THE ASSASSINS. | CHAPTER I. | State of the World in the Seventh Century—Western Empire—Eastern Empire—Persia—Arabia—Mohammed—His probable Motives—Character of his Religion—The Koran | 13 | | CHAPTER II. | Origin of the Khalifat—The first Khalifs—Extent of the Arabian Empire—Schism among the Mohammedans—Soonees and SheÄhs—Sects of the latter—The Keissanee—The Zeidites—The Ghoollat—The Imamee—Sects of the Imamee—Their political Character—The Carmathites—Origin of the Fatimite Khalifs—Secret Society at Cairo—Doctrines taught in it—Its Decline | 24 | | CHAPTER III. | Ali of Rei—His son Hassan Sabah—Hassan sent to study at Nishaboor—Meets there Omar Khiam and Nizam-al-Moolk—Agreement made by them—Hassan introduced by Nizam to Sultan Malek Shah—Obliged to leave the Court—Anecdote of him—His own account of his Conversion—Goes to Egypt—Returns to Persia—Makes himself Master of Alamoot | 43 | | CHAPTER IV. | Description of Alamoot—Fruitless attempts to recover it—Extension of the IsmaÏlite Power—The IsmaÏlites in Syria—Attempt on the Life of Aboo-Hard Issa—Treaty made with Sultan Sanjar—Death of Hassan—His Character | 56 | | CHAPTER V. | Organization of the Society—Names given to the IsmaÏlites—Origin of the name Assassin—Marco Polo's description of the Paradise of the Old Man of the Mountain—Description of it given by Arabian writers—Instances of the obedience of the Fedavee | 66 | | CHAPTER VI. | KeÄh Buzoorg Oomeid—Affairs of the Society in Persia—They acquire the Castle of Banias in Syria—Attempt to betray Damascus to the Crusaders—Murders committed during the reign of KeÄh Buzoorg | 84 | | CHAPTER VII. | KeÄh Mohammed—Murder of the Khalif—Castles gained in Syria—IsmaÏlite Confession of Faith—Mohammed's Son Hassan gives himself out for the promised Imam—His followers punished—Succession of Hassan—He abolishes the Law—Pretends to be descended from the Prophet—Is murdered | 93 | | CHAPTER VIII. | Mohammed II.—Anecdote of the Imam Fakhr-ed-deen—Noor-ed-deen—Conquest of Egypt—Attempt on the Life of Saladin | 102 | | CHAPTER IX. | Sinan the Dai-al Kebir of Syria—Offers to become a Christian—His Ambassador murdered by the Templars—Cardinal de Vitry's Account of the Assassins—Murder of the Marquis of Montferrat—Defence of King Richard | 114 | | CHAPTER X. | Jellal-ed-deen—Restoration of Religion—His Harem makes the Pilgrimage to Mecca—Marries the Princess of Ghilan—Geography of the Country between Roodbar and the Caspian—Persian Romance—Zohak and Feridoon—Kei Kaoos and Roostem—Ferdoosee's Description of Mazanderan—History of the Shah Nameh—Proof of the Antiquity of the Tales contained in it. | 131 | | CHAPTER XI. | Death of Jellal-ed-deen—Character of Ala-ed-deen, his successor—The Sheikh Jemal-ed-deen—The Astronomer Nasir-ed-deen—The Vizir Sheref-al-Moolk—Death of Ala-ed-deen—Succession of Rukn-ed-deen, the last Sheikh-al-Jebal | 148 | | CHAPTER XII. | The Mongols—Hoolagoo sent against the IsmaÏlites—Rukn-ed-deen submits—Capture of Alamoot—Destruction of the Library—Fate of Rukn-ed-deen—Massacre of the IsmaÏlites—St. Louis and the Assassins—Mission for the Conversion of the People of Kuhistan—Conclusion | 156 | THE TEMPLARS. | CHAPTER I. | Introduction—The Crusades—Wrong Ideas respecting their Origin—True Causes of them—Pilgrimage—Pilgrimage of Frotmond—Of the Count of Anjou—Striking Difference between the Christianity of the East and that of the West—Causes of their different Characters—Feudalism—The Extent and Force of this Principle | 169 | | CHAPTER II. | First Hospital at Jerusalem—Church of Santa Maria de Latina—Hospital of St. John—The Hospitallers—Origin of the Templars—Their original Poverty—They acquire Consideration—St. Bernard—His Character of the Templars—The Order approved of and confirmed by the Council of Troyes—Proofs of the Esteem in which they were held | 185 | | CHAPTER III. | Return of the Templars to the East—Exoneration and Refutation of the Charge of a Connection with the IsmaÏlites—Actions of the Templars—Crusade of Louis VII.—Siege of Ascalon—Sale of Nassir-ed-deen—Corruption of the Hospitallers—The Bull, Omne Datum Optimum—Refusal of the Templars to march against Egypt—Murder of the IsmaÏlite Envoy | 199 | | CHAPTER IV. | Heroism of the Templars and Hospitallers—Battle of Hittin—Crusade of Richard of England and Philip of France—Corruption of the Order—Pope Innocent III. writes a Letter of Censure—Frederic II.—Great Slaughter of the Templars—Henry III. of England and
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