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historybehindassassinscreed · 7 years

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In Game:

Masyaf was an isolated mountain municipality, located in the Orontes Valley in western Syria among the An-Nusayriyah Mountains. For a long time, it served as a base of operations for the Assassin Order during the High Middle Ages, but fell into disrepair after the Mongol siege of 1257. By the early 16th century, it was temporarily occupied by Byzantine Templars.

The fortress of Masyaf was established in 1162 as an Assassin base by a man who would later be popularly known by his title of Al Mualim (real name Rashid ad-Din Sinan). He was sent from Alamut to establish the fortress by Hassan the Younger, the leader of the Levantine Brotherhood at the time. While ostensibly, this was a command by Hassan to cultivate Assassin influence in the Levant, rumors circulated as to the exact reason. Some Assassins believed that there had been a schism between the two owing to ideological differences, with Al Mualim leaving to create his own independent Assassin Order entirely. There were even whispers that Al Mualim was motivated not merely by a desire for independence, but power lust, an ambition to act as a king on his own, without the influence of Hassan.

Saladin, a Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty of Egypt and Syria and also the commander of the Muslim armies united against the invading armies of Europe, under Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade, attacked the fortress, hoping that he could prevent the assassins from making a successful attempt on his life. On the second night of the siege, Master Assassin Umar Ibn-La'Ahad infiltrated the Sultan's tent and left a knife in Saladin's sleeping pallet. However, Saladin awoke and raised the alarm, and Umar was forced to kill a Saracen nobleman during his escape. Saladin agreed to leave, but not before he demanded that Umar be beheaded for his murder of the Saracen nobleman.

In 1189, Masyaf was attacked again, though this time by Templar Crusaders after one of their agents infiltrated the ranks of the Assassin Order; the fortress was captured by the Crusaders, after which Al Mualim was held hostage. As a result, a battle between the two forces raged on in the village, however, through the efforts of the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the fortress was reclaimed and Al Mualim saved. With the fortress recaptured, the Assassins were able to drive the Templars from Masyaf.

Al Mualim came into possession of an Apple of Eden in 1191 after it was retrieved by Malik Al-Sayf from Solomon’s Temple. The Templars that also sought the Apple, including Grand Master Robert de Sablé, followed Malik’s blood trail back to Masyaf and attacked, hoping to regain the Apple. Altaïr helped to spring a trap on the Templars, crushing them with falling logs, forcing them to retreat.

Later that same year, Al Mualim used the Apple to enslave the citizens of Masyaf. Altaïr was able to stop him by murdering his former teacher and reclaim the Apple. After Al Mualim’s death, Abbas Sofian attempted to take the Apple for himself, but was also defeated by Altaïr.

Sometime before 1227, Abbas staged a coup d'état and was able to take over the Order. Losing control of the Assassins in Syria, and after the death of Altaïr’s wife, Maria Thorpe, and Malik, Altaïr fled the city, and entered a self-imposed exile. Abbas reigned for twenty years before Altaïr returned and murdered Abbas with the newly invented hidden gun.

Masyaf was abandoned around a decade later. Altaïr had constructed a library, compiling the information he had learned from the Apple, but he sent his Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, who were guests of the Order, invited by Altaïr's eldest son, Darim, away with the books and the memory seals to his library. Altaïr then took the Apple that Malik had retrieved from the Temple so many years ago and locked himself in his now empty library where he died at the age of ninety-two.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze managed to get to Masyaf a few centuries later to find that it had been overrun with Byzantine Templars. After killing their leader and retrieving all of the Masyaf Keys, Ezio returned to Masyaf in 1512 with Sofia Sartor entered the library to find that it was empty save for Altaïr’s skeleton and his Apple of Eden.

In Real Life:

Masyaf castle ( قلعة مصياف) is located in the town of Masyaf in Hama Governorate, Syria, situated in the Orontes Valley, approximately 40 kilometers to the west of Hama. It served to protect the trade routes to cities further inland such as Banyas. The castle itself stands on a limestone platform about 20 meters above the surrounding plain and was likely built around the time of the Byzantine Empire.

