List of assassinations by the Assassins

List of assassination (attempt)s attributed to the Assassins (Hashshashins), active in Greater Iran, Egypt and the Levant, in the 11th through 13th centuries.

Background
Assassination of the Seljuq vizier Nizam al-Mulk

The Assassins were a group of Nizari Ismaili Shia Muslims that, by capturing or building impregnable forts, established a "state" of their own inside the hostile territories of the Seljuk Empire, a Sunni Muslim government, first in Persia and later in Iraq and the Levant. Lacking a conventional army, in order to survive, they started using unconventional tactics such as assassination of prominent enemy figures and psychological warfare.

The precise ideology that motivated the assassins are unclear. They gained access to the victims through betrayal of confidence and carried out the attack in a ritual manner. The names of the assassin and their victims were preserved in a roll of honor preserved in Alamut Castle, cited by Bernard Lewis.[1][2]

Most of the assassinations by the Nizaris took place during the first decades of their struggle, which helped them to create a local political power. This tactic caused resentment against them, and there is a correlation between the assassinations and subsequent massacres of the Nizaris; this tactic gradually declined and the later attributed assassinations are probably of local origination. [3][2] It should be taken into account that medieval Arabic sources generally tend to attribute most of the assassinations of this period to the Ismailis.[4]

Those assassinated were usually the enemies of the Nizari Ismaili sect, but also sometimes people of political importance who are killed in exchange for money paid by some local ruler.[5]

