List of Nizari Ismaili strongholds
List of the strongholds (دار الهجرة dār al-hijrah, literally "place of refuge") of the Nizari Ismaili state 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 Nizaris possessed 70 forts in Quhistan and 35 in Alamut.[1] Overall, they probably had 250 castles.[2]
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.[3]
Persia[]
Name | Image | Condition | Location | Present-day location | Coordinates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alamut Castle (قلعه الموت) | destroyed, partially restored | Alamut | Qazvin Province | 36°26′40.63″N 50°35′9.58″E / 36.4446194°N 50.5859944°E | The capital of the Nizari state. | |
Atashgah Castle (قلعه آتشگاه) | Ruined | Kashmar | Razavi Khorasan Province | 35°18′59″N 58°23′10″E / 35.31639°N 58.38611°E | Atashgah Castle is one of the castles of in Iran | |
Lambsar, Lambasar (لمبسر), Lamsar, Lamasar (لمسر), Lanbasar (لنبمسر) | in ruins | Alamut | Qazvin Province | 36°32′51″N 50°13′38″E / 36.5476°N 50.2273°E | Captured, refortified, and governed by Kiya Buzurg-Ummid. Probably the largest Nizari castle. | |
Rudkhan Castle (قلعه رودخان) | rebuilt | Daylam | 37°03′52″N 49°14′21″E / 37.064357°N 49.239276°E | |||
Maymun-Diz (میموندز), Meymundezh (میموندژ) | N/A | destroyed and lost | Rudbar | Qazvin Province | Destroyed by the Mongols in 1256. | |
(قلعه سمیران) | in ruins | Qazvin Province | ||||
(قلعه نویزر شاه), Navisar/Nevisar Shah Castle (قلعه نویسر شاه) | Rudbar | Qazvin Province | ||||
(قلعه منصورکوه), | in ruins | Qumis | Semnan Province | [4] | ||
, Mihrnigar (قلعه مهرنگار), Mihrin/Mehrin Castle (قلعه مهرین) | in ruins | Qumis | Damghan County | [5] Fell at 1253 to the Mongols. | ||
Gerdkuh/Girdkuh (گردکوه), Dezh-i Gunbadan (دژ گنبدان) | in ruins | Qumis | near Damghan | 36°09′43″N 54°09′25″E / 36.16194°N 54.15694°E | [6] The last Ismaili castle that surrendered to Mongols. | |
Ustunawand (استوناوند), (استاناوند), Ostanavand Castle of Naruheh (قلعه استاناوند ناروهه) | Damavand | Garmsar County | [7] | |||
Saru castles (قلعه سارو), Soru | mainly intact | Qumis | near Semnan | Two nearby related castles, Greater Saru and Lesser Saru, are recently attributed to the Ismailis. | ||
Mu'minabad/ (قلعه مؤمنآباد), locally known as Kal Hasab Sabbah Castle (قلعه کل حسن صباح) | Quhistan | near Taghandik, Darmian County | 32°43′22″N 59°56′29″E / 32.722778°N 59.941389°E | |||
Dara, Darah, Duruh Castle قلعه درح | Quhistan, near Sistan's border | Doreh, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan | A dependency of the . | |||
Citadel of Takrit (قلعة تكريت) | in ruins | Tikrit, Iraq | One of the few "open" Ismaili stronghold.[8] | |||
(قلعه قائن), Qal'eh Kuh of Qaen (قلعه کوه قائن), Husayn Qa'ini Castle (قلعه جسین قائنی) | Qaen, Quhistan | |||||
(قلعه کوه زردان) | in ruins | Quhistan | Zardan, Zirkuh | |||
Furg Castle (قلعه فورگ), Furk Castle (قلعه فورک) | rebuilt | Quhistan | Darmian County | |||
Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows (قلعه کوه فردوس) | in ruins | south of Tun, Quhistan | Ferdows County | 33°32′N 58°05′E / 33.54°N 58.08°E | 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 (قلعه کوه حسنآباد), Ghal'eh Dokhtar (قلعه دختر حسنآباد) | in ruins | north-west of Tun, Quhistan | Ferdows County | 34°04′21″N 58°05′05″E / 34.072556°N 58.084722°E | Connected to the Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows. | |
(قلعه خالنجان), Khulanjan Castle (قلعه خولنجان), (قلعه بزی) | destroyed | south of Isfahan | Nehbandan County | |||
Anjudan (انجدان) | Anjudan | Anjudan, Markazi Province | ||||
(سعادتکوه) | Rudbar | |||||
(مبارککوه) | ||||||
(قلعه فیروزکوه) (fa) | in ruins | Rayy | Tehran Province | A concentric castle | ||