The citadel became famous as the stronghold from which Rashid ad-Din Sinan, known as the Old Man of the Mountains ruled. He was a leader of the Syrian wing of the Hashshashin sect, also known as the Assassins, and a figure in the history of the Crusades. A trained Hashshashin himself and a powerful Northern Syrian warlord, Sinan controlled and ruled over the trained killers.

Although the original castle itself was Byzantine in origin, levels were added by the Nizari Ismailis, Mamluks, and Ottomans. The castle was captured by the Assassins in 1141 from Sanqur (who had held it on behalf of the Banu Mundiqh of Shayzar) and was later refortified by the Mentor of the Assassins.

(Image Source)

It was from this fortress that Rashid ad-Din Sinan ordered his assassins to take out several different targets, such as the King of Jerusalem and Saladin, the leader of the Saracen army. Fearing for his life, Saladin leid seige to the fortress in attempt to kill Sinan.

According to legend, an assassin snuck into Saladin’s tent during his seige. Some accounts say that he left a dagger and a note. Others say that a poisoned cake was left, but the note said something to the effect of “You are in our power.” Although Saladin had defeated Crusader castles with much stronger defenses, the intimidation worked, and Saladin arranged a peace negotiation with Sinan.

In 1260 A.D., Masyaf and three other Assassin fortresses surrendered to the invading Mongols. However, the Mongol victory was short-lived as they were defeated by the Mamelukes at the Battle of ‘Ayn Jalut in the same year. Once the Mongols were expelled from Syria, some sources say that the Assassins were back in control of Masyaf. Ten years later, the Mamelukes under their sultan, Baibars, took control of Masyaf. Whilst the Assassins eventually disbanded, the castle remained a part of the landscape.

Masyaf, along with the rest of Syria, was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1516 and 1517, after the Ottoman victory over the Mamluks at the Battle of Marj Dabiq. Masyaf became a part of the liwa (district) of Homs, and along with the other Ismaili fortresses in its vicinity (qala' al-da'wa), was responsible for paying a special tax. The town had a khan which paid tolls to the Ottoman authorities. The tolls were abolished later in the mid-16th century. According to the Sufi traveler Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, the emir of Masyaf in the early 1690s was a descendant of the Arab Tanukh tribe named Sulayman.

In 1703, the Raslan clan, an Alawite tribe, took over Masyaf and controlled it for about eight years until it was restored to the Ismailis following the intervention of the Ottoman authorities. In 1788, the emir of Masyaf, Mustafa ibn Idris, built a sabil (ablutions fountain) and a house that would be used by himself and successive Ismaili emirs.

In 1808, the Raslan clan led by Sheikh Mahmud Raslan attacked Masyaf, killing its Ismaili chief, Mustafa Milhim, and his son, and captured the fortress. About 300 of the town's Ismaili inhabitants were also killed, while many others, including a Dai, fled for Homs, Hama and other areas in central Syria, settling in those places temporarily.

(Image source)

In modern times, conversion work began in an attempt to preserve the fortress, beginning in the year 2000. Part of this conversion and restoration project involves uncovering chambers and passageways used by the assassins in addition to ceramics and coins, in an attempt to learn more about not only Rashid ad-Din Sinan himself, but also the order he ran.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-castle-assassins-idUSL1114464920070713

http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/masyaf-castle-seat-assassins-001888

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/castle-of-musyaf

https://books.google.com/books?id=qXG6AAAAIAAJ&q=Masyaf+Ismaili+Alawi&dq=Masyaf+Ismaili+Alawi

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus132_Heras4.pdf

#Assassin's Creed #Locations #Multi-Game #AC 1 #AC Rev

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emergingkarachi · 11 years

Text

Important Bus Routes Karachi

1-B

Nazimabd, Bara Maidan, Lasbela, Lawrence Road, Barness Street, Bandar Road, Tower

1-C

M.P.R Colony, Qasba Colony, Banaras Colony, Pathan Colony, S.I.T.E, Habib Bank, Bismillah Hotel, Gandhi Garden, Garden Road, Plaza, Regal, Shahra-e-Liaquat, National Museum, Tower, Sultanabad

1-F

Naval Colony, Mauripur, Gulbai Chowk, Tower, Juna Market, Ramswami, Garden Bara Board, Valika, Orangi Township No. 10

