Pāpak Fort or Babak Castle (), is a large citadel on the top of a mountain in the Arasbaran forests, 50 km from Ahar, one parasang from Ardabil, 6 km southwest of Kalibar City in northwestern Iran. According to Ibn al- Nadim, it was the stronghold of Javidhan and Babak Khorramdin, the leaders of the Khurramites in Iranian Azerbaijan who fought the Islamic Abbasid Caliphate. The fort was conquered and ruined by Abbasid general Afshin's army in 837.

Access

The castle is built at an altitude of 2300–2600 meters.

The surrounding Arasbaran oak forest, jagged cliffs and mountains in the distance can be seen from the castle. The last stretch to the main castle is a narrow passageway and a 200-meter corridor-shaped temple. The castle is nearly impossible to capture, due to its elevated location in the mountains and being protected by ice and snow.

Khurramites in the fort

The movement of Khurramites in Azerbaijan was associated with Javidhan who was a landlord leader of one of the two Khurramite movements in Azerbaijan (from 807–808 to 816–817), with his headquarters being in Badd, located close to the Aras river. The leader of the other Khurramite movement was Abu Imran, who often clashed with Javidhans forces. During one of the clashes, in probably 816, Abu Imran was defeated and killed, whilst Javidhan was mortally wounded, dying three days later. Javidhan was succeeded by his apprentice Babak Khorramdin, who also married Javidhan's widow.

The last battle between the Arab caliphate and the Khurramites took place in the fortress of Badd on 837. The Khurramites were defeated and Afshin reached Badd. Afshin had additional forces from the Caliphate under the Arab magnate Abū Dolaf and settled in a camp six miles away from Badd fortress. He used this camp as a base for mountain attacks against Badd. After setting up siege machinery and naphtha-throwers, he was able to invade Badd. The Khurramites were defeated and after capturing the Badd fortress, Babak escaped, but was later captured and executed.

Present day

The remaining parts of the fortress are currently known as Qaḷʿa-ye Jomhūr. It is situated 50km from Ahar on the left branch of Qarasū river. A castle and a palace on atop a mountain remain from the Badd fort.

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File:Babak Fort - panoramio (1).jpg|Babak Fort

File:Babak Fort - panoramio (6).jpg|Babak Fort

File:Babak Fort - قلعه بابک.jpg|Babak Castle

File:Babak fort back view.jpg|Babak Fort

File:Babak Castle.jpg|Babak Fort

File:Babak Catle 2.jpg|Babak Castle

File:Babak Fort - panoramio.jpg|Babak Fort

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See also

  • Iranian architecture
  • Arasbaran forests
  • Atashgah Castle
  • List of castles in Iran

Notes

  • More Pictures in Tishineh