List of the strongholds or dar al-hijra of the Order of Assassins in Persia (Iran) and Syria.

Most of the Persian Ismaili castles were in the Alborz mountains, in the regions of Daylaman (particularly, in Alamut and Rudbar; north of modern-day Qazvin) and Quhistan (south of Khurasan), as well as in Qumis. Most of the Syrian Ismaili castles were in Jabal Bahra' (Syrian Coastal Mountain Range).

According to Juzjani, before the Mongol invasion the Assassins possessed 70 forts in Quhistan and 35 in Alamut. Overall, they probably had 250 castles.

The Ismaili fortresses in Rudbar of Alamut had been built on rocky heights and were equipped to withstand long sieges; they had storehouses with high capacities and elaborate water supply infrastructure such as cisterns, qanats, and canals.B. Hourcade, “ALAMŪT,” Encyclopædia Iranica, I/8, pp. 797-801; an updated version is available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/alamut-valley-alborz-northeast-of-qazvin- (accessed on 17 May 2014).

Persia + Ismaili castles in Persia (Iran) Name Image Condition Location Present-day location Coordinates Notes Alamut Castle () destroyed, partially restored Alamut Qazvin Province The capital of the Nizari state. Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site.Atashgah Castle () RuinedKashmarRazavi Khorasan Province Lambsar, Lambasar (), Lamsar, Lamasar (), Lanbasar () in ruins Alamut Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Captured, refortified, and governed by Kiya Buzurg-Ummid. Probably the largest Nizari castle. Rudkhan Castle () rebuilt Daylam Maymun-Diz (), Meymundezh () N/A destroyed and lost Rudbar Qazvin Province Destroyed by the Mongols in 1256. Semiran castle () in ruins Tarem Qazvin Province Nevizar Shah Castle (), Navisar/Nevisar Shah Castle () Rudbar Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highest castle in Rudbar. Qostin-Lar Castle () Rudbar Qostin-Lar village, Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ilan Castle () Rudbar Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest castle in Rudbar after Alamut. Shams Kalayeh Castle () Rudbar Moallem Kalayeh village, Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shirkuh Castle () Rudbar Moallem Kalayeh village, Qazvin Province Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mansur Kuh castle (), in ruins Qumis Semnan Province Mehrnegar Castle (Damghan), Mihrnigar (), Mihrin/Mehrin Castle () in ruins Qumis Damghan County Fell at 1253 to the Mongols. Gerdkuh/Girdkuh (), Dezh-i Gunbadan () in ruins Qumis near Damghan The last Ismaili castle that surrendered to Mongols. Ustunawand (), Ostanavand (), Ostanavand Castle of Naruheh () Damavand Garmsar County Saru castles (), Soru mainly intact Qumis near Semnan (Greater Saru) Two nearby related castles, Greater Saru and Lesser Saru, are recently attributed to the Ismailis. Mu'minabad/Mo'menabad Castle (), locally known as Kal Hasab Sabbah Castle () Quhistan near Taghandik, Darmian County Dara, Darah, Duruh Castle Quhistan, near Sistan's border Doreh, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan A dependency of the Mo'menabad Castle. Citadel of Takrit () in ruins Tikrit, Iraq One of the few "open" Ismaili stronghold. Kuh Qaen castle (), Qal'eh Kuh of Qaen (), Husayn Qa'ini Castle () Qaen, Quhistan Kuh Zardan Castle () in ruins Quhistan Zardan, Zirkuh Furg Castle (), Furk Castle () rebuilt Quhistan Darmian County Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows () in ruins south of Tun, Quhistan Ferdows County The biggest fortress of Quhistan, per Tarikh-i Jahangushay. Burned by the invading Mongols. Connected to the Ghal'eh Kuh of Hasanabad. Ghal'eh Kuh of Hasanabad (), Ghal'eh Dokhtar () in ruins north-west of Tun, Quhistan Ferdows County Connected to the Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows. Khalanjan Castle (), Khulanjan Castle (), Bazi Castle () destroyed Khulanjan town, south of Isfahan (the exact location of the town is uncertain) Isfahan Province Anjudan () Anjudan Anjudan, Markazi Province Sa’adat-kuh () Rudbar Mubarak-kuh () Firuzkuh castle () () in ruins Rayy Tehran Province A concentric castle Shah-Dizh (), Shahdez (), Dizkuh (), Dizhkuh () in ruins near Isfahan on Nehbandan hill, Isfahan Peacefully captured and refortified by Ahmad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Attash, recaptured and destroyed by the Seljuqs Kafer Ghal'eh (Sangsar) () :fa:File:Mahdishahr_Kafar_Ghal%27e.JPG Mehdishahr County, Semnan Province Hesaruiyeh () Ghal'eh Dokhtar of Shurab () Quhistan Gonabad County, South Khorasan Province Shir Qal'eh () near Shahmirzad, Semnan Province Gahur Castle (), Boz Qal'eh () in ruins Eshtehard County, Alborz Province Qal'eh Qela' of Mud () Quhistan near Mud, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan Province Chimarud Castle () Anbuh, Gilan Province Kalisham Castle () Kalisham, Gilan Province Rostam Castle of Khusf (), Qal'eh Dokhtar (Khusf) () Quhistan Ganj village, Khusf County Labrud Castle () Qumis Ahvanu, Semnan Province Arzang Castle () near Pashand in Savojbolagh County, Alborz Province Kolim Fortress (), Kolim Castle () Kolim, Poshtkuh Rural District (Semnan Province) Mahtabi Fortress () Arrajan Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province Gabaran castle () near Hiv, Savojbolagh County Forud castle () Kalat, Gonabad Arzhang Castle ( or ) Talaqan Minavand, Alborz Province Mansur Castle () Talaqan Markuh Castle (), Marku Castle () Ramsar County Qal'eh Qela' of Sarayan () Quhistan Masabi Rural District Qal'eh Qela' of Nowzad () Quhistan Darmian County Bamrud Castle () Quhistan Bamrud, South Khorasan Province Espahabdan Castle () Espahabdan Qal'eh Dokhtar () Kuhsorkh CountyRazavi Khorasan Province Qal'at al-Jiss () Arrajan Qal'at Halādhān, Dez Kelat () Arrajan Qal'at al-Nazir () Arrajan "Mor" Uncertain Based on the Ginanic accounts, Mor was a fortress and the place of residence of the Imam who was living in concealment. Qal'eh-Dokhtar of Boshruyeh () Quhistan Boshruyeh County Shahanshah fortress () Near the town of Nih Purchased from the Nasrid official of Sistan, Nasir al-Din Uthman.

