Editing Byblos (section)

=== Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman period ===
[[File:Byblos Castle.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Crusader Fort]]
[[File:St JohnByblos.jpg|thumb|right|The Crusades-era [[St. John's Cathedral, Byblos|Church of St. John-Mark]] in Byblos]]
In the 12th and 13th century, Byblos became part of the [[County of Tripoli]], a [[Crusader states|Crusader state]] connected to, but [[Vassals of the Kingdom of Jerusalem#Northern states|largely independent]] from, the [[Crusade]]r [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]].

As Gibelet or Giblet, it came under the rule of the [[Genoa|Genoese]] [[Embriaco family]], who created for themselves the [[Lord of Gibelet|Lordship of Gibelet]], first as administrators of the city in the name of the [[Republic of Genoa]], and then as a hereditary fief, undertaking to pay an annual fee to Genoa and the [[Genoa Cathedral|church of San Lorenzo]] (Genoa's Cathedral).<ref>{{Cite web |title=EMBRIACI in "Enciclopedia Italiana" |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/embriaci_(Enciclopedia-Italiana) |access-date=2020-12-15 |website=www.treccani.it |language=it-IT}}</ref>

The Embriaco family's residence, the [[Byblos Castle]], along with the fortified town, served as an important military base for the Crusaders. The remains of the castle are among the most impressive architectural structures now visible in the town centre. The town was taken by [[Saladin]] in 1187, re-taken by the Crusaders, and conquered by [[Baibars]] in 1266, but it remained in the possession of the Embriacos until around 1300.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Having voluntarily surrendered to the Mamluks, the city was relatively spared from looting following its capture.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Mission de Phénicie |last=Renan |first=Ernest |publisher=Imprimerie impériale |year=1864 |location=Paris |pages=157}}</ref> Its fortifications were subsequently restored by [[Baybars]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Maurice Dunand |title=Byblos: Its History, Ruins and Legends |edition=3rd |location=Beirut |publisher=Imprimerie Catholique |year=1973 |page=41}}</ref> From 1516 until 1918, the town and the whole region became part of the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}