Nizari–Seljuk conflicts
| Nizari–Seljuk conflicts | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
(Semi)-independent
| Nizari Ismaili State of Alamut and Masyaf (Assassins) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| See list | See list | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Weaker | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Minimal but many political and military elites were assassinated | Unknown; many in the massacres | ||||||||
| Many were lynched due to suspicion or accusation of being Ismaili or sympathizing with the Ismailis | |||||||||
By the late 11th century, the ghulat Shi'a sub-sect of Ismailism (later Nizari Ismailism) had found many adherents in Persia, although the region was occupied by the Sunni Seljuk Empire. The hostile tendencies of the Abbasid–Seljuk order triggered a revolt by Ismailis in Persia under Hassan-i Sabbah, starting the so-called Alamut Period.
Due to the increasingly significant socio-economic issues, the decentralization of the Seljuk government leading to inefficient army mobilization, and a unifying factor of religion in the provinces facilitating the swift spread of the revolt and a strong sense of community within Isamilis, the Seljuks were unable to quickly put down the revolt.
The conflict was characterized by the weaker Nizaris employing impregnable strongholds and assassinating key opponents (for which they gained the designation of Assassins), and the Seljuks massacring the Ismailis and their sympathizers.
Due to the Seljuks and Nizaris being unable to complete the war quickly, the Nizaris lost their momentum in the war leading to a stalemate on both sides. Combined with the Nizaris confined to heavily defended castles in unfavorable terrain, the Seljuks reluctantly accepted the independence of the Nizari state.