Saladin and the Assassins: Alliance, Fear, and Rivalry

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most intriguing relationships of the Crusades: Saladin's dealings with the Assassins (Hashashin), the secretive Shia sect from Alamut. They discuss how the Assassins, led by Rashid ad-Din Sinan, the Old Man of the Mountain, attempted to kill Saladin twice, but later formed an unlikely alliance against their common enemy, the Franks. The hosts examine the political calculus behind Saladin's pragmatic approach, the Assassins' methods of political murder, and how their mutual need for survival led to a temporary truce. They also touch on the legends that grew around the Assassins, including Marco Polo's tales and the etymology of the word 'assassin.' The episode sheds light on a shadowy corner of Ayyubid history, revealing how Saladin's strategic mind navigated threats both within and beyond the battlefield. #Saladin #Assassins #Hashashin #Alamut #RashidAdDinSinan #OldManOfTheMountain #Crusades #Ayyubid #Shia #NizariIsmaili #PoliticalMurder #Pragmatism #Alliance #MedievalHistory #MiddleEastHistory #SiegeOfMasyaf #FexingoHistory #History #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo