Ottoman Castle Tabuk

Tabuk is a historical site located approximately 700 km north of Medina, along the route of the Hejaz Railway. The Tabuk Expedition, carried out by the Prophet Muhammad in 630 AD, is one of the largest military operations in Islamic history, conducted with an army of about 30,000. The primary reason for the construction of the Ottoman castle in this region is its strategic location: Tabuk is situated at a critical point on the historical land route connecting Hejaz to Syria. The Ottoman Empire built various fortifications in the region to protect Hejaz and ensure the safety of pilgrimage routes. With the construction of the Hejaz Railway (1900-1908), Tabuk gained importance; the stations and castles along the railway route formed a link in the Ottoman defense line. [Source: "Tabuk Expedition", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/tebuk-gazvesi; "Hejaz Railway", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hicaz-demiryolu]