Salah El-Din Citadel, also known as Cairo Citadel or Citadel of the Mountain, stands as one of Egypt’s most prominent Islamic and military landmarks. Built atop Mokattam Hill, the Citadel overlooks the entire city of Cairo, making it a site of tremendous strategic, historical, and architectural significance.
Origin and Construction of Salah El-Din Citadel
Historical Background
The Citadel’s construction began in 1176 AD (572 AH) under the leadership of Salah El-Din Al-Ayyubi (Saladin) to defend Cairo from the Crusader threat. The chosen site—previously known as Qubbat Al-Hawa—offered a natural advantage due to its elevated position.
Supervised by Salah El-Din’s trusted minister, Baha Al-Din Qaraqosh, the project initially used labor from captured Crusaders. The construction was not completed during Salah El-Din’s lifetime; instead, it was finished by Sultan Al-Kamil Ibn Al-Adil in 1207 AD (604 AH), who also made it the official seat of power in Egypt.
Architectural Design and Defensive Structures
Main Layout
The Citadel is divided into two main zones:
- Northern (Military) Section: Fortified with towers, walls, and strategic defense posts.
- Southern (Residential) Section: Houses palaces, mosques, and administrative buildings.
Fortified Walls and Towers
Massive limestone walls surround the Citadel, reinforced by 18 defensive towers. The towers built during Salah El-Din’s era are semi-circular, while later towers, such as those from the Mamluk period, are square-based with multiple floors containing arrow slits and lookout points.
Main Gates of Salah El-Din Citadel
- Bab Al-Mokattam (Gate of the Mountain): The original main entrance.
- Bab Al-Azab: Located to the west; historically significant and used for troop movement.
- The New Gate: Added by Mohamed Ali Pasha in 1827 to accommodate cannons and carriages.
Key Monuments and Inner Structures of Citadel
Mosques within Salah El-Din Citadel
- Mohamed Ali Mosque (Alabaster Mosque)
- Built: 1830–1848
- Style: Ottoman architecture
- Notable for its massive dome, twin minarets, and marble-covered interior.
- Serves as the iconic symbol of the Citadel.
- Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque
- Built in 1318 during the Mamluk era.
- A fine example of medieval Islamic architecture with green-tiled domes and Kufic inscriptions.
- Suleiman Pasha Mosque (Sariyat Al-Jabal Mosque)
- Built in 1528 by the Ottomans.
- Considered the first Ottoman-style mosque in Cairo.
Palaces Inside the Citadel
- Gawhara Palace (Qasr Al-Gawhara)
- Constructed in 1814 by Mohamed Ali as a residence and governmental seat.
- Noted for its luxurious European-influenced interiors blended with Islamic design.
- Palace of Al-Ablak
- Built by Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad in 1314.
- Once used for official receptions and state affairs.
- Haramlek Palace (Palace of the Harem)
- Built in 1826 for private residence of Mohamed Ali’s family.
- Saray Al-Adl (Palace of Justice)
- Administrative complex used during the Islamic rule.
Yusuf’s Well (Bir Yusuf)
- Depth: Approximately 90 meters (295 feet)
- Dug during Salah El-Din’s era to ensure a water supply during sieges.
- Ingeniously constructed with spiral ramps for animal-drawn buckets, considered an engineering marvel.
Museums in the Citadel
- Egyptian Military Museum
- Covers Egyptian military history from ancient times to the modern era.
- Includes weaponry, uniforms, and war relics.
- Police Museum
- Displays the development of Egypt’s law enforcement institutions.
- Features tools, documents, and historic criminal cases.
- Gawhara Palace Museum
- Exhibits personal belongings of Mohamed Ali and royal furnishings.
Historic Events at Salah El-Din Citadel
- Massacre of the Mamluks (1811):
Mohamed Ali Pasha invited Mamluk leaders to a celebration at the Citadel and orchestrated a massacre to eliminate their political power. - Seat of Government:
The Citadel remained Egypt’s ruling headquarters until the late 19th century when Khedive Ismail moved to Abdeen Palace.
The Citadel Today
Since the fall of the monarchy in 1952, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has managed Salah El-Din Citadel as a heritage site. It underwent several restoration projects and is now one of Cairo’s most visited tourist attractions, appreciated for its history, architecture, and panoramic views of the city.
