Alamut

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Alamut was a mountain fortress located in the South Caspian province of Daylam near the Rudbar region in Iran, approximately 100 kilometres (60 mi) from present-day Tehran, Iran. The name most likely means "Eagle's Teaching" or, based on a weaker etymology, "Eagle's Nest." Under the leadership of Hasan-i Sabbah, Alamut became the site of intense activity for the Shi'a Nizari Ismaili Muslims (aka the Assassins) between 1090 and 1256 AD. To learn about the Assassins, click here. During the medieval period, the castle functioned as the major stronghold of the Nizari Ismaili state. In 1256, Ismaili control of the fortress was lost to the invading Mongols and its famous library holdings were destroyed when the castle's library was condemned to be burned by 'Ata-Malik Juwayni, a servant of the Mongol court. Sources on the history and thought of the Ismailis in this period are therefore lacking and the majority extant are written by their detractors.