List of assassinations by the Assassins


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

Background

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 written in a roll of honor kept in Alamut Castle, recorded by later Muslim authors.
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. It should be taken into account that medieval Arabic sources generally tend to attribute most of the assassinations of this period to the Ismailis.
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.

List

VictimDescriptionResultDateLocationAssassinMethodNotes
Nizam al-MulkSeljuq vizier and de facto rulerkilled1092, October 14Sahnah, Seljuq Empireassassin disguised as dervish; killed or fled or survivedknifeTheir most famous action.
Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Labbad governor of Isfahankilled1093Isfahan, Seljuq Empireunknownunknown
Abu Muslimprefect of Raykilled1095unknowna friendunknown
Abd al-Rahman al-Simirumi vizier of Seljuq sultan Barkayaruqkilled1097unknownAbu Tahir al-Arrani ; fledunknown
Arghush al-Nizami mamluk of Nizam al-Mulk with close relation to Barkayaruqkilled1095 or 1097Ray, Seljuq EmpireAbd al-Rahman al-Khurasani ; killed immediatelyunknown
Amir Ispahsalar Bursuq the Greatsenior commander under Barkiyaruqkilled1097Ray, Seljuq Empirea Quhistani companionunknownThe Shiiite Seljuk vizier Majd al-Mulk Balasani was killed for being accused of involvement.
unnamedqadikilled1098unknownhis brotherunknown
Utiz al-Amir and Amir Siyahsenior commanderkilled1099near Sawa, Seljuq Empireteam of 3; 2 killed, 1 survivedknife
Balakabak Sarmuz senior commanderkilled1099entrance of Sultan Mahmud II's house, Seljuq Empireteam of 2; 1 killed, 1 fledunknown
Abu al-Muzaffar al-Khujandi chief preacher in Raykilled1102/1103Ray, Seljuq Empire; coming down from minbarkilled immediatelyunknown
Abd al-Jalil al-Dihistani vizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruqdied of wounds1102/1103Isfahan's gate, Seljuq Empirea youthunknown
Janah ad-Dawlaemir of Homskilled1103, MayGreat Mosque of Homs, Emirate of Homs team of 3Apparently ordered by al-Hakim al-Munajjim
Abu Ja'far al-Mashatt Shafi'i leader in Raykilled1104Ray's mosque, Seljuq Empireunknownunknown
Abu al-Ala Sa'id ibn Abi Muhammad al-Nisaburi qadi of Isfahankilled1105/1106Isfahan's mosque, Seljuq Empireunknownunknown
Khalaf ibn Mula'ibFatimid emir of Afamiyyakilled1106, February 3inside Qalaat al-Madiq, Emirate of Apamea team; fleddagger, struck in the abdomen; harba per one sourcePlanned by Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh, Ridwan, and a certain Abu'l Fath of Sarmin
unnamedlieutenant of Seljuq Sultan Muhammad I Taparwounded1107Shahdiz, Seljuq Empirea fida'iAfter 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-Mulkvizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruqkilled1106/1107a petitioner; arrested, tried, executedknife
Ubayd Allah ibn Ali al-Khatibi qadi of Isfahan, leader of the anti-Ismaili reaction therekilled1108/1109, during Friday prayersHamadan's mosque1 assassin, got between him and his bodyguardknife
Abu al-Mahasin Abd al-Wahid al-Ruwayni Shafi'i leaderkilled1108/1109Amol's mosqueunknownknifeAttributed only by some sources to the Nizaris.
Sa'id ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman qadi of Nishapurkilled1108/1109, on Eid al-Fitrkilledunknown
Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulkvizier of Seljuq Sultan Barkayaruqwounded1109/1110Baghdadassassin arrested, confessed, his companions killedknivesFor his expedition against Alamut.
Abu Harb Isa ibn Zayda wealthy Persian merchantmission aborted1111Aleppo, Emirate of Aleppo--
Sharaf al-Din Mawdud ibn Altuntashatabeg of Mosulkilled1111/1112 or 1113Damascus, Emirate of DamascusunknownunknownBoth Sunni rulers Tughtigin and Ridwan may have been involved.
Ahmadil ibn Ibrahim al-Kurdiemir of Maraghehkilled1114 or 1116in a large assembly in presence of Sultan Muhammad Iteam of 3. 2 killed, the third's fate unknownknives
Ahmad SanjarSeljuq sultanthreatenedthreat
Al-Afdal ShahanshahFatimid vizierkilled1121, December 13Cairo, Fatimid Caliphateteam of 3; fate unknownknives
Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah and Al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihiFatimid caliph and his vizierplot discoveredCairo, Fatimid CaliphateDirected from Alamut. Al-Amir was assassinated later.
Kamal al-Mulk Abu Talib al-Simirumivizier of Seljuq Sultan Mahmud IIkilled1122a procession in Baghdad, Seljuq Empireteam of 4; one escaped, others killedknives
Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Nasr ibn Mansur al-Harawi Hanafi qadi of Hamadankilled1125Hamadan's mosque, Seljuq EmpireMuhammad Razi and Umar Damghani unknown
Ibn al-Khashshabqadi and rais of Aleppokilled1125, at nightnear his house in al-Zajjajin quarter, Aleppo, while leaving the Great MosqueunknownstabbedAfter a massacre of the Nizaris.
Aqsunqur al-Bursuqiatabeg of Aleppokilled1127 Mosul's Great Mosque, Seljuq Empireteam of 10; fate unknown, he wounded 3knives
Mu'in al-Mulk Abu Nasr ibn FazlSeljuq vizier of Ahmad Sanjarkilled1127, March 20Seljuq Empirehis horseman, betrayed; fate unknownunknown
Mu'in al-Din al-KashiSeljuq vizier of Ahmad Sanjarkilled1127, March 20 or 16Marw, Seljuq Empire, en route from the Sultan's palace to the mosqueby 2 fida'is who had gained his confidenceknives
Abd al-Latif al-Khujandi Shafi'i leader in Isfahankilled1129unknownunknownunknownKilled by treachery.
Al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-LahFatimid Caliph in CairokilledOctober 7, 1130Cairo, Fatimid Caliphateteam of 7 rafiqs
Taj al-Muluk Buriatabeg of Damascusdied of wounds a year laterMay 7, 1131 Damascus, Emirate of Damascus two of his guards who were secretly fida'is probably from Alamut; both killedknives, wounding him in two places
Sayyid Dawlatshah Alawi prefect of IsfahankilledAbu Abdallah
Aqsunqurgovernor of MaraghakilledAli and Abu Ubaydah Muhammad Dihistani
Shams Tabriziprefect of TabrizkilledAbu Sa'id Qa'ini and ابو الحسن قرمانی
Al-MustarshidAbbasid caliphkilled1135 or 1134in royal tentage at Maragheh's gates or near Hamadan, Seljuq Empireteam of 14 or 17 or 24; fled or killed by the guardsknives, stabbed many timesSome sources suspect that the Seljuq Sultan Mas'ud was involved. Some attendants were killed, too.
Hasan ibn Abi al-Qasim Karkhi mufti of QazvinkilledMuhmmad Karkhi and Sulayman Qazwini knives, stabbed
Al-RashidAbbasid caliphkilled1135/1136 or June 1138Mosul or Isfahan, Seljuq Empireteam of 2 or 4 of Khurasanis in his service; fate unknownknives, by stabbing
Muqarrab al-Din Jawhar chamberlain, master of the Seljuq governor of Ray, Abbaskilled1139/1140Sultan Sanjar's camp in Marwpetitioners in women's garbknivesMany Nizaris were killed in revenge by Abbas.
