The fortress of 'Atlit, constructed between 1217 and 1218, emerged as a strategic response to the political instability and military challenges facing the Latin Kingdom during the Fifth Crusade (September 1217 – August 1221). Crusader leaders and European nobles sought to reinforce Christian control along the Mediterranean coast by fortifying key points between Acre and Jaffa, notably Caesarea and 'Atlit. Supported jointly by the Templars and the Teutonic Order, 'Atlit was conceived not only as a defensive stronghold but also as a symbol of renewed Crusader resolve.
Although Muslim forces attempted to capture the fortress, most notably in 1220, repeatedly withstood attack. During periods of peace, the site flourished. A Frankish suburb developed nearby, accompanied by extensive agricultural activity. Archaeological evidence points to a well-developed settlement including religious, domestic, and economic structures such as a church, bathhouses, barns, and towers. The castle’s formidable defenses were enhanced by its geography: the sea protected its western side, while moats, gates, multiple walls, and massive towers secured the landward approaches. At the heart of the complex stood a polygonal church built in the 1250s, emphasizing the site’s religious dimension.
Following Mamluk victories under Baybars in 1265, the surrounding town was destroyed, but the fortress itself remained secure. After Acre fell in 1291, 'Atlit became the last Crusader stronghold in the Latin East. Lacking reinforcements, the Templars evacuated the castle later that year, marking the definitive end of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Beyond its military role, 'Atlit carried profound spiritual significance, particularly for the Templars. In 1217 contemporary clerics portrayed Acre as morally corrupt, and 'Atlit was seen as a purer alternative, a refuge where the Order could distance itself from urban discord. By relocating to the relative seclusion of ʿAtlit, the Templars could remain secure there until Jerusalem was once again returned to Christian rule, while distancing themselves from what were perceived as the moral excesses and disorder of Acre.
The polygonal church of the 1250s likely reflects that by then the loss of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher had been accepted, the new chapel serving as a symbolic substitute that reaffirmed devotion to Christ’s death and resurrection, a main aspect of Templar spirituality.
The spiritual function of 'Atlit was further illustrated by an extensive cemetery outside the fortress, containing nearly 1,900 burials associated with the Templars. The unusually large number that does not reflect the limited size of the 'Atlit population, suggests that 'Atlit functioned as a central burial site for the Order and its affiliates. Additionally, the fortress played a judicial role, housing members who had violated Templar rules.
Over time, 'Atlit became a destination for pilgrims and nobles, fostered local devotional traditions, and safeguarded revered relics such as those of Saint Euphemia. Ultimately, the fortress combined military strength with spiritual authority, allowing the Templars to project power, piety, and institutional identity until their final withdrawal.
This blog is based on the paper COLLATA BENEFICIO FILII DEI MILITIBUS SUIS - Templar spirituality at the fortress of ‘Atlit in the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem by Shlomo Lotan and Joachim Rother (2021), Chapter 5 in The Templars - The Rise, Fall, and Legacy of a Military Religious Order. The illustration shows the Crusader cemetery north of the Chateau Pelerin castle, near Atlit, Israel, remains of Atlit Castle in the background, Picture by Bukvoed - Own work, source Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
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