Shah-Dizh (شاهدژ), Shahdez (شاهدز), Dizkuh (دژکوه), Dizhkuh (دژکوه) | in ruins | near Isfahan | on Nehbandan hill, Isfahan | 32°35′48″N 51°38′38″E / 32.59667°N 51.64389°E | Peacefully captured and refortified by , recaptured and destroyed by the Seljuqs[9] | |
(کافر قلعه سنگسر) | [1] | Mehdishahr County, Semnan Province | ||||
Hesaruiyeh (حصاروئیه) | 30°02′37″N 55°12′59″E / 30.04361°N 55.21639°E | |||||
(قلعه دختر شوراب) | Quhistan | Gonabad County, South Khorasan Province | ||||
(شیرقلعه) | near Shahmirzad, Semnan Province | |||||
Gahur Castle (قلعه گهور), Boz Qal'eh (بز قلعه) | in ruins | Eshtehard County, Alborz Province | ||||
(قلعه قلاع مود) | Quhistan | near Mud, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan Province | ||||
Chimarud Castle (قلعه چیمارود) | Anbuh, Gilan Province | |||||
Kalisham Castle (قلعه و پای قلعه کلیشم) | Kalisham, Gilan Province | |||||
(قلعه رستم خوسف), (قلعه دختر (خوسف)) | [2] | Quhistan | Ganj village, Khusf County | |||
(قلعه لبرود) | Qumis | Ahvanu, Semnan Province | ||||
(ارزنگ قلعه) | near Pashand in Savojbolagh County, Alborz Province | |||||
(دژ کلیم), (قلعه کلیم) | Kolim, Poshtkuh Rural District (Semnan Province) | |||||
(دژمهتابی) | Arrajan | Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province | ||||
(قلعه گبران) | near Hiv, Savojbolagh County | |||||
(قلعه فرود) | Kalat, Gonabad | |||||
(قلعه ارژنگ or ارژنگ قلعه) | Talaqan | Minavand, Alborz Province | ||||
(قلعه منصور) | Talaqan | |||||
(قلعه مارکوه), (قلعه مارکو) | Ramsar County | |||||
(قلعه قلاع سرایان) | Quhistan | Masabi Rural District | ||||
(قلعه قلاع نوزاد) | Quhistan | Darmian County | ||||
(قلعه بمرود) | Quhistan | Bamrud, South Khorasan Province | ||||
(قلعه اسپهبدان) | Espahabdan | |||||
(قلعه دختر) | Kuhsorkh County | Razavi Khorasan Province | ||||
(قلعة الجص) | Arrajan | |||||
, (دز کلات) | Arrajan | |||||
(قلعة الناظر) | Arrajan | |||||
"Mor"*[10] | Uncertain | Based on the Ginanic accounts, Mor was a fortress and the place of residence of the Imam who was living in concealment.[11] |
Syria[]
The strongholds in Jabal Bahra' were known as the "Castles of the da'wa" (قلاع الدعوة qilāʿ al-daʿwah).[12]
Name | Arabic name / Alternative spellings | Location | Condition | Image | Coordinates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qal'at Balis (Barbalissos) | قلعة بالس | on the Aleppo-Baghdad road | 35°50′11.76″N 38°18′9.36″E / 35.8366000°N 38.3026000°E | Ceded by Alp Arslan al-Akhras to Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh, commanded by Ibrahim al-Ajami. It was soon abandoned.[13] | ||
Baniyas (Nimrod Fortress) | قلعة بانياس | Banias, Southern Syria (modern-day Israel) | 33°15′10″N 35°42′53″E / 33.25278°N 35.71472°E | Given by Toghtekin to Bahram al-Da'i[14] | ||
Masyaf Castle | قلعة مصياف | Hama | Partially restored | 35°03′58″N 36°20′36″E / 35.06611°N 36.34333°E | The most famous Syrian Ismaili castle. | |
Abu Qubays | قلعة أبو قبيس | Hama | Partially ruined | 35°14′5.92″N 36°19′50.83″E / 35.2349778°N 36.3307861°E | Purchased from Iftikhar al-Dawla, the Fatimid governor of Jerusalem. | |
Qalaat al-Madiq | قلعة المضيق, Qal'at al-Mudiq | Hama | Residential area | 35°25′12″N 36°23′33″E / 35.42000°N 36.39250°E | Briefly captured by Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh. | |
Aleika Castle | قلعة العليقة, Uleyqa | Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') | 35°10′37″N 36°7′20″E / 35.17694°N 36.12222°E | A concentric castle | ||
Al-Qadmus Castle | قلعة القدموس, Al-Qadmous; Kadmus | Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') | Ruined | 35°06′05″N 36°09′40″E / 35.10139°N 36.16111°E | Purchased from Muslim forces. | |
