Saladin vs the Assassins: The Hashashin Confrontation

In the 1170s, Saladin faced one of the most feared sects of the medieval world: the Assassins, or Hashashin. Based in the Syrian fortress of Masyaf, the Nizari Ismailis attempted to kill the sultan multiple times. This episode explores Saladin's near-death encounters with the fida'i, his siege of their strongholds, and the eventual uneasy truce that allowed him to focus on the Crusaders. Drawing from earlier shows about Saladin's spies and diplomacy, we examine how the Assassins' reputation for hidden daggers and political murder shaped not only Saladin's rule but also the broader Crusader-Ayyubid struggle. Key figures include the Assassin leader Rashid ad-Din Sinan, the Old Man of the Mountain, Saladin's nephew Taqi al-Din, and the chroniclers Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad and Ibn al-Athir. The episode also covers the famous story of Saladin's letter to Sinan, the failed assassination attempts, and the mystery of whether the Assassins truly used hashish. A fascinating look at a shadowy force that nearly changed history by a single blade. #Saladin #Assassins #Hashashin #Masyaf #RashidAdDinSinan #OldManOfTheMountain #NizariIsmaili #Ayyubid #Crusades #Fida'i #TaqiAlDin #BahaAdDinIbnShaddad #IbnAlAthir #MiddleEastHistory #MedievalHistory #SyrianHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo