A Treasure Trove of Islamic Architecture "The Salah El Din Citadel"

A legendary Ottoman ruler

Widely recognized as the father of modern Egypt, Mohamed Ali was the master architect behind the establishment of the Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. With the French occupation of Egypt between 1798 and 1801, the descendants of Mohamed Ali continued to rule Egypt until the 1952 revolution.

The legendary Ottoman ruler constructed one of Cairo’s most awe-inspiring monuments. He built the mosque in commemoration of the memory of his late son. The mosque is still in near perfect condition and towers majestically over the rest of the citadel. Along with the Ottoman-era mosque, the citadel includes the National Military Museum and another Mamluk mosque. Let’s dive into the secrets of the Saladin Citadel.  

History of the Citadel

The Salah el Din Citadel was built by the famous Sultan Salah El. The citadel is also known by its less popular name Citadel of the Mountain which is pronounced Qala’a Al-Jabal in Arabic. This formidable structure was built in Egypt as a means to protect Cairo from potential Crusader attacks.

It has a central and special location, perched on the hills near the city center of Cairo. This prime location made it difficult for any enemy to attack or attempt to penetrate the city. This fortress was meant to protect against any violent attack. For a long time in Egyptian history this Citadel was also famous for being the seat of government and the ruler. A number of dynasties that passed through Egypt such as the Ayyubids, the Mamluks, and even a handful of Ottomans all ruled over Egypt from the safety of the Salah El Din Citadel. This continued as tradition among Egypt’s rulers until Khedive Ismail came to power in Egypt and decided to relocate the seat of government from the Citadel to Abdeen Palace.

The construction of Salah El-Din Citadel kicked off in the late 12th century under the auspices of Sultan Salah El-Din. However, the legendary sultan did not live in the Citadel due to its construction being completed in 1182 during the reign of Al Malek El Kamel, his predecessor. Salah El-Din’s intentions were to build an impressive and awe-inspiring citadel or fortress to protect him and the country at large from the advances of enemies and foreign powers. So, to fortify the structure and ensure the highest durability, the building blocks were actually made of the stones of some small pyramids in Giza.

Salah el din Citadel

The fortress drew a lot of inspiration from Syrian and Lebanese citadels because they were highly fortified and secure. That is what led the overall construction to be very impressive and sophisticated. Inside the Citadel, Salah El-Din also commissioned water wells to be built to be used by his soldiers.

The citadel featured four distinct gates known as El-Mokatam gate, the New Gate, the Middle Gate, and the Citadel gate. Once you enter through one of these gates, a world of impressive architectural and engineering feats including 13 towers, four non-religious sites and four different mosques—Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, Mosque of Sulayman Pasha, and Mosque of Al-‘Azab as well as two museums, the National Police Museum, and National Military Museum.

Both open to the public, the National Police Museum showcases a wealth of invaluable police weapons, tools, and uniforms. Guess what? This museum is actually a former prison, so visitors can witness real cells where prisoners were held in the past. The adjoining National Military Museum has on display a mix of historical cannons, tanks, and weapons, which were once-upon-a-time employed in real wars and battles.  

A short 15 to 25 minute drive from Downtown Cairo and neighbors with the historic Old Cairo region, the Citadel of Saladin is located in the Mokattam Hills area—the highest altitude in Cairo.

Salah El Din Himself

The Salah El-Din Citadel in Cairo is one of the most famous historical sites in Egypt for good reason. We know a lot about the structure itself but who was the mastermind behind this and what made him such a special character in history? His full name is El-Nasir Salah El-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub and he is regarded as one of history’s most famous chivalrous knights. The Iraqi-born ruler founded the Ayyubid dynasty and became the first ever Sultan of Egypt and Syria. When he was just 14 years old, he began his training for his military career. After sharpening his military skills over the years, the legendary Salah El Din led the Muslim military campaign against the Crusader states. This was actually the most significant victory of his life because he ended up successfully conquering the holy city of Jerusalem, effectively converting it to a facet Islamic state. Despite his strong power and unrivaled success in conquering a formidable amount of territories in record time, the Ayyubid sultan was actually a very charitable and kind religious leader. His name is made up of two Arabic words. Salah means righteous, and Din means religion. He lived a life full of success, adventure and of course a mix of turbulent events. It is believed he died at the age of 56 in Syria and was laid to rest in a final burial place in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Muhammad Ali  

Although there are a lot of building and structures within the citadel’s enclosure, the most famous landmark undoubtedly is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali which is also recognized by a lesser known name as the Alabaster Mosque. This historical mosque was commissioned by the famed Ottoman caliph Muhammad Ali Pasha and the overall construction took about two decades to complete. The mosque was built to commemorate the caliph’s son Tusun Pasha who died earlier in 1816.

The mosque itself opened in 1848 and took on a unique Ottoman architecture style. Standing on the highest point inside Salah El-Din Citadel, the mosque towers over not only the fortress but all of Old Cairo and the surrounding historic necropolis. The mosque consists of two distinct sections. The first section is located on the east side and is the holy hall of prayer. The second section is the courtyard, which boasts a stunning view of Cairo.  

Are you ready to embark on a journey to one of the most fascinating destinations in the world? Egypt is a country that is steeped in history, culture, and traditions. With Nile Cruise Vacation From the moment you step off the plane, you will be transported to a time and place that is unlike any other. And what better way to explore this exotic country than by visiting its top attractions?