THE ASSASSIN
The word assassin has never meant anything good for our modern society, and throughout the history of the middle east it struck fear onto all who heard it. They have been prominent figures of movies, gaming, and many other parts of the media. Even though the assassins library was burned down with there fortress, which means all original information was destroyed, there are multiple eye witness encounters that help us understand these amazingly trained and disciplined killers. The assassins were a branch of the Ismaili sect of Shia Islam. The founder of assassins was an Ismaili missionary that went by the name of Hasan-i Sabbah. He and a group of his followers captured Castle at Alamut, Iran, from the resident king of Daylam in 1090. Which later on became the assassins fortress.
Name "Assassin"
Where the name assassin comes from is not entirely clear, different theories and stories have come up about the origin but non have enough evidence to suggest the true origin of the word. A common theory states that the word comes from the Arabic hashishi, meaning "hashish users." Even the traveller Marco Polo claimed that the followers of Sabbah committed their murders while under the influence of drug. This seams unlikely though, because Hasan-i Sabbah strictly interpreted the Koran when referring to disciplinary rulers of bettering yourself, also the fact that during the years in which the assassins were disbanded Marco Polo was still but a little child. A more convincing explanation cites the Egyptian Arabic word hashasheen, meaning "noisy people" or "troublemakers."
The Tactics of the Assassin
Contrary to the modern belief that Assassins would attempt only missions that involved a murder, they were also sent out on missions to protect civilians from unjust actions done to them. The Assassin was a highly educated person that would need to study various cultures, languages, and people. They were expected to be well read and educated, but also athletic and durable. Assassins only attacked targeted political leaders. Assassins never attacked civilians or other innocent people. They would study their target and their environment for weeks, months of even years. The outfits worn by them would depend on the environment, but to cover themselves enough to not be recognized would be "must" on their part. The attack would be public, something of a small dagger dipped in poison or a short sword would be used in a assassination, a tactical trick used by the assassin was to stand over his/her victim bearing an emotion of cold indifference. This strikes fear into the hearts of others.
The Goal of Assassins
The main goal for assassins as a whole was to challenge and rid the authority of the Seljuk Turks and Sunni Muslims who controlled Persia at the time. In the distant past, a regional ruler who had gone hunting saw an eagle perch on a high rock, and realizing the tactical advantage of the location, decided to build his next stronghold there. This he names Alamut ("Eagle's Nest" or "Eagle's Teaching") since an eagle had taught him the location. The castle was atop a 180 meter tall rock, surrounded by mountains in the north and south, a river to the east, and dense forests in the west. What better location for the center of assassin activity?Many years from its founding, Seljuk rulers had settled in Alamut and placed high taxes on the Muslim farmers and residents of the land. Hassan Sabbah had just returned from Egypt after being educated by the leaders of the Ismaili faith. He had been promoted to the rank of Dai, a spiritual guide, teacher, and missionary for the Ismaili faith. Hassan was born in Qom, and raised in the nearby city Tehran. At the time, Ismaili scholars in Tehran were trying to look past the literal meanings of Islamic scripture, to get a glimpse of a deeper, more esoteric meaning. This appealed to Hassan, and he delved into Ismailism and its study, which prompted him to travel to Egypt, the center of Ismaili activity.
After his return, he witnessed his fellow Ismailis' suffering and oppression under the rule of the Abbassids and Seljuks, and quickly decided react to this. His mind was set on Alamut as his fortress of operations within enemy territory. His plan was elaborate. For 2 years he disappeared into the surrounding villages wile the Sunnis were looking for him in large and crowded cities like Tehran. In the villages he went by the name of Dehkhoda ("Village Elder"), and rallied many muslims to his cause and mission. He sent his followers to Alamut to be employed into the castle staff, and through them he spread his influence into the castle. He then captured the castle with peace and ease.