Syria

The strongholds in Jabal Bahra' were known as the "Castles of the da'wa" ( qilāʿ al-daʿwah).

+ Ismaili castles in Syria Name Arabic name / Alternative spellings Location Condition Image Coordinates Notes Qal'at Balis (Barbalissos) on the Aleppo-Baghdad road Ceded by Alp Arslan al-Akhras to Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh, commanded by Ibrahim al-Ajami. It was soon abandoned. Baniyas (Nimrod Fortress) Banias, Southern Syria (modern-day Israel) Given by Toghtekin to Bahram al-Da'iGibb, N. A. R., Editor (1932),The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades. Extracted and translated from the Chronicle of ibn al-Qalānisi, Luzac & Company, London, pp.174-177, 179-180, 187-191 Masyaf Castle Hama Partially restored The most famous Syrian Ismaili castle. Abu Qubays Hama Partially ruined Purchased from Iftikhar al-Dawla, the Fatimid governor of Jerusalem. Qalaat al-Madiq , Qal'at al-Mudiq Hama Residential area Briefly captured by Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh. Aleika Castle , Uleyqa Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') A concentric castle Al-Qadmus Castle , Al-Qadmous; Kadmus Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') Ruined Purchased from Muslim forces. Al-Kahf Castle Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') Partially ruined Probably the main residence of Rashid al-Din Sinan. He died in the castle in 1192. Ismailis had purchased the castle from Muslims in 1138. Khariba Castle Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') Captured by local Nizaris in 1136–1137 from the Franks. Khawabi Castle Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') Residential area Conquered by Baibars in 1273. Rusafa Castle Hama (in Jabal Bahra') Partially ruined Rebuilt by Sinan. Conquered by Baibars in 1271. Qulay'ah Castle Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') Sarmin Castle Idlib Maniqa Castle Latakia (in Jabal Bahra') Dated back to the Roman era, it was also known as "Malikas" or "Malghanes" during the Crusader rule. Shaizar Castle Hama (in Jabal Bahra') In ruins Briefly occupied by the Assassins

See also Nizari Ismaili state History of Nizari Ismailism List of castles in Iran List of castles in Syria List of Crusader castles Baltit Fort, used by Ismailis of the Hunza princely state in Pakistan Muhammad I Tapar's anti-Nizari campaign Mongol campaign against the Nizaris

References

Bibliography

«دانشنامهٔ تاریخ معماری و شهرسازی ایران‌شهر» ، وزارت راه و شهرسازی (in Persian)

Further reading

External links

"Nizari Ismaili Concept of Castles" , The Institute of Ismaili Studies