[1] The fortress was a stronghold of the crusader County of Edessa, in which it was governed by Armenian ruler Kogh Vasil along with neighboring Raban.

In 1116, King Baldwin II forced his adoptive son, Vasil Dgha, to renounce his domains.

[2] In 1131, the Danishmend Emir Gazi besieged the place in which Joscelin I, Count of Edessa, had installed the Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch.

Though Joscelin was dying at that time, he was carried on a litter ahead of his army to relieve the castle.

Upon hearing news of Joscelin's approach, Emir Ghazi abandoned the siege.