The Crime Book

305

See also: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 306–09 ■ The Assassination of

John F. Kennedy 316–21 ■ The Abduction of Aldo Moro 322–23

T

he Hashashin, also known

as the “Assassins”, was

a military religious order

founded by Hasan-i-Sabbah in Persia

(modern-day Iran). Sabbah was the

leader of the Nizari Ismailites, a Shia

Islamic sect. In 1090, he decided to

expand Nizari interests and oppose

the Seljuk Turks – Sunni Muslims

who had conquered Persia. Sabbah

travelled to the ancient castle of

Alamut, in the mountain kingdom

of Daylam, a province of the Seljuq

Empire. Once inside, he secretly

converted prominent residents to

his cause, and captured the fortress

in a bloodless coup from within.

From Alamut, Sabbah sent

missionaries into enemy territories

to find further Shia converts. When

the missionaries were unable to

turn one muezzin, they killed him

so he could not report their efforts.

However, the vizier soon found out,

and executed the missionaries’

leader. In response, Sabbah

dispatched an assassin to murder

the official using the Hashashin’s

weapon of choice – the quiet and

easily concealable dagger. He was

the first of many prominent Seljuks,

Persians, and later, Crusaders, to be

killed for opposing the order.

Assassination was employed as

a political tool by the Hashashin

throughout their history. After the

Mongols swept into Persia in 1228,

the order's power began to ebb. ■

ASSASSINATIONS AND POLITICAL PLOTS

IN CONTEXT

LOCATION

Persia and Syria,

southwestern Asia

THEME

Assassination for political

and religious motives

AFTER

1336 –1600 In Japan, covert

agents called ninja, or shinobi,

are hired as spies, surprise

attackers, and assassins.

1948 Mahatma Gandhi, leader

of the nationalist movement

against British rule in India, is

assassinated by a young

Hindu with extremist links.

1965 Civil rights activist

Malcolm X is assassinated by

three members of the Nation

of Islam while giving a speech

in New York. He had fallen out

with the leaders of the African

American movement – which

blended elements of Islam

with black nationalism – a

few years earlier.

MURDERING

SOMEONE BY

CRAFT

THE HASHASHIN, 11TH–13TH CENTURIES

Hasan-i-Sabbah issues orders to

two of his assassins at the castle of

Alamut. The Hashashin assassinated

at least 14 high-profile individuals in

total, including royalty.

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