Posted on 11/29/2004 7:12:01 PM PST by Puckster
" The original “Assassins” were a quasi-religious sect of murderous “defenders of Islam” formed in 1090 by “al-Hasan ibn-al-Sabbah” -– the same period that the Templars and the Catholic Church began their ill-fated attempt to “retake” the Holy Land in the Crusades. According to Islamic scholar Edward Burman, author of The Assassins - Holy Killers of Islam, though founded in Egypt, the Order soon moved to a mountainous region of Persia (modern-day Iran), organizing their campaigns against the invading knights from a well defended castle called “Alamut.” According to Berman, the cult was a ruthless, closed, secretive –- even occult –- society, one that used murder, guerrilla warfare, and (at times) overt military conquest to achieve its aims. The Assassins were much feared (and, paradoxically, simultaneously admired) by the Templars during the Crusades, for their almost mystical ability to strike at any time and without warning -- and against any target. Their almost inhuman willingness to sacrifice their own lives for the cause they were fighting (sound familiar ..?) made them a fearsome enemy."
http://www.enterprisemission.com/tower2.htm
The original source for the main link.
It's amazing that such a cult retains the title of a "religion".
..."..a quasi-religious sect of murderous “defenders of Islam”...
Bush described them correctly shortly after 9/11----Islam behaves in the same way as the Mafia behaves.
The Mafia hides behind a 'religion" also--Roman Catholicism.
Don't be intimidated Ladies and Gentlemen..........Hoagland is well versed in research.....though, somethings he does is slanted.
But the MONGOLS destroyed them and their impregnable castle.
This link is worth perusal due to the variety of authors on the same subject.
Though differences prevail, there is a commonality within the various studies.
One being, the extremists? They existed well before even the birth of our nation........we are NOT the cause of the Jihad!
http://www.alamut.com/subj/ideologies/alamut/hitti_Ass.html
Read on, as with any evil they seep elsewhere.
Don't buy this so-called history. Their modern-day descendants are the Ismailis---google that and find facts more interesting than the tall tales of the hashishim.
The Assassins are an offshoot of Shia.Their name comes from the arabic word for Hashish, one of the drugs they used to make the help pliable. They still exist (without the murders). Their leader is the Aga Khan (one was Rita Hayworth's husband).
The Assassins lived in a series of mountain fortresses in Northern Iran, with the Order's Grand Master (the "Old Man of the Mountain") headquartered at Alamut.
The Assassins were the second group of political terrorists (and suicide knifers) in Middle Eastern history (the first were the Jewish Zealots), and they succeeded in murdering Crusaders and fellow Moslems for a considerable period of time. Then, as now with Al Quaeda, their fellow Moslems were unable, or unwilling, to bring them to heel.
Their downfall was the result (allegedly) of a botched "hit" on Mongke, Kha Khan, Chinnghis' grandson and successor. Since the Assassins had sworn fealty after the fall of Khwaresm, this was something the Mongols would not tolerate.
Mongke sent his brother Hulegu (his other brother was Kubilai)to set things straight. After a siege at Alamut, Mongke took the place and captured the "Old Man", who was young. He then took him to the rest of the Assassin fortresses, where the Grand Master ordered surrender. After that, he was sent to Karakorum and executed. Hulegu rode south, and wiped out the Abbasid Caliphate, sacked Bagdhad, and established the Il-Khanate of Persia
Suggested Reading: "The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam" by Bernard Lewis
Good sound bite, but not logical.
Mafiosi have never claimed to be Catholic purists. Nor do the church teachings encourage organized crime.
The jihadis do claim to be Islamic purists, and they are. They are the embodiment of pure Islam, straight from the Quran.
If one sincerely tries to follow all the teachings of the founder of Christianity, he will do nothing but good for his fellow man. If one tries to follow all the teachings of the founder of Islam, he will murder his fellow man.
Assassin comes from the word "Hashish".
(I'm sure all the smart Freepers reading this post know that little bit of trivia already.)
Good article, I bookmarked it for later reading.
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