New Books in Islamic Studies Steve Tibble, "Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood" (Yale UP, 2025)
Sep 9, 2025
Steve Tibble, a writer focusing on the Crusades, delves into the intriguing world of the Assassins and Templars, two iconic yet opposing groups of the medieval era. He reveals their surprising similarities in strategies and their shared reliance on the concept of death—either through valor or assassination. Tibble discusses how their legacies have permeated modern culture, influencing everything from video games to conspiracy theories. He also explores the complexities of their relationships, highlighting moments of unexpected alliances amid their fierce rivalries.
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Parallel Strategies From Shared Pressures
- Both the Assassins and Templars developed cult-like structures and extreme commitment as adaptive responses to existential threat.
- Similar strategic problems produced parallel solutions despite ideological differences.
Origins Of The Nizari Ismailis
- The Nizari Ismailis arose after a 1094 split and fled to Persia, becoming a small, persecuted sect known later as the Assassins.
- Their secretiveness and inward turn followed intense persecution from Sunni neighbors and other Ismaili factions.
The 'Assassin' Label Is A Pejorative
- The derogatory label 'assassin' (hashashin) was applied by Sunni enemies and likely misrepresents drug use claims.
- Steve Tibble argues the term stuck despite scant evidence of narcotic-driven behavior.
