Agricultural estates and Prankish settlement near Caiphas

I pointed out above that many of the Frankish castra were essentially fortified agricultural settlements which were established near central fortresses which were used as administrative centers by the landlords. In this type of “castrum” which was well known in contemporaneous Europe the agricultural plots were not always adjacent to the walls of the central fortress and in many cases the Frankish farmers cultivated their fields at a comparatively great distance from its walls. The inhabitants of Castellum Regis cultivated fields in Tarshiha and apparently also in Tertilla, while those of Casale Imbert cultivated land in the neighboring villages as well.

The question arises as to how the Frankish settlers could have cared for agricultural land which was not close to the walls of the castra. Did they construct permanent buildings for the purpose of administering these lands? Did the castellan have to provide the infrastructure? Was he obliged, amongst other things, to see to the maintenance of the roads and paths connecting the agricultural fields? Did he have to ensure a supply of water to the desert areas, and a supply of lime for building purposes? There is evidence enough to confirm that the answers to all these questions are in the affirmative. In this chapter I shall present some evidence pertaining to one castrum – that of Caiphas (Haifa).

Caiphas is regarded by many scholars as a Frankish city, built on the site of an early Muslim one.