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Assassin

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Assassin , European name for the member of a secret order of the Ismaili sect of Islam . They are known as Nizaris after Nizar ibn al-Mustansir, whom they supported as caliph; the European term Assassin is derived from the Arabic for "users of hashish." The members of the order were distinguished by their blind obedience to their spiritual leader (known in the West as the Old Man of the Mountain) and by their use of murder to eliminate foes.

The order was founded by Hasan ibn al-Sabbah when he gained control (c.1090) of the mountain fortress of Alamut, located S of the Caspian Sea. The order spread over Persia and Syria, gaining control of many strongholds, and it soon inspired terror throughout the Muslim world. Members were organized into strict classes, according to degree of initiation into the secrets of the order. The most important of the classes were the devotees, who sought martyrdom and were the instruments of assassination.

Hasan and the grand masters who ruled the order after him wielded great political power until the coming of the Mongols. Hulagu Khan attacked and destroyed (1256) their fortresses and massacred most of the Persian branch of the sect. The Syrian branch, with which the Crusaders came in contact, suffered a similar fate at the hands of Baybars, the Mamluk sultan of Egypt. Only scattered groups of the order survived; they are said to persist today, particularly in N Syria. Tales of the Crusaders and the writings of Marco Polo brought the Assassins and the Old Man of the Mountain into European folklore. The term assassin came into English and is used today to mean murderer, particularly one who kills for political motives.

Bibliography: See B. Lewis, The Assassins (1967); E. Franzius, History of the Order of Assassins (1969).

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Assassins

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre | 2004 | | Copyright

Assassins (1991), a musical play by John Weidman (book), Stephen Sondheim (music, lyrics). [Playwrights Horizons, 25 perf.] Various historic people who have killed or attempted to assassinate U. S. presidents gather in this sometimes surreal, often funny, but chilling concept musical that exposes the dark side of the American dream. Notable songs: Ballad of Booth; Another National Anthem; Unworthy of Your Love. This bold and uncomfortable musical quickly sold out its limited engagement, but plans to transfer it to Broadway were aborted when the Gulf War and a wave of patriotism discouraged the Off‐Broadway company from risking it. Assassins has seen many regional productions since, and it was revived on Broadway with success in 2004.
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Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Assassins." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Assassins." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Assassins.html

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Assassins." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Assassins.html

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Assassins

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Assassins (Fr., from Arab., ḥashīshī, ‘one who consumes hashish’). An Ismāʿīlī (Nizārī) sect at the time of the crusades, founded by al-Ḥasan b. al-Sabbah, who resorted to assassination supposedly under the influence of the drug (though the name ḥashīshī is not often used outside Syrian texts). Taking advantage of the confused conditions, the sect gained considerable strength, but was driven out of its mountain strongholds in the 13th cent. CE. The ruler of the Syrian assassins was known as shaikh al-jabal, ‘the Old Man of the Mountain’.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Assassins." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Assassins." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Assassins.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Assassins." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Assassins.html

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assassin

A Dictionary of World History | 2000 | Copyright

assassin (from the Arabic hashishiyun, ‘smoker of hashish’) A member of a secret sect of the ISMAILI branch of Shiite Islam. It was founded by Hasan ibn al-Sabbah in 1078 to support the claim of Nizar to the FATIMID caliphate and a headquarters was established at Alamut in north-west Persia. The assassins wielded influence through suicide squads of political murderers, convinced that they would earn a place in paradise if they died while obeying orders.
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assassin

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

as·sas·sin / əˈsasin/ • n. a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons. ∎  (Assassin) hist. a member of a sect of Muslims at the time of the Crusades. Renowned as militant fanatics, they were reputed to use hashish before going on murder missions.

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Assassins

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Assassins the Nizari branch of Ismaili Muslims at the time of the Crusades, renowned as militant fanatics and popularly supposed to use hashish before going on murder missions. The name comes (in the mid 16th century, from French or medieval Latin) from Arabic ḥašīšī ‘hashish-eater’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Assassins." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Assassins." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Assassins.html

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assassin

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

assassin (hist., in pl.) Muslim fanatic engaged to murder Christians; one who kills treacherously. XVII. — F. assassin or medL. assassīnus — Arab. ḥaššīšī HASHISH-eater.
Hence assassinate (see -ATE3), assassination XVII.
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T. F. HOAD. "assassin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "assassin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-assassin.html

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assassin

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

assassin (Arabic, users of hashish) Name given to a Muslim sect of Ismailis, founded in c.1090 by Hasan ibn al-Sabbah. They fought against orthodox Muslims and Christian Crusaders and committed many political murders, until their eventual defeat in the 13th century.
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assassins

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

assassins Men armed with daggers (Acts 21: 38), led by an Egyptian, threatened Jerusalem in 54 CE according to the historian Josephus. The rebellion was put down, but the leader escaped. The term ‘assassin’ was used of Jewish nationalists (Zealots).
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "assassins." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "assassins." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-assassins.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "assassins." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-assassins.html

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assassin

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Artful 'Assassins' at Signature; Sondheim musical confronts...
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 6/9/2006
'Assassins' hits mark with insightful portrayals.(Time Out!)
Newspaper article from: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL); 2/2/2007
Games Review: Assassins Creed Revelations.
Newspaper article from: Eastbourne Herald (Eastbourne, England); 1/24/2012
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Assassin. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

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