List
Victim(s) Description Result Date Location Assassin(s) Method Notes
Nizam al-Mulk Seljuq vizier and de facto ruler killed 1092, October 14 Sahnah, Seljuq Empire assassin disguised as dervish; killed or fled or survived knife Their most famous action.[1][6]
Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Labbad (أحمد بن محمد اللباد) governor of Isfahan killed 1093 Isfahan, Seljuq Empire unknown unknown [1]
Abu Muslim prefect of Ray killed 1095 unknown a friend unknown [1]
Abd al-Rahman al-Simirumi (عبد الرحمان السميرمي) vizier of Seljuq sultan Barkayaruq killed 1097 unknown Abu Tahir al-Arrani (أبو طاهر الأراني); fled unknown [1]
Arghush al-Nizami (أرغوش النظامي) mamluk of Nizam al-Mulk with close relation to Barkayaruq killed 1095 or 1097 Ray, Seljuq Empire Abd al-Rahman al-Khurasani (عبد الرحمان الخراساني); killed immediately unknown [1]
Bursuq senior commander; close to Tughril killed 1097 Ray, Seljuq Empire a Quhistani companion unknown [1]
unnamed qadi killed 1098 unknown his brother unknown [1]
Utiz al-Amir and Amir Siyah senior commander killed 1099 near Sawa, Seljuq Empire team of 3; 2 killed, 1 survived knife [1]
Balakabak Sarmuz (بلاكبك سرموز) senior commander killed 1099 entrance of Sultan Mahmud's house, Seljuq Empire team of 2; 1 killed, 1 fled unknown [1]
Abu al-Muzaffar al-Khujandi (أبو المظفر الخجندي) chief preacher in Ray killed 1102/1103 Ray, Seljuq Empire; coming down from minbar killed immediately unknown [1]
And al-Jalil al-Dihistani (أبو الجليل الدهستانی) vizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruq died of wounds 1102/1103 Isfahan's gate, Seljuq Empire a youth unknown [1]
Janah ad-Dawla emir of Homs killed 1103, May Great Mosque of Homs, Emirate of Homs (Syria) team of 3 Apparently ordered by al-Hakim al-Munajjim
Abu Ja'far al-Mashatt (أبو جعفر المشط) Shafi'i leader in Ray killed 1104 Ray's mosque, Seljuq Empire unknown unknown [1]
Abu al-Ala Sa'id ibn Abi Muhammad al-Nisaburi (أبو العلاء سعيد بن أبي محمد النيسابوري) qadi of Isfahan killed 1105/1106 Isfahan's mosque, Seljuq Empire unknown unknown [1]
Khalaf ibn Mula'ib Fatimid emir of Afamiyya killed 1106, February 3 inside Qalaat al-Madiq (Afamiyya), Emirate of Apamea (under Fatimid Caliphate) team; fled dagger, struck in the abdomen; harba (حربة, "spear") per one source [1] Planned by Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh, Ridwan, and a certain Abu'l Fath of Sarmin
unnamed lieutenant (amir) of Seljuq Sultan Muhammad I Tapar wounded 1107 Shahdiz, Seljuq Empire a fida'i After a failed negotiation during the Siege of Shahdiz. The victim was a particularly anti-Nizari commander in the Seljuq camp.
Abu al-Fath Fakhr al-Mulk ibn Nizam al-Mulk vizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruq killed 1106/1107 a petitioner; arrested, tried, executed knife [1]
Ubayd Allah ibn Ali al-Khatibi (عبيد الله بن علي الخطيبي) qadi of Isfahan killed 1108/1109 among friends unknown knife [1]
Abu al-Mahasin Abd al-Wahid al-Ruwayni (أبو المحاسن عبد الوحيد الرويني) Shafi'i leader killed 1108/1109 Amol's mosque unknown knife Attributed only by some sources to the Nizaris.[1]
Sa'id ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman (سعيد بن محمد بن عبد الرحمان) qadi of Nishapur killed 1108/1109, on Eid al-Fitr killed unknown [1]
Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulk vizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruq wounded 1109/1110 assassin arrested, confessed, his companions killed knives [1]
Abu Harb Isa ibn Zayd a wealthy Persian in Aleppo mission aborted 1111 Aleppo, Emirate of Aleppo [7]
Sharaf al-Din Mawdud ibn Altuntash atabeg of Mosul killed 1111/1112 or 1113 Damascus, Emirate of Damascus unknown unknown Both Sunni rulers Tughtigin and Ridwan may have been involved.[8][1]
Ahmadil ibn Ibrahim al-Kurdi atabeg of Maragheh killed 1114 or 1116 Damascus, Emirate of Damascus team of 3. 2 killed, the third's fate unknown knives [1]
Ahmad Sanjar Seljuq sultan threatened threat [9]
Al-Afdal Shahanshah Fatimid vizier killed 1121, December 13 Cairo, Fatimid Caliphate team of 3; fate unknown knives [1]
Kamal al-Mulk Abu Talib al-Simirumi vizier of Seljuq Sultan Mahmud killed 1122 a procession in Baghdad, Seljuq Empire team of 4; one escaped, others killed knives [1]
Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Nasr ibn Mansur al-Harawi (آبو نصر محمد بن نصر بن منصور الهروي) Hanafi qadi of Hamadan killed 1125 Hamadan's mosque, Seljuq Empire unknown unknown [1]
Ibn al-Khashshab qadi and rais of Aleppo killed 1125, at night near his house in al-Zajjajin quarter, Aleppo, while leaving the Great Mosque unknown stabbed After a massacre of the Nizaris.[10][11][12]
Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi atabeg of Aleppo killed 1127 (or November 26, 1126) Mosul's Great Mosque, Seljuq Empire team of 10; fate unknown, he wounded 3 knives [1][12]
