

Ancient Ramitha replaced the earlier settlement of Ugarit (Ras Shamra) to the north, which was destroyed in the 12th century BC. During the Seleucid period (3rd and 2nd centuries BC), it flourished as a port and one of north Syria’s principal cities, but in the following centuries earthquakes twice destroyed the city. Latakia was taken in AD 638 by the Arabs, in 1103 by the crusaders, and in 1188 by Saladin. Subsequently the town was administered by Christians from Tripoli, Muslims from Ḥamāh, and the Ottoman Turks; it came within the French mandate of Syria and Lebanon in 1920.


Latakia governorate has an area of 887 sq mi (2,297 sq km) and embraces Syria’s fertile Mediterranean coastal area. It is an important agricultural region, producing abundant crops of tobacco, cotton, cereal grains, and fruits. Area governorate, 887 square miles (2,297 square km). Pop. (1981 prelim.1994) city, 196357,791562; (2005 est.) governorate, 554897,783000.