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The city was known at the Greco-roman period as Arra. Its modern Arabic name refers to a companion of the Prophet Mohammed (Al Numan Ibn Bashir Al Ansari) who was made governor of the region by the Umayyads. Byzantines entered the city in 968 when Emperor Nicephore took profit from Syria's instability to retake the Northern part of the country from the Arabs. Fatimids however were able to recapture it after a short time. In 1098 Crusaders besieged the city for three weeks after which Raymond de Toulouse opened a breach in the city walls. 20.000 of the townspeople were slaughtered. The city did not return to Muslims' hands until Zengi reoccupied it in 1135. Today Maarat offers one of the most striking mosaics museums in Northern Syria.
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