Hashshashin

Quick Facts: Who was Hashshashin?

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Hashshashin

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Nizari Isma'ili Shia military order, famous for its network of mountain castles in Persia and Syria.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Order of Assassins (Arabic: حَشّاشُون, romanized: Ḥaššāšūn; Persian: حشاشين, romanized: Haššāšīn) was a Nizari Isma'ili Shia Islamic military order founded by Hasan-i Sabbah in 1090. Based in the Nizari Isma'ili state, which comprised a network of mountain castles in Persia and Syria, they conducted several high-profile assassinations throughout the Levant during the Crusades. The Assassins held a strict subterfuge policy in the region and are believed to have killed hundreds of people who were deemed enemies of their state over the course of 200 years, including other Shias (the Fatimids), as well as Sunnis (the Abbasids and Seljuks) and Christians (the Crusaders) alike. The English word assassin is derived from the Arabic word hashshashin, which shares etymological roots with the word hashish, supposedly referring to the order's tactics and a common but contested belief that many of their assassinations were carried out by individuals under the influence of the plant. The two primary divisions were of the Persian Assassins in Alamut Castle and of the Levantine Assassins in Masyaf Castle.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1253, the order began to collapse as a result of the Mongol campaign against the Nizaris. By 1256, the Assassin network had been defeated, but some independent Levantine strongholds continued to resist, prompting the Mongol army to begin massacring hundreds of thousands of Nizari Isma'ilis, largely destroying the religious community as a whole by the following year. Contemporaneous historians of the Assassin period include ibn al-Qalanisi, Ali ibn al-Athir, and Ata-Malik Juvayni. The former two referred to the Assassins as batiniyya, an epithet widely accepted by Isma'ilis themselves. The Assassins were founded by Hassan-i Sabbah.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The state was formed in 1090 after the capture of Alamut Castle in the Alborz mountain range of Persia, which served as the Assassins' headquarters. The Alamut and Lambsar castles became the foundation of a network of Isma'ili fortresses throughout Persia and Syria that formed the backbone of Assassin power, and included Syrian strongholds at Masyaf, Abu Qubays, al-Qadmus and al-Kahf. The Western world was introduced to the Assassins by the works of Marco Polo who understood the name as deriving from the word hashish. The Assassins posed a substantial strategic threat to Fatimid, Abbasid, and Seljuk authority. Over the course of nearly 200 years, they killed hundreds—including three caliphs, a ruler of Jerusalem and several Muslim and Christian leaders.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1090: 1090 Milestone — The Order of Assassins (Arabic: حَشّاشُون, romanized: Ḥaššāšūn; Persian: حشاشين, romanized: Haššāšīn) was a Nizari Isma'ili Shia Islamic military order founded by Hasan-i Sabbah in 1090.
2. 1253: 1253 Milestone — In 1253, the order began to collapse as a result of the Mongol campaign against the Nizaris.
3. 1256: 1256 Milestone — By 1256, the Assassin network had been defeated, but some independent Levantine strongholds continued to resist, prompting the Mongol army to begin massacring hundreds of thousands of Nizari Isma'ilis, largely destroying the religious community as a whole by the following year.

Notable Quotes by Hashshashin

“the killing of this devil is the beginning of bliss”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hashshashin

True or False: “The English word 'assassin' was derived directly from the Arabic word for hashish, referring to drug use.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Marco Polo linked it to hashish, the etymology is contested; the term derives from the Arabic word hashshashin.

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• Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester — Historical peer (Born in 1090) (1090): Illegitimate son of Henry I, key military figure in the Anarchy.
• Amir Khusrau — Historical peer (Born in 1253) (1253): Iconic Indo-Persian Sufi poet, musician, and scholar of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Dōgen — Historical peer (Died in 1253) (1253): Founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan, known for zazen practice.
• Kujō Yoritsugu — Historical peer (Died in 1256) (1256): Fifth Shōgun of the Kamakura Shogunate, ruling during a period of transition.
• Kujō Yoritsune — Historical peer (Died in 1256) (1256): Fourth Shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, a key political figure in medieval Japan.

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