Order of Assassins

 

The Order of Assassins was a secret group of Nizari Ismaili Muslims founded by Hasan-i Sabbah in 1090. They lived in mountain forts in Persia and Syria, especially at Alamut Castle.

They became famous for carrying out targeted killings of important enemies, including Muslim and Christian leaders during the Crusades. Over about 200 years, they killed hundreds of people to protect their state and beliefs.

The word “assassin” comes from the Arabic term hashshashin, though the idea that they used drugs like hashish is debated.

The group had two main centers: one in Persia (Alamut) and one in Syria (Masyaf).

Their power ended in the 1200s when the Mongols destroyed their castles and defeated them.

The Order of Assassins was a secret group of Nizari Ismaili Muslims founded by Hasan-i Sabbah in 1090. He captured Alamut Castle in Persia (modern-day Iran), which became the group’s main base. From there, they built a network of strong mountain fortresses across Persia and Syria.

The Assassins were known for carefully planned killings of powerful enemies. Instead of fighting large battles, they targeted important leaders such as rulers, generals, and religious figures. Over about 200 years, they killed hundreds of people, including Muslims and Christians, especially during the Crusades. Their goal was to protect their community and weaken their enemies.

They operated in secret and used disguise and deception to get close to their targets. Because of their methods, they became feared across the region. The English word “assassin” comes from the Arabic word hashshashin, though the idea that they used drugs like hashish is uncertain and debated by historians.

The group had two main centers: one in Persia at Alamut, and another in Syria at Masyaf. Both were strong, well-protected fortresses that helped them control nearby areas.

Their power began to decline in the 1200s when the Mongols attacked their castles. By 1256, most of their strongholds had been destroyed, and the Assassin state collapsed.

Myths and folklore about the Assassins

The Assassins were known for their highly loyal fighters, called fida’is, who carried out dangerous public missions, often risking or losing their lives. Many old stories describe unusual training methods, including claims that they were given hashish. However, these claims mostly come from outsiders like Marco Polo or from the group’s enemies, so historians today treat them with caution.

One of the most famous legends says that the leader at Alamut, sometimes linked to figures like Hassan-i-Sabbah, would drug young followers and take them to a beautiful garden designed to look like paradise. When they woke up, they were told that only the leader could bring them back there, which supposedly made them completely loyal. This story became widely known in Europe, especially through Marco Polo’s writings and later historians like Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall. For a long time, it shaped how people in the West understood the Assassins.

The stories about the Assassins often focus on their loyal fighters, called fida’is, who carried out dangerous missions and were willing to die for their cause. Some old stories claim they were given hashish during training.

Reading references

- The Assassin Legends: Myths of the Isma'ilis by Farhad Daftary  ISBN 978-1850437055 (ISBN-10: 185043705X), 

-A History of the Crusades: Volume Two, The Later Crusades 1187–1311, p. 528

- Arabs And Crusades Through the Eyes of ibn Al Qalanasi and Ibn Al Athir by Syeda Ariba Rashid, International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research: Volume 6, Issue 3,

- Ata-Malik Juvayni (1997). History of the World Conqueror. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719051456. 

 - The Travels of Marco Polo. Read Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1446545997.