It can be argued without exaggeration that the Nizari assassins owe their resounding glory to their political and spiritual leader and the first ruler of the Ismaili state of Alamut. Hasan ibn Sabbah became the hero of numerous myths and parables during his lifetime. He was a skillful preacher and an excellent orator, possessed knowledge amazing for that era, was a wise and just ruler.
But we know something else about him - this man was cruel and nothing could stop him on the way to the goal, hundreds of deaths became the basis of his unlimited power, he himself gave the order to kill his own son, as it turned out later, unjustly accused of violating the laws of his father. Who really was the legendary Old Man of the Mountain?
Hasan ibn Sabbah was born about 1055 in Qom, a town southwest of Tehran, Persia, to a Shiite family. Soon the family was forced to move and settle in the city of Rey, in which from the 9th century. Ismaili dai preached. From the age of seven, Hassan was fond of theology and until the age of seventeen he strictly adhered to the teachings of the Shiites, like his father. But one day, fate brought Hasan to a teacher named Amir Darrab, who introduced him to the teachings of the Ismailis. At first, Hasan did not accept the Ismaili doctrine, considering it a kind of "philosophy" and placed it much lower than the Muslim religious teachings of the Shiites. However, over time, out of respect for the personality of Amira Darrab, he tried to delve deeper into his instructions. One day Hasan fell ill, and it was so hard that he gave his word in case of recovery, in which no one, and even he himself, believed, to convert to Ismailism. And a miracle happened - Hasan went on the mend. He did not deny his word. In May or June 1072, Rey was visited by Abd al-Malik ibn Attash, the head of the Ismaili community in western Persia and Iraq. Here he met Hassan, who made a strong impression on him. Ibn Attash elevated him to the rank of dai - a preacher and ordered him to go to Egypt to appear at the court of the Caliph. Hassan did not succeed in fulfilling the order soon and not exactly as Ibn Attash had in mind. Hassan did not succeed in fulfilling the order soon and not exactly as Ibn Attash had in mind. Hassan did not succeed in fulfilling the order soon and not exactly as Ibn Attash had in mind.
Hasan got two friends in the madrasah. One of them, serious beyond his years, was called Nizam al-Mulk, the other, a cheerful and funny young man, was Omar Khayyam. We can learn in detail about the relationship of friends from the book of Nizam al-Mulk himself, who later became a powerful vizier of the Seljuk sultan Malik Shah, although there are some doubts about its authenticity. The book is called "Wasiyat", "Testament", and in fact is a textbook for future statesmen. Nizam writes that he, Hasan ibn Sabbah and the poet Omar Khayyam studied together with Imam Muwaffek. Three friends swore that the one who first attains fame and honor will help the rest. The Nizam was lucky to be the first, and Omar Khayyam was not slow to appear at the court to remind his friend of the oath. And he held her back. He gave Omar a scholarship sufficient toso that the future great poet and mathematician could indulge in thought and research. He offered Hasan a high position at court. However, soon the ambitious Hasan began to undermine Nizam, wanting to take his place. Nizam, having learned about the treachery of his friend, also began to weave intrigues against Hasan and ensured that the sultan put him in disgrace. Hasan had to hastily leave the capital and flee to Egypt, harboring evil at his friend and burning with a thirst for revenge. This story, although very realistic, still raises some doubts among historians, since there is no correspondence in the age of the alleged friends.also began to weave intrigues against Hasan and ensured that the sultan put him in disgrace. Hasan had to hastily leave the capital and flee to Egypt, harboring evil at his friend and burning with a thirst for revenge. This story, although very realistic, still raises some doubts among historians, since there is no correspondence in the age of the alleged friends.also began to weave intrigues against Hassan and ensured that the sultan put him in disgrace. Hasan had to hastily leave the capital and flee to Egypt, harboring evil at his friend and burning with a thirst for revenge. This story, although very realistic, still raises some doubts among historians, since there is no correspondence in the age of the alleged friends.
Some historians believe that Hassan was accused of harboring agents of the Fatimid Caliph in Rhea and, fleeing captivity, fled to Egypt in 1076.
One way or another, Nizam al-Mulk became the implacable enemy of Hassan and the first victim of the Assassins. He was an excellent statesman and for thirty years of service brought many benefits to the state: he encouraged the development of industry, trade, built roads and bridges, paid special attention to culture and education. He firmly followed the line of religious orthodoxy, seeing in it the main condition for the security and well-being of the state, respectively, his attitude to both other currents of Islam and Christianity was sharply negative.
