Masyaf
Videos
Masyaf is a city in northwestern Syria. It is the center of the Masyaf District in the Hama Governorate. As of 2004, Masyaf had a religiously diverse population of approximately 22,000 Ismailis, Alawites and Christians. The city is well known for its large medieval castle, particularly its role as the headquarters of the Nizari Ismailis and their elite Assassins unit.
A view of Masyaf, 2008
The fortress of Masyaf
The fortress and town of Masyaf, c. 1935
A view of part of the fortress (foreground) and the modern city of Masyaf (background), 2004
Order of Assassins
Videos
The Order of Assassins or simply the Assassins were a Nizari Isma'ili order that existed between 1090 and 1275 AD, founded by Hasan-i Sabbah.
Masyaf Castle in Hama. It was the headquarters of the Assassins in the Levant. Picture taken in 2017
Edward I, King of England thwarts an attempt at his life by an Assassin and kills the attacker. The assassin likely was sent by the Mamluk Sultan Baibars, in order to remove his opposition to a 10-year truce with the Christian states at Jerusalem. 19th-century depiction by Gustave Doré
View of the city of Alamut being besieged. 1438 depiction by the Tarikh-i Jahangushay
Remains of the Alamut Castle in Qazvin, Iran