History Extra podcast Assassins vs Templars
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Dec 5, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Steve Tibble, a renowned historian and author specializing in medieval history, dives into the captivating tales of the Assassins and Knights Templar. He explores their origins, revealing the Assassins' unique strategies and their surprising interactions with Crusaders. Tibble sheds light on their fanatical devotion, the myths surrounding their legends, and the reasons for their downfalls. The conversation uncovers the parallels between these two enigmatic groups, showcasing how their stories resonate throughout history.
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Why These Groups Still Captivate
- The Assassins and Templars endure because each generation reinvents their myths to reflect itself.
- Their surprising parallels and interactions reveal more about us than about medieval groups.
Violence As A Survival Strategy
- The Assassins were a persecuted religious minority using targeted murder as survival strategy.
- Small committed units substituted ideological devotion and skill for large armies.
Name Born From Enemy Insult
- ‘Assassin’ was a Sunni slur meaning “hashashin,” implying drug-addled scum rather than a factual description.
- The slur amplified fear and helped the Assassins embrace and weaponize their reputation.
