Rumkale Castle

Rumkale Castle, locally simply known as Rumkale, lies on a large rock south of the hamlet of Beğendik, in the province of Gaziantep in Turkey. Its Turkish name Rumkale literally translates back to Castle (-kale) of the Romans (Rum-).

Rumkale Castle is situated on a peninsular rock formed by the Merziman Creek and the Euphrates River. Although this strategic location was already known to the Assyrians, the present structures are largely Hellenistic and Roman in origin. The builders accentuated the castle's impregnability by cutting the rock beneath its walls to almost vertical. And although called a castle, it was probably more like a fortified settlement which served as an important border fortress. It had 2 gates, a western on the side of the creek and an eastern on the side of the Euphrates. Its southern landward approach was protected by a large hand-cut dry moat.

It is said that John the Apostle settled in Rumkale during Roman times to spread Christianity in the region. It is also said that John kept a copy of the Bible in a cave in the castle, from which copies were made that later were taken from here to Beirut.

The site was occupied by various Byzantine and Armenian warlords during the Middle Ages. During the 12th century, when the castle was known as Hromgla, it also became the seat of an Armenian bishop. In 1179, a synod took place in Rumkale. From 1203 to 1293, it even served as the residence of the Armenian Pontiffs.

In 1293, Rumkale was captured by the Mamluks of Egypt following a protracted siege, who then renamed it Qal'at al-Muslimin (Castle of the Muslims). Although they later they called it Kale-i Zerrin (Golden Citadel), it never regained its former importance. Apparently it was still inhabited in the 17th century when it was captured by the Turks, who then transformed a 12th century church inside the castle into a mosque.

Due to the construction of the Birecik Dam, further downstream the Euphrates, in 2001, a reservoir was created that flooded the feet of the castle rock, emphasizing its peninsular aspect even more.

Since 2017 Rumkale can not be visited anymore as the interior structures and the external walls themselves are being consolidated and partly rebuilt. It can however be admired from a purposely built viewing platform on the opposite bank of the creek. The harbor below is a popular spot for weekend barbecues and boat trips over the lake. I suspect the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake will have damaged the castle ruin.

A great castle. I hope I can visit it in the future.

Gallery