Hulagu Khan: captures and destroys the Assassins Stronghold at Alamut

On this day, 15th December 1256, Hulagu Khan and his Mongolian army captured and destroyed the Hashashin stronghold at Alamut.  The term "assassin" is derived from the Arab assassin group known as Hashashin. Hashashin refers to hashish smokers, commonly known as hash, a marijuana concentration.

Genghis Khan is known as one of the greatest conquerors in history, and it looks like that trait ran strong in his family. Hulagu, grandson of Genhis, was successful in conquest throughout most of Southeast Asia. Hulagu also destroyed numerous Islamic strongholds that had emerged across Asia during the middle Ages.

In the 11th century, when the Seljuk Empire was established, the Abbasid Caliphate collapsed and the Shia Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt took control. After defeating the Fatimids at the Battle of Baghdad in 1055, Seljuk Empire founder Tughril Beg became the Abbasid Caliphate's defender.

Hassan-i Sabbah was the representative of al-Mustansir Billah, the eighth Fatimid caliph, in Khorasan, and he founded history's most brutal terror organisation. Hassan-i Sabbah had amassed a sizable following through rigorous advertising. However, after al-Mustansir Billah's death, Sabbah deserted the Fatimids since the nizar he backed did not succeed to the throne. In 1090, after taking Alamut Castle, Sabbah founded the Hashashin (Assassins).

History Alamut Castle:

 Hasan-i Sabbah built Alamut Castle, also known as the "Eagle's Teaching," a fortress at 1,800 metres in the middle of the Alborz Mountains. Sabbah conquered Alamut after fleeing Seljuk soldiers. When he took control of Alamut, he had the fortress prepared for long-term sieges. He ensured that his men obeyed him blindly in the milieu he created in the castle. His men, whom he had made smoke hashish, obeyed his orders at the risk of their lives.

Hassan Sabah used the castle as a focal point for his military efforts in order to spread and promote Ismaili ideals. The Mongols destroyed the castle, leaving only ruins. It was utilised as a prison throughout the Safavid dynasty, and its remains are presently housed in Alamut fortress.

Origin of Assassins:

The Hashashin trained to be assassins by improving their hand-eye coordination while under the influence of drugs. The Alamut was a stronghold located around 60 miles from modern-day Tehran, Iran. From 1090 through 1256, Alamut was controlled by the Nizari, a Shi'a Muslim sect. Hulagu Khan, the last of the Nizari, was noted for advocating social fairness.

The original assassins, the Hashshashin, began in Persia, Syria, and Turkey and eventually extended throughout the Middle East, assassinating political and financial enemies alike till their organisation disintegrated in the mid-1200s.

The Advance of the Mongols:

The sultan of Khwarezm in what is now Uzbekistan made a significant error in judgement in the year 1219. He was responsible for the death of a group of Mongol merchants in his city. This insult made Genghis Khan very angry, so he took his army into Central Asia to punish Khwarezm.

In 1237, the Mongols had overrun most of Central Asia, therefore it was prudent for the leader of the Assassins to pledge his allegiance to them. Except for the Assassins' strongholds—possibly as many as 100 mountain fortresses—all of Persia had fallen.

From 1219, when the Mongols took over Kwarezm, until the 1250s, the Assassins had a lot of freedom in the area. The Mongols were preoccupied with other matters and ruled lightly. However, Mongke Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson, became resolved to conquer the Islamic countries and seize Baghdad, the caliphate's capital.

The Assassin leader was worried about the increased attention being paid to his area, so he ordered his men to eliminate Mongke. They were to pretend to submit to the Mongol khan before stabbing him. Mongke's guards sensed treason and turned away the Assassins, but it was too late. Mongke was dead-set on eliminating the Assassins permanently.

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