Chapter I: Front Matter

_UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE._

THE LIBRARY

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THOMAS COATES, Esq., _Secretary_, No. 59, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

_THE LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE._

[Keightley (Thomas) handwritten]

SECRET SOCIETIES

OF THE

MIDDLE AGES.

LONDON:
CHARLES KNIGHT & Co., LUDGATE-STREET.

MDCCCXXXVII.

LONDON:
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS,
Stamford Street.

CONTENTS.

Page

Introduction 1

THE ASSASSINS.

CHAPTER I.

State of the World in the Seventh Century--Western
Empire--Eastern Empire--Persia--Arabia--Mohammed--His
probable Motives--Character of his Religion--The
Koran 13

CHAPTER II.

Origin of the Khalifat--The first Khalifs--Extent of the
Arabian Empire--Schism among the Mohammedans--Soonees
and Sheaehs--Sects of the latter--The Keissanee--The
Zeidites--The Ghoollat--The Imamee--Sects
of the Imamee--Their political Character--The
Carmathites--Origin of the Fatimite Khalifs--Secret
Society at Cairo--Doctrines taught in it--Its Decline 24

CHAPTER III.

Ali of Rei--His son Hassan Sabah--Hassan sent to
study at Nishaboor--Meets there Omar Khiam and
Nizam-al-Moolk--Agreement made by them--Hassan
introduced by Nizam to Sultan Malek Shah--Obliged
to leave the Court--Anecdote of him--His own account
of his Conversion--Goes to Egypt--Returns to
Persia--Makes himself Master of Alamoot 43

CHAPTER IV.

Description of Alamoot--Fruitless attempts to recover
it--Extension of the Ismailite Power--The Ismailites
in Syria--Attempt on the Life of Aboo-Hard Issa--Treaty
made with Sultan Sanjar--Death of Hassan--His
Character 56

CHAPTER V.

Organization of the Society--Names given to the
Ismailites--Origin of the name Assassin--Marco Polo's
description of the Paradise of the Old Man of the
Mountain--Description of it given by Arabian
writers--Instances of the obedience of the Fedavee 66

CHAPTER VI.

Keaeh Buzoorg Oomeid--Affairs of the Society in Persia--They
acquire the Castle of Banias in Syria--Attempt
to betray Damascus to the Crusaders--Murders committed
during the reign of Keaeh Buzoorg 84

CHAPTER VII.

Keaeh Mohammed--Murder of the Khalif--Castles gained
in Syria--Ismailite Confession of Faith--Mohammed's
Son Hassan gives himself out for the promised Imam--His
followers punished--Succession of Hassan--He
abolishes the Law--Pretends to be descended from the
Prophet--Is murdered 93

CHAPTER VIII.

Mohammed II.--Anecdote of the Imam
Fakhr-ed-deen--Noor-ed-deen--Conquest
of Egypt--Attempt on the Life of Saladin 102

CHAPTER X.

Jellal-ed-deen--Restoration of Religion--His Harem
makes the Pilgrimage to Mecca--Marries the Princess of
Ghilan--Geography of the Country between Roodbar and
the Caspian--Persian Romance--Zohak and
Feridoon--Kei Kaoos and Roostem--Ferdoosee's Description
of Mazanderan--History of the Shah Nameh--Proof of the
Antiquity of the Tales contained in it. 131

CHAPTER XI.

Death of Jellal-ed-deen--Character of Ala-ed-deen,
his successor--The Sheikh Jemal-ed-deen--The Astronomer
Nasir-ed-deen--The Vizir Sheref-al-Moolk--Death of
Ala-ed-deen--Succession of Rukn-ed-deen, the last
Sheikh-al-Jebal 148