ALAMUT

The origins of the Alamut fortress can be traced back to the Daylam ruler, Wahsudan, who, during a hunting trip, witnessed a soaring eagle perch down high on a rock.Realizing the tactical advantage of the location, he chose the site for the construction of a fortress, which was called “Aluh amu[kh]t” likely meaning “Eagle’s Teaching”.The origin of the word “Alamut” is obscure. By 602 AD, the castle was rebuilt by a group of Zaydi ‘Alids in whose possession it remained until the arrival of the Ismaili chief da’i (missionary) Hasan-i Sabbah to the castle in 1090 AD, marking the start of the Alamut period in Ismaili history.

History

Following his expulsion from Egypt over his support for the Ismaili Imam Nizar b. Mustansir, Hasan-i Sabbah found that his co-religionists, the Ismailis, were scattered throughout Iran, with a strong presence in the northern and eastern regions, particularly in Daylaman,Khuorasan and Quhistan. The Ismailis and other occupied peoples of Iran held shared resentment for the ruling Saljuqs, who had divided the country’s farmland into iqtā’ (fiefs) and levied heavy taxes upon the citizens living therein. The Saljuq amirs (independent rulers) usually held full jurisdiction and control over the districts they administered. Meanwhile, Persian artisans, craftsmen and lower classes grew increasingly dissatisfied with the Saljuq policies and heavy taxes. Hasan too, was appalled by the political and economic oppression imposed by the Sunni Saljuq ruling class on Shi'i Muslims living across Iran. It was in this context that he embarked on a resistance movement against the Saljuqs, beginning with the search for a secure site from which to launch his revolt.