Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE HISTORY OF THE ASSASSINS.

Derived from Oriental Sources,

by

THE CHEVALIER JOSEPH VON HAMMER,

Author of The History of the Ottoman Empire, &c.

Translated from the German, by Oswald Charles Wood, M. D.

&c. &c. &c.

London: Smith and Elder, Cornhill. 1835.

Vizetelly, Branston and Co., Printers, 76, Fleet Street, London.

TO

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain,

WITH THE

PROFOUNDEST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THEIR IMPORTANT SERVICES

IN CHERISHING AND PROMOTING THE CULTIVATION OF

ORIENTAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE,

THE PRESENT WORK IS DEDICATED

BY

THEIR MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT,

OSWALD CHARLES WOOD.

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

The Translator has been induced to present “The History of the Assassins” to the British Public as much on account of the interest of the subject itself, as by a desire to introduce to them a portion, certainly but a small one, of the works of an author so highly gifted, and of such established reputation, as M. Von Hammer. Nor will the present volume be deemed supererogatory, if it be considered that, notwithstanding the attention which, of late years, has been in this country so meritoriously devoted to the study of Oriental history and philology, still, but few and meagre accounts have been afforded of the extraordinary association forming the subject of the ensuing pages, and even those scattered through large and voluminous works. The Translator deems it unnecessary to apologize for the notes which he has appended, believing that their curiosity will plead his excuse.

It may be proper to remark, that the Translator has thought it advisable to adapt the orthography of the proper names to the pronunciation of English readers: in this, he has been for the most part guided by Sir William Jones’s Persian Grammar, and the very excellent Turkish one of his late accomplished and lamented friend, Arthur Lumley Davids; he has only, therefore, to state, that the vowels are to be pronounced broad and open, as in Italian, and the consonants as in English; by this means, the uncouth appearance of the names, occasioned by endeavouring to represent the vowels by English diphthongs, is avoided.

BROMPTON,

June, 1835.

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.
Page
Introduction—Mohammed, founder of Islamism—Account of his
doctrines—Sects—Ismailites—The Assassins a branch of the
latter 1

BOOK II.

Foundation of the Order of the Assassins, and Reign of the first
Grand-Master, Hassan Sabah 38

BOOK III.

Reign of Kia Busurgomid, and of his son, Mohammed 74

BOOK IV.

Reign of Hassan II., son of Mohammed, son of Busurgomid,
surnamed Ala sikrihi es-selam, and his son, Mohammed II. 105

BOOK V.

Reign of Jelaleddin Hassan III Ben Mohammed Hassan,—and
of his son, Alaeddin Mohammed III. 139

BOOK VI.

Reign of Rokneddin Kharshah, the last Grand-Master of the
Assassins 165