1-G

M.W Tower, Frere Road, Sadar, Numaish, Goro Mandir, Teen Hatti, Liaquat No. 10, Petrol Pump, Nazimabad No. 2, Gandhi Chowk, Paposh Nagar, Abdullah College, Metro Cinema, Data Chowk Orangi Town

11-C

Azam Basti, Corporation, Kalapul, Jinnah Hospital, Saddar, 7th Day Hospital, Numaish, Guru Mandir, Islamia College, Jail Road, New Town Police Station, Sabzi Mandi, Civic Centre, Urdu College, N.I.P.A Chowrangi, Safari Park, University Road, Safoora Goth

2-D

Federal B. Area, Noorani Masjid, Peoples Colony, Imam Bara, Humayun Road, K.D.A Office, North Nazimabad, Board Office, Nazimabad No. 7, Petrol Pump, Lasbella, Sabil Wali Masjid, Soldier Bazar, Saddar, Frere Road, M.W Tower, Noorani Masjid

17-J

Babar Market, Landhi No. 3 1/2, Landhi No. 5, Korangi No. 6, Korangi No. 5, Korangi No. 3, Korangi No. 1, Korangi Crossing, Qayumabad, Akhtak Colony, Defence Society, Kala Pul, Jinnah Hospital, Luck Star Hotel, Hijaz Dairy Farm

2-K

North Nazimabad Block M, Shahra-e-Jehangir, Water Pump, Hyderi, Paposh Nagar, Bara Maidan, Nazimabad No. 2, Petrol Pump, Guru Mandir, Saddar, Burns Road, Mereweather Tower, Keamari

22-A

Rashidabad, Bihar Colony, Ghani Chowrangi, Shershah, Chakiwara, Lee Market, Herchandrai Road, Haji camp Road, Nishter Road, Baba-e-urdu, Frere Road, Court Road, Sarwar shaheed Road, Shahrah-e-iraq, Masjid-e-khizra, Burns Road, M.A jinnah Road, Cantt Station

22-B

Agra taj Colony, Kalri, Baghdadi, Meesa lane, Kharadar, Khajeer Bazar, Lea Market, Purani haji camp, Ranchore lines, Sho Market, Garden, Pakistan quaters, Khaja jamat khana, Lasbela, Teen hatti, New Town, Liaquat hospital, Dhoraji society, National stadium, National Cement Factory, Naval Quaters, Labour Quaters, Drigh Road, Natha khan Goth, Air Port, Malir, Landhi, Quaidabad, Qazafi Town

4-C

New Karachi Block 5-F, Industrial Area, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Bandar Road, Preedy Street, Police Station, Saddar

Shirin jinnah Colony, Clifton, Mehata palace, Clifton bridge, Bagh-e-jinnah, Metropole hotel, Lucky star, Saddar, Garden, Old golimar, Bara Board, Habib bank, Valika stop, Police Station, S.I.T.E, Labour square, Rashidabad

1 - D

Ittehad Town, Torri Chowk Sector II, Orangi Township, Banaras Colony, Pathan Colony, Petrol Pump, Liaquatabad No. 10, Liaquatabad, Post Office, Teen Hatti, Jehangir Road, Empress Market, Cantt Station

New Karachi, K.D.A Office, Al-Hyderi, State Bank Quarters, Board Office, Nazimabad No 1, Petrol Pump, Lasbela, Ranchor Line, Juna Market, Napier Road, Tower

4-H

Surjani Town, Yosuf Goth, Lal Market, New Karachi, Water Pump, Karimabad, Liaquatabad No. 10, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, 7th Day Hospital, Empress Market, Lucky Star, Jinnah Hospital, Cantt Stations, Clifton Bridge, Gizri, Sea View

1-H

Gulshan-e-Bahar, Orangi Sector No. 14, Orangi Sector No. 13, Orangi Sector No. 7, Orangi Sector No. 5, Qadafi Chowk, Qasba Mour, Banaras Colony, Valika Hospital, Valika Mill, Habib Bank, S.I.T.E, Post Office, Maroon Mill, Laltain Factory, Ghani Chowk, Shershah, Miran Naka, Chakiwara, Lee Market, Kharadar, Jamat Khana, Tower, Kemari

