Nizari Ismaili state

Nizari Ismaili state
Nizari Ismaili state
1090–1257
	Left: Flag until 1162, Right: Flag after 1162
Capital	Alamut Castle (Assassins of Persia, main headquarters); Masyaf Castle (Assassins of the Levant);
Common languages	Persian (in Iran); Arabic (in the Levant)
Religion	Nizari Ismaili Shia Islam
Government	Theocratic absolute monarchy
Lord
• 1090–1124	Hasan I
• 1124–1138	Buzurg Umid
• 1138–1162	Muhammad I
• 1162–1166	Imam Hasan II
• 1166–1210	Imam Muhammad II
• 1210–1221	Imam Hasan III
• 1221–1255	Imam Muhammad III
• 1255–1256	Imam Khurshah
• 1256–1310	Imam Muhammad IV
Historical era	Medieval
• Established	1090
• Disestablished	1257
Currency	Dinar, dirham, and possibly fals
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Ziyarid dynasty
	Sallarid dynasty
	Justanids
	Seljuk Empire
Artuqids
Mamluk Sultanate
Mongol Empire
Ilkhanate
Today part of	Iran; Iraq; Syria
	Masyaf Alamut class=notpageimage\| Location of the main centers

The Nizari state (the Alamut state) was a Nizari Isma'ili Shia state founded by Hassan-i Sabbah after he took control of the Alamut Castle in 1090 AD, which marked the beginning of an era of Ismailism known as the "Alamut period". Their people were also known as the Assassins or Hashashins.

The state consisted of a nexus of strongholds throughout Persia and the Levant, with their territories being surrounded by huge swathes of hostile as well as crusader territory. It was formed as a result of a religious and political movement of the minority Nizari sect supported by the anti-Seljuk population. Being heavily outnumbered, the Nizaris resisted adversaries by employing strategic, self-sufficient fortresses and the use of unconventional tactics, notably assassination of important adversaries and psychological warfare. They also had a strong sense of community as well as total obedience to their leader.

Despite being occupied with survival in their hostile environment, the Ismailis in this period developed a sophisticated outlook and literary tradition.^[3]

Almost two centuries after its foundation, the state declined internally and its leadership capitulated to the invading Mongols, who later massacred many Nizaris. Most of what is known about them is based on descriptions by hostile sources.

^ ^a ^b Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-1-139-46578-6.
^ Willey, Peter (2005). The Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria. I. B. Tauris. p. 290. ISBN 9781850434641.
^ Daftary, Farhad (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Ismailis. Scarecrow Press. p. liii. ISBN 978-0-8108-6164-0.

[Daftary2007p302-1] Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-1-139-46578-6.

[2] Willey, Peter (2005). The Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria. I. B. Tauris. p. 290. ISBN 9781850434641.

[3] Daftary, Farhad (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Ismailis. Scarecrow Press. p. liii. ISBN 978-0-8108-6164-0.

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