Mu'in al-Mulk Abu Nasr ibn Fazl Seljuq vizier of Ahmad Sanjar killed 1127, March 20 Seljuq Empire his horseman, betrayed; fate unknown unknown [1]
Mu'in (Muizz?) al-Din al-Kashi Seljuq vizier of Ahmad Sanjar killed 1127, March 20 Marw, Seljuq Empire, en route from the Sultan's palace to the mosque unknown knives [1]
Abd al-Latif al-Khujandi (عبد الطيف الخجندي) Shafi'i leader in Isfahan killed 1129 unknown unknown unknown Killed by treachery.[1]
Al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-Lah Fatimid Caliph in Cairo killed October 7, 1130 Cairo, Fatimid Caliphate team of 10 Syrian Assassins
Taj al-Muluk Buri atabeg of Damascus died of wounds a year later May 7, 1131 Damascus, Emirate of Damascus (Syria) 2 of his gaurds who were secretely Persian Assassins; both killed knives [1][13]
Al-Mustarshid Abbasid caliph killed 1135 or 1134 in royal tentage at Maragheh's gates or near Hamadan, Seljuq Empire team of 17 or 24; killed by the guards knives, stabbed many times Some sources suspect that the Seljuq Sultan Mas'ud was involved. Some attendants were killed, too.[1][14][15][16][17]
Al-Rashid Abbasid caliph killed 1135/1136 or June 1138 Mosul or Isfahan, Seljuq Empire team of 4 (Balqāsim Darikī named); fate unknown knives, by stabbing [18][1]
Jawhar (جوهر) chamberlain, master of the Seljuq governor of Ray, Abbas killed 1139/1140 Sultan Sanjar's camp petitioners in women's garb knives Many Nizaris were killed in revenge by Abbas.[18][1]
Girdbazu (گردبازو) heir of Bavandid ruler Shah Ghazi Rustam killed 1142 Sarakhs, Seljuq Empire Many Nizaris were killed in revenge by Shah Ghazi Rustam.[18]
Da'ud, son of Mahmud II Seljuq sultan killed 1143 Tabriz, Seljuq Empire team of 4 Syrian fida'is ambushed He had persecuted the Nizaris of Adharbayjan.[1][18]
a Georgian ruler killed [18]
unnamed vizier of Seljuq sultan Tughril killed unknown unknown unknown knives, ambushed [1]
unnamed mamluk lord of Masyaf killed unknown team unknown Killed by treachery.[1]
unnamed qadi of Quhistan unknown 1138/1139 Ibrahim Hanifah al-Damghani (إبراهيم حنيفة الدامغاني); fate unknown unknown For authorizing the execution of Nizaris.[18][1]
unnamed qadi of Tiflis killed 1138/1139 Ibrahim Hanifah al-Damghani; giving a fatwa in his blood unknown For authorizing the execution of Nizaris.[18][1]
unnamed qadi of Hamadan killed 1139/1140 Hamadan's mosque, Seljuq Empire Ismail al-Khwarazmi (إسماعيل الخوارزمي), several of whose companions had been killed unknown For authorizing the execution of Nizaris.[18][1]
Yamin al-Dawla Khwarazmshah (يمين الدولة خوارزمشاه) Seljuq vizier killed 1139/1140 an army camp of Sultan Sanjar unknown unknown [1]
Nasir al-Dawla ibn al-Muhalhil (نصير الدولة بن المهلهل) Seljuq vizier killed 1140/1141 Kerman, Seljuq Empire al-Husayn al-Kirmani (الحسين الكرماني) unknown [1]
Garashasaf (گرشاسف) senior commander killed 1143 unknown a soldier unknown [1]
Aqsunqur (آق سنقر) mamluk of Sultan Sanjar killed 1146 team of 2: Sulayman and Yusuf unknown Killed as a rebel against the sultan.[1]
Abbas governor of Ray killed 1147 Ray or Baghdad, Seljuq Empire unknown unknown Killed with armor on.[1]
Raymond II Count of Tripoli killed 1152 Tripoli's southern city gate, County of Tripoli Motivation uncertain. Killed along with two of his knights (including Ralph of Merle).
Saladin Ayyubid sultan threatened only 1176 near Masyaf Castle threat According to some traditions.[19]
Conrad of Montferrat de facto King of Jerusalem killed 1192, April 28 en route to his house in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem team of 2; 1 killed, 1 captured stabbed at least twice in the side and back It is uncertain who actually instigated the attack.
Muhammad of Ghor Ghurid sultan killed 1206, March 15 Dhamiak, near Sohawa, Ghurid Empire One source attributes it to the Assassins.
Möngke Khan Mongol khagan mission aborted 1253 Mongol Empire team of 400 Alleged mission ordered by Imam Ala' al-Din Muhammad.[20]
Raymond, son of Bohemond IV of Antioch heir to the throne of Antioch and Tripoli killed 1213 outside the door of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, Tortosa (Tartus), County of Tripoli Bohemond IV unsuccessfuly besieged Khawabi in response.[21][19][22]
Orkhan/Orghan senior commander of Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu killed Ganja, Khwarezmian Empire a team of petitioners; fled concealed swords, stabbed [23]
Philip of Montfort Lord of Tyre killed 1270, March 17 or August 17 in his church in Tyre, Lordship of Tyre, Kingdom of Jerusalem assassin posing as a Christian; captured dagger [24]
Ata-Malik Juvayni Ilkhanate elite survived 1270 Ilkhanate Unsuccessful assassination attempt attributed to the Nizaris.[25]
Lord Edward Duke of Gascony wounded 1271 Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem a Syrian Assassin; killed dagger, possibly poisoned; struck in the arm Supposedly by a Syrian Assassin under Baibars during the Ninth Crusade.[26] Edward abandoned further campaigns afterwards.