Omar Khayyam, a world famous poet, was one of the greatest mathematicians of the Middle Ages. He even reformed the Persian calendar, making it more accurate than the one that exists today. However, this calendar was never in demand, since it came into conflict with the orthodox lunar calendar established by Muhammad.
But back to the main character of our story. Arriving in Egypt, Hasan passed himself off as the messenger of Malik Shah (according to another version, the Turkish Sultan). It would seem that here Hasan could deepen his knowledge of Ismailism and hone his eloquence, but after three years Ibn Sabbah got entangled in palace intrigues. There is a version that Hassan had a falling out with the commander-in-chief Badr al-Jamali, the true ruler of Fatimid Egypt. The reasons for the breakup are unknown, but it is possible that the essence of the quarrel was in Hasan's Nizari tendencies. Ibn Sabbah's Persian biographer Rashid ad-Din Tabib, who wrote in 1310, reports that Hasan fell into the heat of strife that flared up between Badr and the Caliph. Badr forbade Hasan to appear before the Caliph, despite his desire to see a young foreigner from the north. Hasan was captured, thrown into prison and sentenced to death. On the eve of the execution, the inexplicable happened - the highest minaret in the city collapsed. The Caliph considered this event a sign and, not wishing to anger Allah, put the obstinate courtier on a ship with the order to land him in Syria. This is where the first legends about Hasan ibn Sabbah appear. The legend tells about the extraordinary voyage of Hasan. They say that a violent storm broke out in the sea. The wind blew off the sails, water began to seep into the hold. The whole team prayed to Allah for salvation. Everyone except Hassan himself. In response to the indignation of the captain, Ibn Sabbah said that it was not the Almighty, but that he caused a storm and would not die, since he was immortal and omnipotent. This power is given to him by the name of the secret imam, known only to him alone. When the desperate crew fell down in front of Hasan, a miracle happened - the wind began to subside, the ship straightened. So Hassan had his first followers. A few days later, he safely went ashore and arrived in Syria, and from there through Baghdad to Isfahan.
Promotional video:
The Grand Vizier was not thrilled with his return, but something else scared him most of all. Ibn Sabbah, strictly adhering to the Quran, declared that true knowledge of Allah is possible through the teachings of the secret Imam, which only he knows. Obey and you will be saved. Such a simple and clear formula for the salvation of the soul, invented by Ibn Sabbah, turned out to be extremely attractive for a simple illiterate people. Nizam al-Mulk ordered to take the false prophet into custody, but among the vizier's entourage were supporters of Hasan, who managed to warn the teacher. For the next nine years Ibn Sabbah traveled through Persia and preached his teachings. During these trips, Hasan looked for a place where he could create his own Ismaili state without fear of being destroyed by the Seljuks. Around 1088, he finally settled on the Alamut fortress. In the valley under the mountain, on which the fortress stood, there were several villages, the inhabitants of which reacted favorably to Hasan's teachings. They were greatly impressed by the piety and asceticism of the wandering dai.
Ibn Sabbah acted very carefully. First, he sent his confidant Hussein Kaini to convert the inhabitants of neighboring villages to his faith. Then Ismailism was secretly preached in Alamut itself. Most of the inhabitants accepted the teaching. Finally, in September 1090, Hassan made his way into the castle. When the ruler realized that, in fact, the preacher of Ismailism took possession of his fortress, he left the former possessions, and Hasan gave him a receipt for 3000 gold dinars as compensation. It was rumored that the exiled ruler did not really believe in the receipt given to him by the itinerant preacher. However, when he decided to present it to the addressee, he, seeing the signature of Hasan, kissed the paper and gave the indicated amount to the stunned bearer.
The capture of the Alamut fortress was the beginning of the creation of the Nizari state. From the moment he entered the castle in 1090 and until his death, which followed 35 years later, Hassan, as many chronicles say, never left the fortress. They say that he left his house only twice, going to the roof. He devoted time to prayers, reading and taking notes of his teachings, developing a strategy for converting to the "true faith" of the entire Islamic world. Also, this extraordinary person had deep knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, magic and alchemy. He led a devout and ascetic lifestyle. After the siege of Alamut by the Seljuk troops, Hasan removed his wife and children to a neighboring village, but did not accept them back. Soon after this event, the population of Alamut was exclusively male.
Now that the bastion of his faith was relatively safe, Ibn Sabbah set about rallying the Ismailis under his leadership. Soon after the death of the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir in 1094, Hasan inherited the title of supreme dai of Persia and was named the head of the Nizari movement. Now the Nizari have become an independent sect of Islam. Very little time passed, and the Assassins turned into a powerful political force, relying on numerous fortresses.
