Castellum Regis, Milia, Israel

Text and photos: Vilmos Katona

In the early spring of 2022, the author of this study was asked by the Hungarian Chapter of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem to carry out a survey of a section of the medieval fortress in Milia in Israel with the help of a local archaeologist. The target area was the section of the wall behind King Andrew II’s monument erected by the Order in 2019 with a purpose to prepare for its later restoration with the help of the Hungarain state, based on the results of the documentation. The mission, however, was not actually about the potentials of preserving this solitary wall section, but about exploring the regional and international strategic importance of the castle and the settlement uniquely rich in archaeological sites. This study is an enjoyably readable extract from the Israeli documentation, and simultaneously an invitation, an open, unended story, which needs to be continued by Hungarian architects and researchers. There are several reasons to justify the rediscovery of Milia. It is the most important settlement in Israel, and perhaps the only one the identity of which is based on Latin or Western Christianity in its entirety in its present form. Thanks to its sheltered location it could evolve into a popular destination for travellers visiting the northern part of the Holy Land, and its proximity to other monuments could also have a positive impact on diplomatic peace processes. Much like a twin settlement to Jerusalem, a new Galilean centre could easily develop here, creating a new kind of history based on cultural communication instead of ethnic and religious tensions.