References
  1. Cook, David (1 January 2012). "Were the Ismāʿīlī Assassins the First Suicide Attackers? An Examination of Their Recorded Assassinations". The Lineaments of Islam: 97–117. doi:10.1163/9789004231948_007.
  2. Bressler, Richard (2018). The Thirteenth Century: A World History. McFarland. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4766-7185-7.
  3. Wasserman, James (2001). The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven. Simon and Schuster. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-59477-873-5.
  4. Mirza, Nasseh Ahmad (1997). Syrian Ismailism: The Ever Living Line of the Imamate, AD 1100-1260. Psychology Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780700705054.
  5. Hastings, James; Selbie, John Alexander; Gray, Louis Herbert (1910). Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics. Scribner. p. 140b.
  6. Waterson, James, The Ismaili Assassins. A history of medieval murder (Yorkshire, 2008) 79
  7. Mirza, Nasseh Ahmad (1997). Syrian Ismailism: The Ever Living Line of the Imamate, AD 1100-1260. Psychology Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780700705054.
  8. Mirza, Nasseh Ahmad (1997). Syrian Ismailism: The Ever Living Line of the Imamate, AD 1100-1260. Psychology Press. p. 9. ISBN 9780700705054.
  9. Heath, Ian (1980). A Wargamers' Guide to the Crusades. P. Stephens. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-85059-430-0.
  10. Daftary, Farhad (1992). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-521-42974-0.
  11. Amabe, Fukuzo (2016). Urban Autonomy in Medieval Islam: Damascus, Aleppo, Cordoba, Toledo, Valencia and Tunis. BRILL. p. 82. ISBN 978-90-04-31598-3.
  12. Burns, Ross (2016). Aleppo: A History. Taylor & Francis. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-134-84401-2.
  13. Mirza, Nasseh Ahmad (1997). Syrian Ismailism: The Ever Living Line of the Imamate, AD 1100-1260. Psychology Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9780700705054.
  14. Turko-Mongol Rulers, Cities and City Life. BRILL. 2013. p. 153. ISBN 978-90-04-25700-9.
  15. Ḵallikān, Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad b Muḥammad Ibn (1842). Biographical Dictionary. Oriental Translation Fund. p. 506.
  16. al-Athīr, ʻIzz al-Dīn Ibn (2006). The Chronicle of Ibn Al-Athīr for the Crusading Period from Al-Kāmil Fīʼl-taʼrīkh. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-7546-4077-6.
  17. al-Suyuti (1881). History of the Caliphs. Baptist Mission Press. p. 455.
  18. Daftary, Farhad (1992). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-521-42974-0.
  19. Haag, Michael (2010). Templars: History and Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons. Profile Books. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-84765-251-5.
  20. Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford, p.179 [Cited in ]
  21. Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 389. ISBN 9781139465786.
  22. Daftary, Farhad (1992). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-521-42974-0.
  23. Fisher, William Bayne; Boyle, J. A.; Boyle, John Andrew; Frye, Richard Nelson (1968). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-521-06936-6.
  24. Robinson, John J. (1991). Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-87131-657-8.
  25. Virani, Shafique N.; Virani, Assistant Professor Departments of Historical Studies and the Study of Religion Shafique N. (2007). The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-19-531173-0.
  26. Slack, Corliss (2009). The A to Z of the Crusades. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-8108-6815-1.
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