Girdbazu heir of Bavandid ruler Shah Ghazi Rustamkilled1142Sarakhs, Seljuq EmpireMany Nizaris were killed in revenge by Shah Ghazi Rustam.
Da'ud, son of Mahmud IISeljuq sultankilled1143Tabriz, Seljuq Empireteam of 4 Syrian 'rafiqsambushedHe had persecuted the Nizaris of Adharbayjan.
a Georgian rulerkilled
unnamedvizier of Seljuq sultan Toghrul IIkilledunknownunknownunknownknives, ambushed
unnamedmamluk lord of MasyafkilledunknownteamunknownKilled by treachery.
به اَمویqadi of Quhistankilled1138/1139Sultan Sanjar's campIbrahim Hanafiyyah al-Damghani ; fate unknownunknownFor authorizing the execution of Nizaris.
unnamedqadi of Tifliskilled1138/1139Ibrahim Buyah Damghani unknownFor issuing fatwa regarding the execution of Nizaris.
unnamedqadi of Hamadankilled1139/1140Hamadan's mosque, Seljuq EmpireIsmail al-Khwarazmi, several of whose companions had been killed and burnedunknownFor authorizing the execution of Nizaris.
Yamin al-Dawla Khwarazmshah Seljuq vizierkilled1139/1140an army camp of Sultan Sanjar in Khwarezmiaunknownunknown
Nasir al-Dawla ibn al-Muhalhil Seljuq vizierkilled1140/1141Kerman, Seljuq Empireal-Husayn al-Kirmani unknown
Garashasaf senior commander and wāli of Kirmankilled1143unknowna soldierunknown
Aqsunqur mamluk of Sultan Sanjar and governor of Turshizkilled1146team of 2 rafiqs: Sulayman and YusufunknownKilled as a rebel against the sultan.
Abbas governor of Rayykilled1147Ray or Baghdad, Seljuq EmpireunknownunknownKilled with armor on.
Raymond IICount of Tripolikilled1152Tripoli's southern city gate, County of TripoliMotivation uncertain. Killed along with two of his knights.
SaladinAyyubid sultanthreatened only1176near Masyaf CastlethreatAccording to some traditions.
Adud al-Din Abu al-Faraj Muhmmadvizier of the Abbasid caliph al-Mustadikilled1177/1178leaving Baghdad for pilgrimage to Meccafida'is from Jabal al-Summaq, Syria
Conrad of Montferratde facto King of Jerusalemkilled1192, April 28en route to his house in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalemteam of 2; 1 killed, 1 capturedstabbed at least twice in the side and backIt is uncertain who actually instigated the attack.
Muhammad of GhorGhurid sultankilled1206, March 15Dhamiak, near Sohawa, Ghurid EmpireOne source attributes it to the Assassins.
Möngke KhanMongol khaganplot or rumor1253Karakorum, Mongol Empireteam of 40+Alleged mission ordered by Imam Ala' al-Din Muhammad.
Raymond, son of Bohemond IV of Antiochheir to the throne of Antioch and Tripolikilled1213outside the door of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, Tortosa, County of TripoliBohemond IV unsuccessfuly besieged Khawabi in response.
Orkhan/Orghansenior commander of Jalal ad-Din MingburnukilledGanja, Khwarezmian Empirea team of petitioners; fled / 3 assassins, killedconcealed swords, stabbedAs a reprisal for raids against Quhistan.
Philip of MontfortLord of Tyrekilled1270, March 17 or August 17in his church in Tyre, Lordship of Tyre, Kingdom of Jerusalemassassin disguised as a Christian; captureddagger
Ata-Malik JuvayniIlkhanate elitesurvived1270IlkhanateUnsuccessful assassination attempt attributed to the Nizaris.
Lord EdwardDuke of Gasconywounded1271Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalema Syrian Assassin; killeddagger, possibly poisoned; struck in the armSupposedly by a Syrian Assassin under Baibars during the Ninth Crusade. Edward abandoned further campaigns afterwards.