt for 43 years. Muhammad Ali Pasha died in the Ras Al-Tin Palace in Alexandria, Egypt, on August 2, 1849. He had a long and exciting life and was buried at the Citadel Mosque of Salah El-Din.
History of the Mosque:
In 1848, the first service was held at this mosque, now called the Muhammad Ali Mosque. It was built in a way typical of buildings in the Ottoman Empire, and it sits on top of the Salah ad-Din Citadel. The prayer hall, which faces east, and the courtyard make up the mosque’s interior (which faces west).
A Turkish architect named Yusuf Boshnak made this mosque, and mosques inspired him in Turkey. Limestone is used to build most of the mosque. The mosque has two minibars and a dome with six medallions. On these medals are the names of the first four Caliphs: Allah, Mohammed, Abou Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali.
