Rashid al-Din Sinan
Contents
Rashid al-Din Sinan, also known as “The Old Man of the Mountain” (??? ?????, Shaykh al-Jabal), served as the semi-autonomous governor of the Syrian branch of the Order of Assassins from 1162 until his death in 1193. Appointed by Hasan ‘Ala Zikrihi’s-Salam to oversee the Order’s holdings in Syria and the Levant, he developed the Syrian branch into a formidable independent power.
His leadership demonstrated military and diplomatic skills: he successfully challenged Saladin’s authority with a failed assassination attempt in 1175, then negotiated an advantageous truce in 1176. In 1191, he orchestrated one of the Order’s most significant political assassinations by having Conrad of Montferrat, the Crusader King of Jerusalem, killed. This action had far-reaching consequences, including the imprisonment of King Richard I of England by Duke Leopold V of Austria on suspicion of involvement in Conrad’s death.
Upon Sinan’s death in 1193, the Syrian fortresses were brought back under tighter control from Alamut, ending their period of semi-independence. His legacy represents the peak of the Order’s influence in international politics, where they could shape events from Constantinople to Jerusalem through both force and diplomacy.
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Timeline for Rashid al-Din Sinan
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Historical, The Islamic Golden Age Rise of Hasan ‘Ala Zikrihi’s-Salam
Muḥammad ibn Buzurg-Ummīd <b></b>, the third Grand Master of the Order of Assassins, is succeeded by Hasan 'Ala Zikrihi's-Salam. As the fourth ruler of Alamut, Hasan is later recognised as the fourth Nizari Ismaili Imam and to have been descended from the movement’s first Imam. He appoints Rashid al-Din Sinan as the largely independent governor of the faith’s holdings in Syria.
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Historical, The Islamic Golden Age Failed Assassination of Saladin
Rashid al-Din Sinan sends a party of thirteen assassins from the Order of Assassins to assassinate Saladin, but they are unsuccessful.
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Historical, The Islamic Golden Age Sinan-Saladin Truce
Saladin ends his siege of Nizari Ismaili fortresses after reaching an uncertain bargain with their leader Rashid al-Din Sinan.
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Historical, The European Middle Ages, The Islamic Golden Age Murder of Conrad
Rashid al-Din Sinan has Conrad of Montferrat, the Crusader King of Jerusalem, murdered by his Assassins.
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Historical, The Islamic Golden Age Death of Sinan
Rashid al-Din Sinan, the “Old Man of the Mountain” and Master of the Syrian branch of the Order of Assassins, dies. Afterwards, the Order and Sinan’s fortresses are brought back under tighter control from Alamut.
| Rashid al-Din Sinan | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Data | |
| Species/Race | Human |
| Died | 1193 AD Syria (Old age) |
| Affiliation | |
| Allegiance | Order of Assassins Nazari Ismaili |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
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