The subjects of the Elder of the Mountain were fanatically devoted to their spiritual leader, and Ibn Sabbah masterfully supported this feeling.
It must be admitted that this great thinker and politician was also an unsurpassed master of falsification. Here is one of the most powerful tricks that legends say he used to strengthen the spirit of the warriors.
In one of the rooms, above a hole hidden in the stone floor, a large dish was set up with a round hole neatly carved in the center. The day before the action, Ibn Sabbah allegedly ordered the execution of one of the assassins for some offense. By order of Hasan, this man was hiding in a pit, sticking his head through a hole cut in the dish. Thanks to the skillful make-up, it seemed from the side that the head had been cut off. Young fidai warriors were invited into the hall and showed them the "severed head". Then Ibn Sabbah appeared, spoke incomprehensible words, made several waves of his hands - and the “dead head” opened its eyes and began to speak. She was asked questions about the afterlife and paradise, to which the “severed head” gave quite optimistic, previously learned answers. After the invitees left the hall,Ibn Sabbah's assistant was really cut off his head and the next day they paraded it in front of the gates of Alamut, so that no one doubted the veracity of the Elder of the Mountain. There is another, no less remarkable, legend about how, in front of hundreds of assassins, Ibn Sabbah performed a demonstrative self-immolation and allegedly ascended to heaven in this way, and the next day the crowd appeared unharmed. The secret of this trick was that Hassan, like many other rulers before and after him, had several doubles. So they burned at the stake for the glory of the sovereignhow, in front of hundreds of assassins, Ibn Sabbah performed a demonstrative self-immolation and allegedly ascended to heaven in this way, and the next day appeared to the crowd unharmed. The secret of this trick was that Hassan, like many other rulers before and after him, had several doubles. So they burned at the stake for the glory of the sovereignhow, in front of hundreds of assassins, Ibn Sabbah performed a demonstrative self-immolation and allegedly ascended to heaven in this way, and the next day appeared to the crowd unharmed. The secret of this trick was that Hassan, like many other rulers before and after him, had several doubles. So they burned at the stake for the glory of the sovereign
The Muslim world at that time was in a state of deep turmoil - the first crusade of the Christian rulers was crowned with success. This situation played into the hands of the Old Man of the Mountain. The rulers of neighboring states with his help sought to get rid of competitors, and Ibn Sabbah himself decided which of them would be beneficial to make his ally, and who to get rid of. Hasan invested the money received in the expansion of his possessions, he built several more fortresses, but he understood that without proper organization the Nizari community would not last long. Therefore, he began to attract peasants and artisans to his possessions, promising in exchange for goods and products, as well as a moderate tribute, a calm life, stability and security. This tactic turned out to be very successful, and soon the Old Man of the Mountain could boast not only vast territories,but also by numerous and fanatically devoted subjects, from whom he recruited students for his "school of murderers." Thanks to strife in the Seljuk empire and Ibn Sabbah's “divide and conquer” policies, the Assassin empire flourished. For 35 years, the Old Man of the Mountain ruled the most mysterious state in the Middle East. But in May 1124 he fell ill and, having appointed a successor, died. Today he is revered by the Ismailis as the founder of the Nizari movement, and his tomb in Alamut was a place of worship for Nizari pilgrims for many years until it was destroyed by the Mongols in 1256.having appointed a successor, died. Today he is revered by the Ismailis as the founder of the Nizari movement, and his grave in Alamut was a place of worship for Nizari pilgrims for many years until it was destroyed by the Mongols in 1256.having appointed a successor, died. Today he is revered by the Ismailis as the founder of the Nizari movement, and his grave in Alamut was a place of worship for Nizari pilgrims for many years until it was destroyed by the Mongols in 1256.
Hasan ibn Sabbah never aspired to the title of a hidden imam, avoided honors. Opponents attributed the most basest aspirations to him, explaining the love and devotion of the assassins with special methods of mind control that Ibn Sabbah used. But the truth is much simpler. Hasan ibn Sabbah successfully influenced his subjects with the impeccability of his behavior and fortitude, convincing them that he was the messenger of the prophet.
Until the end of his life, the Old Man of the Mountain steadfastly followed the rules set by him, ruled reasonably and firmly, protecting fortresses from enemies and providing his subjects - mostly ordinary people - with prosperity and stability. He was cruel and wise, treacherous and cunning. He was a true ruler, the only one who, at that time of troubles, was able not only to create his own state, but also to ensure its prosperity. There are not many such rulers in the history of mankind.