The tomb of Suleyman Shah

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Turkish soldiers on guard in front of the Tomb of Süleyman Şah

Epigraph in the Tomb of Süleyman Şah, reading "This is the grave of Süleyman bin Kaya Alp, grandfather of Osman Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. He was drowned in the Euphrates along with two of his men, in search for a home for himself and his people. This grave had been relocated to this place in year 1973 from its original place in CABER, due to the construction of The Tabka dam.

The tomb of Suleyman Shah in Jaber Castle

The tomb of Suleyman Shah in Jaabar castle

The tomb of Suleyman Shah in Jaabar castle tower

The tomb of Suleyman Shah was a historical castle considered as a territory of Turkey within today's Syrian borders. The tomb of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of Osman I the founder of the Ottoman Empire, was placed within Jaabar castle. It was conquered by Ottoman Sultan Selim I during 16th century, and was ceded along with the rest of the Syrian province to the French Mandate of Syria in 1920, following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.

In accordance with Article 9 of the Treaty of Ankara (1921) signed between France and Turkey, the castle containing the tomb has been considered Turkish territory.

In 1973, the castle was submerged into the reservoir lake of the newly built Tabka Dam. The tomb of Suleyman Shah was relocated to a designated area of 8,797 m² close to Karakozak village in Aleppo Governorate, in accordance with the negotiations between Turkish and Syrian governments.

In accordance with the treaty, the tomb is guarded by a squad of the Turkish Army

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[edit] The arcitect of the tomb

It is an Turkish tomb situated on Euphrates river, on a peninsula, near Euphrates Dam and city of Alraqqa. It is surrounded by high walls, ditches and towers, typical Turkish style.

The ancient story of the castle is not known, but it is clear that Turks built it, namely At the times of crusades, it was annexed to Edessa (today's city of Urfa). In 1144 it was under control of Aleppean prince Zengi Atabek, then to his son Nur Aldin (Nureddin), who constructed most of what seen today. We know also that Saladdin took control of it too, but finally demolished by Mongols in 1260.^{[citation needed]}

The castle is made of bricks. Beginning from the entrance, you go through a corridor, then at levels are visible towers, bastions and a minaret.

[edit] References

Tonghini, Cristina, Qal`at Ja`bar Pottery, A study of a Syrian fortified site of the late 11th-14th centuries, with contributions by HJ Franken, HJ de Haas, J Kalsbeek and A Zaqzuq, Oxford, 1998.
Zaqzuq, A.R., Fouilles de la citadelle de Ja`abar, SYRIA Revue d'Art Oriental et d'Archeologie، Tome LXII، Paris 1985، 141-142 .
Musil, Alois, The Middle Euphrates-A Topographical Itenerary, New York 1927.
Dussaud, R., Deschamps, P., Seyrig, H., La Syrie Antique et Mediévale Illustrée, Paris, 1931.
Sourdel, D. "ḎJ̲abar or Ḳalat ḎJ̲abar." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online.
Bell, Gertrude Lowthian, Amurath to Amurath, London 1911;