19-D

Faqir Colony, Ruby cinema, Hub river Road, Shershah, Chakiwara, Lee Market, Haji camp, Jamila street, Nishter Road, Baba-e-urdu Road, Shahrah-e-liaquat, Fresco Chowk, Mohammad bin qasim Road, M.A jinnah Road, Mansfield street, Empress Market, Mir karam Ali Talpur Road, Wellington Street, Cantt Station, Clifton, Delhi Colony, Gizri

4 -J

Nai Abadi, Saleem Centre, Nagan Chowrangi, Sakhi Hassan, Hyderi, Board Office, Petrol Pump, Liaquatabad No 10, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Tower

4 -K

Kali Market, New Karachi, K.D.A Office, Al-Hyderi, State Bank Quarters, Nazimabad No 7, Petrol Pump, Lasbela, Gurumandir, Namaish Chowrangee, Saddar, Empress Market, Regal, Tibet Centre, Bander Road, Tower

4 -L

Maymar Complex, Al-Asif Plaza, Sohrab Goth, Water Pump, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, Numaish, Saddar, Empress Market, Bruns Road, M.A.Jinnah Road, Tower

4 -S

Surjani Town, Two Minutes Chowrangi, Saleem Centre, U.P Mour, Nagan Chowrangi, Shadman Town, Sakhi Hassan, Hyderi, Board Office, Nazimabad No. 7, Nazimabad No. 6, Nazimabad Chowrangi, Lasbela House, Goro Mandir, Numaish, M.A Jinnah Road, Eidgah, Tower

Al-Noor Society, Gulberg, Water Pump, Aisha Manzil, Karimabad Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, P.I.B Colony, Jamshed Road, Goro Mandir, Numaish Chowrangi, M.A Jinnah Road, Bandar Road, Keamari

52 -A

Labour Square, Gul Mohammad Chowrangi, Metropolitan Steel Corporation, Qazafi Town, Quaidabad, Landhi, Malir City, Drigh Road, Jail Road, Nishter Road, Lee Market, Agha Khan Jamat Khana, G.Allana Road, Kheja Jamat Khana, Dockyard, Fisheries

5 -C

Gulberg Chowrangi, Rahimabad, K.D.A Pump House, Wahadat Colony, Saghirabad, Nasirabad, Dastagir Colony, Azizabad, Aisha Manzil, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Empress Market, Bruns Road, Tower

5 -D

Musa Colony, Federal B. Area, Liaquatabad No. 10, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, Old Exhibition, Empress Market, Frere Road, Buns Road, Bandar Road, Tower, Dockyard

Fayyaz Plaza, Dastagir Colony, Azizabad, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Empress Market, Bruns Road, Tower

6 -B

Yasinabad Alliaabad, Hussainabad, Karimabad, Liaquatabad No. 10, Petrol Pump, Nazimabad Chowrangi, Golimar, Lasbela, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Buns Road, Light House, Tower

7 -C

Dockyard, Aga Khan Jamat Khana, Lee Market, Chakiwra, Miran Naka, Shershah, Taj Silk Mill, Habib Bank, Bara Board, Muslim League Quarters, Nazimabad Chowrangi, Liaquatabad Post Office, Liaquatabad No. 10, Karimabad, Imam Bara, Ziauddin Hospital, Peoples Chowrangi, Saifee Technology College, Bufferzone

Sindhi Hotel New Karachi, Manhgopir Road, Banaras Colony, Valika Mills, Bara Board, Rexer Lines, Dhobi Ghat, Faqir Mohammad Durra Khan Road, Herchandrai Road, Lee Market

7 -H

Keamari, Tower, Bolton Market, Eidgah, Ranchore Lane, Garden, Lasbella, Postoffice, Sindhi Hotel, New Town, Civic Centre, N.I.P.A, University Road, Safora Goth, Tokyo Terrace Plaza

P.I.B Colony, Hyderabad Colony, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Bandar Road, Tower

8 -A

P.I.B Colony, Hyderabad Colony, Goro Mandir, M.A Jinnah Road, Frere Street, Preedy Street, Frere Road, Ingle Road, Mcleod Road, Napier Road, Keamari

#Teen Hatti #Qasba Colony #Paposh Nagar #Pakistan #Karachi #Bus Routes Karachi #Burns Road #Bihar Colony #Banaras Colony

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