After his return, he witnessed his fellow Ismailis' suffering and oppression under the rule of the Abbassids and Seljuks, and quickly decided react to this. His mind was set on Alamut as his fortress of operations within enemy territory. His plan was elaborate. For 2 years he disappeared into the surrounding villages wile the Sunnis were looking for him in large and crowded cities like Tehran. In the villages he went by the name of Dehkhoda ("Village Elder"), and rallied many muslims to his cause and mission. He sent his followers to Alamut to be employed into the castle staff, and through them he spread his influence into the castle. He then captured the castle with peace and ease.
Downfall of the assassins.
By 1237, the Mongols had conquered almost all of central Asia and Persia. Dispersed among these conquered lands were dozens of assassin stronghold, which the Mongols had left untouched. At the time, the assassin leader was housed in the fortress of Maymundiz, north of Alamut. Because of Hassan Sabbah's efforts more than a century before, Alamut was the most fortified and provisioned castle of the assassins.Fearful of the Mongol threat, the assassin leader attended the coronation of Mongke, Genghis Khan's grandson, to find a diplomatic solution to avert the Mongol threat. After receiving no support from the Mongols, the leader ordered the assassination of Mongke. This incomplete and failed assassination was to cost the assassins dearly. Mongke ordered his younger brother, Hulegu, to take over and destroy all assassin strongholds.
One by one, the strongholds fell to the might of the Mongols. But Alamut still stood strong. Hulegu needed a more elaborate plan to conquer Alamut.Hulegu first attacked the neighbouring fortresses. Alamut was forced to send reinforcements for the defense of these fortresses, though all these reinforcements were killed by the Mongols. The loss of so many men in battle prompted the assassin leader to dismantle the battlements and towers of Alamut as a sign of submission.
Hulegu did not give mercy, and marched straight onto the fortress of Maymundiz, where the leader lived with his family. Maymundiz fell quickly, and the leader was forced send orders of submission to Alamut in exchange for his faimly's and his own life.
The protector general in Alamut, left with few men (most died when sent to defend other castles), and no defenses (the battlements and towers had been dismantled), at first did not want to believe the order of submission sent by his leader. But when the Mongol's arrived at Alamut, he hesitantly gave up the castle without a fight, accepting the order he was given.
In 1256, Alamut was dismantled and the famous Assassin Library was destroyed, its books deemed heretical and burned. The Ismailis in the region were invited to gatherings by the Mongols, where they were slaughtered. About a hundred thousand Ismailis died at these gatherings. The assassins were forced to flee from the region, and disbanded forever... or were they?
One by one, the strongholds fell to the might of the Mongols. But Alamut still stood strong. Hulegu needed a more elaborate plan to conquer Alamut.Hulegu first attacked the neighbouring fortresses. Alamut was forced to send reinforcements for the defense of these fortresses, though all these reinforcements were killed by the Mongols. The loss of so many men in battle prompted the assassin leader to dismantle the battlements and towers of Alamut as a sign of submission.
Hulegu did not give mercy, and marched straight onto the fortress of Maymundiz, where the leader lived with his family. Maymundiz fell quickly, and the leader was forced send orders of submission to Alamut in exchange for his faimly's and his own life.
The protector general in Alamut, left with few men (most died when sent to defend other castles), and no defenses (the battlements and towers had been dismantled), at first did not want to believe the order of submission sent by his leader. But when the Mongol's arrived at Alamut, he hesitantly gave up the castle without a fight, accepting the order he was given.
In 1256, Alamut was dismantled and the famous Assassin Library was destroyed, its books deemed heretical and burned. The Ismailis in the region were invited to gatherings by the Mongols, where they were slaughtered. About a hundred thousand Ismailis died at these gatherings. The assassins were forced to flee from the region, and disbanded forever... or were they?
LINKS
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/iran/p/assassinsprofile.htm
https://files.nyu.edu/se736/public/origins.html
https://files.nyu.edu/se736/public/origins.html