Al-Kahf Castle | قلعة الكهف | Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') | Partially ruined | 35°02′27″N 36°04′58″E / 35.04083°N 36.08278°E | 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. | |
Khawabi Castle | قلعة الخوابي | Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') | Residential area | 34°58′22″N 36°00′06″E / 34.97278°N 36.00167°E | Conquered by Baibars in 1273. | |
Rusafa Castle | قلعة الرصافة | Hama (in Jabal Bahra') | Partially ruined | 35°2′15″N 36°18′00″E / 35.03750°N 36.30000°E | Rebuilt by Sinan. Conquered by Baibars in 1271. | |
قلعة القليعة | Latakia (in Jabal Bahra') | 35°19′34″N 36°7′22″E / 35.32611°N 36.12278°E | ||||
قلعة سرمين | Idlib | 35°54′7″N 36°43′26″E / 35.90194°N 36.72389°E | ||||
قلعة المنيقة | Latakia (in Jabal Bahra') | 35°14′5″N 36°5′46″E / 35.23472°N 36.09611°E | Dated back to the Roman era, it was also known as "Malikas" or "Malghanes" during the Crusader rule. | |||
Shaizar Castle | قلعة شيزر | Hama (in Jabal Bahra') | In ruins | 35°16′04″N 36°34′00″E / 35.26778°N 36.56667°E | Briefly occupied by the Assassins | |
قلعة خريبة | Tartus (in Jabal Bahra') | 35°6′16″N 35°58′29″E / 35.10444°N 35.97472°E | Captured by local Nizaris in 1136–1137 from the Franks.[15] |
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[]
- ^ Virani, Shafique N. (2003). "The Eagle Returns: Evidence of Continued Isma?ili Activity at Alamut and in the South Caspian Region Following the Mongol Conquests". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 123 (2): 351–370. doi:10.2307/3217688. ISSN 0003-0279.
- ^ Willey, Peter. Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-85043-464-1.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 320–321
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 320–321
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 320–321
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 320–321
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 321–324
- ^ "DEZKŪH – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ See also (Classical Persian: لانه موری Lāna mōrī), a type of underground fortification.
- ^ Virani, Shafique N. (2003). "The Eagle Returns: Evidence of Continued Isma?ili Activity at Alamut and in the South Caspian Region Following the Mongol Conquests". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 123 (2): 351–370. doi:10.2307/3217688. ISSN 0003-0279.
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 349–350, 352
- ^ Daftary 2007, p. 334
- ^ Gibb, 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
- ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 349–350, 352
- "Nizari Ismaili Castles of Iran and Syria". Institute of Ismaili Studies. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Willey, Peter (2005), Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, Institute of Ismaili Studies, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 9781850434641
- Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines (2nd, revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-46578-6.
- «دانشنامهٔ تاریخ معماری و شهرسازی ایرانشهر»، وزارت راه و شهرسازی (in Persian)
Further reading[]
- Willey, Peter (2001). The Castles of the Assassins. Linden Pub. ISBN 9780941936644.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ismaili castles. |
- "Nizari Ismaili Concept of Castles", The Institute of Ismaili Studies
- Castles of the Nizari Ismaili state
- Nizari Ismaili state
- Lists of castles in the Middle East
- Castles in Syria
- Castles in Iran
- Iran–Syria relations
- Syria history-related lists
- Iran history-related lists
- Isma'ilism-related lists