"This Far and no Further" a `Ajlun Travel Page by antistar

Ajlun was to Saladin, what Kerak to the south was to the Crusaders. Between these two castles is where the two sides locked horns, and Ajlun marks the furthest point east that the Crusaders were able to push. It also marked the furthest West that the Mongol empire reached.

Today the castle stands atop the same mountain, in place of the old monastery that is believed to have resided there before it, and underneath the city of Ajlun has sprawled out chaotically into the valley. The city was pretty crazy for its size, feeling more like Amman than a small city. It can also get very cold up in the mountains, and it snowed there shortly after I left.

The castle and the area around is filled with history. In particular the nearby battle of Ain Jalut changed history like few other battles in history. Ain Jalut is where the Mamluks defeated the Mongols: the first time in the history of the Mongol empire that they suffered a decisive defeat.

The Mongols captured and dismantled parts of Aljun castle, before it was recaptured by Saladin.