Saladin and the Hashashin: Assassins or Allies?

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Saladin's uneasy relationship with the Hashashin, the Ismaili order known to Western chroniclers as the Assassins. When Saladin sought to unite Muslim lands against the Crusaders, he faced a silent threat from the mountain fortresses of Masyaf and al-Kahf. The Hashashin, led by Rashid ad-Din Sinan, used targeted killings to maintain autonomy against both Crusaders and Ayyubids. Lucas recounts how Saladin survived assassination attempts, including a legendary encounter where he found poisoned daggers on his pillow. Instead of open war, Saladin chose diplomacy, granting the Hashashin control of key territories in exchange for quelling their attacks. This fragile alliance allowed Saladin to focus on Jerusalem, but the Hashashin's reputation as master assassins persists to this day. Lucas also discusses the sect's unique theology and Sinan's role as the 'Old Man of the Mountain' in Crusader lore. #Saladin #Hashashin #Assassins #RashidAdDinSinan #Masyaf #Ismaili #Nizari #OldManOfTheMountain #Ayyubid #Crusades #Jerusalem #MedievalHistory #MiddleEast #History #FexingoHistory #Assassination #Diplomacy #Fortress Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo