This video introduces Hasan Sabbah, the leader and the founder of Ismailis religion in Persia. He was born in a 12-Imams-Shia family in Qom, and was educated in Rey. There he was invited to join to Ismaili religion. He then took a long trip to Egypt to be trained as a Da’ee or inviter.
He was a truly charismatic leader who would establish a dynasty. Ismailis or the Assassins could survive and rule for approx. 170 years in some regions in Persia and Syria.
Marco Polo Season 1 Episode 5 – Hashashin
This episode of Marco Polo is one of the best films up to now that has turned the legends into something people can see. A big step from imagination to realization of the Assassins legend.
This film shows the legend of the Assassins, i.e. the cool side of the history. So, it is not historically true. There was no hashish or opium, there was no hidden heavenly garden.
If I am so lucky to meet you in Iran, in Alamut Valley, I will explain the real history next to this legend of the Assassins in Persia.
The speech giver speaks about the main example that got into his mind for the benefits of gamification. That example is Alamut Assassins. Once he lived in the middle east and got to know about the Valley of Assassins or Alamut Valley in Iran.
In the game assassins creed, what is the real history beyond the story? In this video, you can find out a lot about the reality in the history of the Assassins, how they were formed in Persian and Syria, how they got strong and how they died.
What kind of power was able to conquer the Assassins of Persia in their strongholds? Answer: The Mongols.
Mongolians took the strategy of siege. They surrounded the castles one by one, up to the last one. Some castles resisted for 3 months (like Alamut Castle) and some others could fight against the Mongolians for more than 10 years (like Gird Kooh castle).
Khoorshah the last leader of the Ismailis was ruling the castles of the Assassins in Persia when Hulaku khan (the Grandson of Changiz khan) led the Mongolian troops in Persia.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Assassins Creed was and still is the main motivation for tourists to explore Alamut Valley in Iran.
Even though no game or film was recorded in Iran and Alamut Valley, some parts of the history and the legend are presented in the game Assassins Creed.
The symbol and the presence of the Eagle, the Assassination order, the clothing and the dagger, and many other items are coming from real history.clothing and the dagger, and many other items
The voice actor of the character “Roshan” is proudly Persian.
Even the name “Roshan” is a Persian name meaning “Bright”.
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
There is this uncertain history that Omar Khayyam, Hasan Sabah and Nezam Ol Molk Toosi were three classmates in primary school.
They made a treat that whoever could succeed to have a nice life, should help the two others to reach a good level of prosperity, too.
While Omar Khayyam chose to be in service to the Seljuk king (Malik Shah), Hasan Sabah decided to practice real Islam and start a revolutionary movement against Malik Shah. Hasan succeeded to gather many followers and could get his stronghold in Alamut, named Alamut Castle.
The film is not based on real history but more on the legendary Assassins’ order in Persia. The film praises Malik Shah as a completely peaceful king which I highly doubt.
I liked this film only because it helped the audience to know more about Persian literature, Persian poet Omar Khayyam, Persian Calligraphy and the Persian language. Hasan Sabah and Alamut were also kind of presented.
I absolutely loved this film.
Even though this film, too, focuses on legends and fiction, but there are some key points.
They recite the name of Alamut, many times. From the beginning of the film, to the end. The name of the film has the keyword Persia and the main character is Persian. The name of the first character is Dastan. The name of the princess of Alamut is Tahmina. These names are directly taken from Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, the Persian poet.
The undercover force hired by Nizam was called Hassansins. Apparently there is no such a word in English. The word is coming from Hasan, the first leader and the founder of the Assassins order in Persia. Or it is the world Assassins, with a slight, cinematic transformation.
Nizam was the name of the Vazier of the Seljuk who was one of the main enemies of the Assassins in Iran. He was later (most probably) killed by the Assassins of Alamut.
But Alamut was not a city. It was and still is a valley, a region.
Alamut never had a female ruler i.e. princess. This valley has always been ruled by men.
Alamut was and is in Persia. It was not separate land.
Alamut never was a peaceful land with no arms. They were true warriors and were always involved in wars.
Assassins Creed video games has its main and first idea from Alamut Valley and the Assassins of Persia.
On Volume 1, the theme was much closer to the real history. But on volumes 2 and 3, there was a gap between reality and the theme of the game.
Now on the volume 4, a setback happens. By going back to the Arab and Persian roots and bases like in real history, this game will offer a lot.