Ozymandius
Prince
The Assassins
in 874 Qarmat's persuasive powers turned it into a powerful force that moved on to social revolution and a communistic state where property and women were held in common. They created armies that soon began to ravage the Middle East, defeating the Caliphs armies and even capturing and sacking the Holy City of Mecca in 930. But they eventually exhausted themselves and began to fade. their doctrines were passed on in the next century to the group whose name has entered the English language and politics, the Assassins. approximately 1090, the leader of the Ismailis, Hasan ibn al-Sabbah captured Alamut a fortress atop a mountain in northern Persia. From that almost impregnable redoubt he and his followers carried on a reign of terror throughout the area and beyond against the sects enemies. The Grand Master of the sect later became known to the Crusaders as, The Old Man of the Mountain. The adherents of the sect were introduced to the pleasures of Paradise, as Muslims believed it to be. An earthly version had been created at Alamut. The believers were drugged with hashish before experiencing this wonderful life. When they were out of its influence they were told they would only experience it again if they followed the Grand Masters commands faithfully, or died in the effort. This was a fairly powerful inducement. Those who obeyed were called hashshasheen drinkers of hashish. From that word comes the word assassin.
in 874 Qarmat's persuasive powers turned it into a powerful force that moved on to social revolution and a communistic state where property and women were held in common. They created armies that soon began to ravage the Middle East, defeating the Caliphs armies and even capturing and sacking the Holy City of Mecca in 930. But they eventually exhausted themselves and began to fade. their doctrines were passed on in the next century to the group whose name has entered the English language and politics, the Assassins. approximately 1090, the leader of the Ismailis, Hasan ibn al-Sabbah captured Alamut a fortress atop a mountain in northern Persia. From that almost impregnable redoubt he and his followers carried on a reign of terror throughout the area and beyond against the sects enemies. The Grand Master of the sect later became known to the Crusaders as, The Old Man of the Mountain. The adherents of the sect were introduced to the pleasures of Paradise, as Muslims believed it to be. An earthly version had been created at Alamut. The believers were drugged with hashish before experiencing this wonderful life. When they were out of its influence they were told they would only experience it again if they followed the Grand Masters commands faithfully, or died in the effort. This was a fairly powerful inducement. Those who obeyed were called hashshasheen drinkers of hashish. From that word comes the word assassin.
