Hasan Sabbah

Hassan Sabah,Seyyedena

حسن صباح ، حسن بن علی بن محمد بن جعفربن الحسین بن محمد الصباح حِمَیری

Hasan Sabbah (c.1050 Qom-June, 19, 1124) was an Iranian leading a revolt during the Seljuk reign. His father claimed to be of royal blood. He was originally a 12 Imam Shia and after a trip to Egypt he became a follower of the Ismailism faith with 7 Imams.
When he was an infant, his family moved to Rhagae and mastered sciences of his time. Some other historians claim that he went to primary school in Neishabour where he is said to have been a classmate of Omar Khayyam and Nezamolmolk. When he became 17, Hasan Sabbah travelled to Egypt where he got acquainted with Ismailism faith. Upon his return, because of his powerful speeches, he gathered a large group of followers whose numbers increased day by day.
He then occupied the legendary Alamout Castle and used it as a command center to capture many castles across Iran. He invented a method of assassination where the killer was ready to sacrifice his life. Each assassin was a member of one of a pyramid-like 10 command levels, and he only knew his superior and few other members. In this manner, he created great fear among Seljuk leaders who felt death on their neck all the time. His movement lasted for 95 years, followed by Kia Bozorg after whom the great power corrupted the successors until the Alamout castle fell in hands of Hulagu Khan.
Assassins had radical teachings and sometimes followers were asked to perform extreme tasks including suicide and killing of a relative to prove their loyalty.

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