The Medieval World’s Deadliest Special Forces: The Assassins

The deadliest special forces in the medieval world are the assassins, experts in disguise, stealth, and psychological warfare, who strike without warning and disappear like ghosts. They are a small, marginalized, and persecuted sect that will become a legend, taking on the most feared warlords of their time.

Origins and History

Their story begins in 11th century Persia, where the Islamic world is divided between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, including targeting powerful leaders like Conrad of Monura, the Crusader King. The Shiites support a tradition that takes authority from the prophet Muhammad’s descendants, specifically the followers of Ali, leading to a rivalry with Sunnis that fuels bitter religious conflict.

The Ismaeli Community and Hassan Isabah

A small, marginalized Shiite community, the Ismaelis, takes refuge in the mountain fortress of Alamut in northern Persia, led by the charismatic Hassan Isabah, who demands total devotion from his followers as they face overwhelming odds against their Sunni enemies. Hassan, lacking large armies, devises a radical plan to survive by targeting the leader of his Sunni enemies, Nisam al-mul, a champion of Sunni Orthodoxy who seeks to root out heresy, including Hassan’s Ismaelis.

Tactics and Training

Hassan trains an elite squad, the Fiden, composed of his most devoted followers, to carry out the mission, teaching them close quarters combat skills that surpass those of modern commandos. The dagger emerges as a preferred choice, allowing for a close and sure kill, but requiring immense skill. There are three main types of dagger designs: stabbing, slashing, and a combination of both, each with its own characteristics and advantages.

Psychological Warfare and Stealth

The assassins use asymmetric warfare, targeting high-profile victims, and create an atmosphere of dread and fear among their enemies. Their tactics have a significant psychological impact, making them a formidable force despite being vastly outnumbered. The group’s success is celebrated in popular culture, and their methods are seen as a precursor to modern-day terrorism, which relies on psychological warfare and the willingness to sacrifice oneself to achieve a greater impact.

Notable Missions and Targets

The assassins attempt to infiltrate Saladin’s camp by disguising themselves as soldiers, but their plan is foiled by his bodyguards. Despite this setback, the assassins’ leader, Sinan, gains an upper hand in the psychological battle with Saladin, who begins wearing body armor for protection. The assassins then insert a sleeper cell, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and two years later, they secretly place an agent within Saladin’s bodyguard, but their attempt on his life is thwarted by his armor.

The Assassination of Conrad of Monura

Conrad is elected as the next crusader king, making him the most powerful Christian leader in the region. This news is disastrous for the assassins, prompting Sinan to send a messenger to activate his sleepers to kill Conrad. Two assassins begin secretly training for the mission, using a trusted dagger as their weapon, and they plan to target multiple areas to ensure a confirmed kill. As Conrad prepares to go out to dinner, the assassins take up positions, ready to catch him on his return, knowing they only have one chance to succeed.

Legacy and Impact

The assassins’ actions, including the killing of Conrad of Mura, ultimately ensured the survival of the Ismaeli faith, a community and idea that thrived for nearly two centuries despite overwhelming odds and many setbacks, leaving a lasting legacy. Their tactics and strategies have been studied and emulated throughout history, and their name has become synonymous with stealth, cunning, and ruthlessness. The assassins’ story is a testament to the power of determination, devotion, and clever strategy in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Key characteristics of the assassins: stealth, disguise, psychological warfare, and willingness to die for their cause
Notable targets: Nisam al-mul, Saladin, and Conrad of Monura
Legacy: ensured the survival of the Ismaeli faith and left a lasting impact on the world of espionage and terrorism

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Assassins	A medieval special forces group known for their stealth, disguise, and psychological warfare tactics.	The assassins were a feared group in the medieval world, known for their ability to strike without warning and disappear like ghosts.
Ismaelis	A small, marginalized Shiite community that took refuge in the mountain fortress of Alamut in northern Persia.	The Ismaelis were led by Hassan Isabah and were known for their devotion to their cause and their willingness to fight against overwhelming odds.
Fiden	An elite squad of assassins trained by Hassan Isabah to carry out missions against their enemies.	The Fiden were known for their close quarters combat skills and their ability to use daggers to deadly effect.
Asymmetric Warfare	A type of warfare that involves using unconventional tactics to attack a more powerful enemy.	The assassins used asymmetric warfare to great effect, targeting high-profile victims and creating an atmosphere of dread and fear among their enemies.
Psychological Warfare	A type of warfare that involves using tactics to demoralize and intimidate the enemy.	The assassins were masters of psychological warfare, using their tactics to create a sense of fear and uncertainty among their enemies.
Sleeper Cell	A group of agents who are embedded in a target organization or community and wait for a signal to carry out a mission.	The assassins used sleeper cells to great effect, inserting agents into the organizations of their enemies and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Stealth	The ability to move undetected and unseen, often used by the assassins to carry out their missions.	The assassins were known for their stealth, able to move undetected and strike without warning.
Disguise	The use of costumes, masks, and other forms of deception to conceal one’s identity or appearance.	The assassins were skilled in the use of disguise, often dressing as soldiers or merchants to infiltrate the organizations of their enemies.
Dagger	A type of knife or short sword used by the assassins as a preferred weapon.	The dagger was a favored weapon of the assassins, who used it to deadly effect in close quarters combat.
Close Quarters Combat	A type of combat that involves fighting at close range, often using knives, swords, or other short-range weapons.	The assassins were skilled in close quarters combat, using their daggers and other short-range weapons to deadly effect.

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The Order Of Assassins: The Deadliest Special Forces Of The Medieval World

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who is trained to carry out secret and often deadly missions’?

A) Warlord
B) Assassin
C) Crusader
D) Commander

2. What is the term for ‘warfare that involves targeting high-profile victims to create an atmosphere of dread and fear’?

A) Asymmetric warfare
B) Psychological impact
C) Stealth warfare
D) Guerrilla warfare

3. Which group did Hassan Isabah lead in the mountain fortress of Alamut in northern Persia?

A) Sunni Muslims
B) The Fiden
C) The Ismaelis
D) Shiite Muslims

4. What is the name of the champion of Sunni Orthodoxy who sought to root out heresy, including Hassan’s Ismaelis?

A) Saladin
B) Nisam al-mul
C) Conrad of Monura
D) Sinan

5. What is the term for ‘a person who remains in a target area, often for an extended period, waiting for the perfect moment to strike’?

A) Sleeper cell
B) Assassin
C) Spy
D) Infiltrator

Answer Key:

1. B
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. A

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect simple and present perfect continuous are used to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. The present perfect simple is formed using the auxiliary verb “has” or “have” + the past participle of the main verb, and is used to talk about completed actions that have a connection to the present. For example, “The assassins have become a legend” means that they became a legend at some point in the past and are still considered a legend now. On the other hand, the present perfect continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb “has” or “have” + “been” + the -ing form of the main verb, and is used to talk about actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. For instance, “The Islamic world has been divided between Sunni and Shiite Muslims” means that the division started in the past and continues up to the present.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the assassins finished their training, they ________ their skills in close quarters combat.

A) have mastered

B) master

C) were mastering

D) had mastered

2. The Ismaelis ________ in the mountain fortress of Alamut for nearly two centuries.

A) have taken refuge

B) take refuge

C) were taking refuge

D) had taken refuge

3. The assassins ________ a significant psychological impact on their enemies.

A) have made

B) make

C) are making

D) had made

4. By the time Saladin realized the threat, the assassins ________ a sleeper cell in his camp.

A) have inserted

B) insert

C) were inserting

D) had inserted

5. The assassins’ tactics ________ throughout history, and their name has become synonymous with stealth and cunning.

A) have been studied

B) are studied

C) were studied

D) study

Answer Key:

1. D) had mastered

2. A) have taken refuge

3. A) have made

4. D) had inserted

5. A) have been studied