The first assassins in history were a legendary group of murderers associated with Middle East at the time of the Crusades. Since most of the evidence we have about the Assassins comes from sources that opposed them, it is hard to tell where the facts end and the legend begins. Let’s assume they were the badasses we wish they were. In 1090, a Muslim holy man named Hasan-i Sabbah established his headquarters in the castle Alamut in Persia. He knew the Koran by heart and was intolerant of other Muslims. Sabbah became known as The Old Man of the Mountain. Sabbah and his followers were from a sect of Shiite Muslims known as the Nizari Ismaili. The sect was opposed to Sunni Muslims, but also was not on good terms with other Shiites. They converted the area around the castle and set up other strongholds. Greatly outnumbered by their foes, they relied on guerrilla warfare to hold their territory. They famously used assassinations to eliminate opposing leaders and to intimidate potential attackers. They targeted both the Seljuk Turks and the Crusaders.
Marco Polo was one of the first to write about the hashhashen. He claimed the name came from the Arabic word “hashish” meaning “hashish users”. Supposedly, the assassins were under the influence of hashish when they did their work. They were trained from their teens in the language and culture of their target. They would then get close to their victim as an advisor or servant. Then when the opportunity arose, the dagger flashed. It was ticket to paradise with all the women and food you would ever want. Another theory about the origin of the name is it comes from “hashasheen” meaning “outcast” or “rabble”. Considering that devout Muslims are supposed to abstain from drugs, this explanation might top Marco Polo’s.
The first significant assassination was of Nizam al-Mulk in 1092. He was the vizier to the Persian court. That same year, Conrad of Montrerrat was stabbed by two assassins while walking with some of his knights. The assassins were disguised as monks. Conrad was about to become King of Jerusalem, which was against Richard the Lionheart’s wishes. Some believe Richard hired the assassins. (On his way back home, he was captured and turned over to Conrad’s cousin and held for ransom.) In 1176, Saladin decided to eliminate the Assassins and laid siege to their fortress at Masyaf. One night, he awoke in this tent and saw someone leaving. He found a poisoned dagger with a note telling him to back off. The next day, he lifted the siege.
The Assassins were finally taken down by the Mongols. After an Assassin disguised as a holy man attempted to kill the grandson of Genghis Khan, Mongke Khan led a campaign to squash them. Alamut fell on November 19, 1256. Their leader was captured and the other castles fell soon after. Later, the leader and his followers were executed. Thus ended the stealthy foe of Muslims and Christians.
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-assassins-hashshashin-195545
https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-asia/hashshashins-001708
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Assassins
https://history.howstuffworks.com/world-history/order-of-assassins.htm
0 Comments