The Crusaders’ arrival in 1099 quickly split the mosaic of semi-independent cities of the Seljuk sultanate of Damascus. The Crusaders have held the town twice, between 1129–1132 and 1140–1164. It was called by the Franks Belinas or Caesarea Philippi. From 1126–1129, the town was held by Assassins, and was turned over to the Franks following the purge of the sect from Damascus by Buri. Later on, Shams al-Mulk Isma’il attacked Banias and captured it on 11 December 1132. In 1137, Banias became under the rule of Imad al-Din Zengi. In late spring 1140, Mu’in ad-Din Unur handed Banias to the Crusaders during the reign of King Fulk, due to their assistance against Zengi’s aggression towards Damascus
