Massif [2] [3] ( Arabic مصياف ) is a city in Syria , in the governorate of Hama . Remarkable large medieval fortress .
| City | |
| Masyaf | |
|---|---|
| Arab. مصياف | |
| A country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Hama |
| History and geography | |
| Center height | 447 m |
| Timezone | UTC + 2 |
| Population | |
| Population | 37,109 [1] people ( 2009 ) |
Content
History
Masyaph was founded by the Byzantines in the Orontes Valley, at the intersection of the Hama - Baniyas and Antioch - Homs trade routes.
In 1103, Masyaf was captured by Raymond IV , Count of Toulouse and Tripoli [4] .
Around 1140, Nisari assassins acquire Masyaph and several more neighboring fortresses from the Crusaders [4] . Masyaf becomes the main fortress of the Assassins in Syria .
In 1157 a strong earthquake occurred in the region, which destroyed the neighboring fortress of Shaizar [5] .
In 1163, Rashid ad-Din Sinan became the head (the “ elder of the mountain ”) of the assassins of Masyaph [6] .
In 1176, Masyaf was unsuccessfully besieged by Saladin .
In September 1193, Rashid ad-Din Sinan , the "elder of the mountain" Masyaf and one of the most important leaders of Nisari assassins, died [7] .
In 1256, the capital of the Assassins, Alamut was taken by the Mongols , and in 1260 Masyaf befell the same fate [8] . In the same year, the Mamluks (with the participation of the Assassins on his side) under the leadership of Sultan Beibars I defeated the Mongols in the battle of Ain Jalut and expelled them from Syria. The assassins managed to return Masyaf, as well as a few more fortresses.
In 1270, Baybars includes Masjaf in the Mamluk state. The last Nizari fortress, Al-Qaf , becomes part of the Mamluk Sultanate in 1273 [6] .
In 1516 Masyaf was captured by the Ottoman Turks . Up to the 19th century, the struggle between the Nizari and Alawites for control over the city continued [4] .
In 1920, part of the state of Alawites under the French mandate.
December 5, 1936 , along with the entire state of Alawites , Masyaf is part of Syria .
Since 2000, the program of support for the historic cities of Aga Khan (HCSP) has been conducting a campaign to preserve the city and the fortress of Masyaf [9] .
Fortress
The fortress has retained most of its walls. It occupies a cliff 10 meters wide. The architecture of the castle contains elements of the Greco-Roman and Byzantine architectures. The gate topped with battlements and the parapet with loopholes are best preserved.
Masyaf in culture
- Masyaf appears in Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed: Revelations video games as an assassin fortress. [ten]
See also
- Assassins
- Alamut
- Alawites
- Hasan ibn Sabbah
- Assassin's Creed (game series)
Notes
- ↑ World Gazetteer: page d'accueil du World Gazetteer
- ↑ Atlas of the World. Asia (foreign countries) - M .: GUGK "Cartography" at the Council of Ministers of the USSR, 1983 - p. 28
- ↑ Dictionary of geographical names of foreign countries . - 3rd ed. reclaiming and additional .. - M .: Nedra, 1986. - 459 p.
- 2 1 2 3 Georges Pillement, Liban, Syrie et Chypre inconnus, Albin Michel , coll. "Les guides Pillement," 1971, p. 268-269
- Â Usâma Ibn Munqidh (trad. André Miquel), Des desseignements de la vie, Imprimerie nationale, coll. "Collection orientale de l'imprimerie nationale", 1983 ( ISBN 2-11-080785-7 ), p. 81
- ↑ 1 2 Janine & Dominique Sourdel, ibidem, p. 550, article Masyaf
- ↑ Anthony Campbell, “ Assassins of Alamut (inaccessible link) ”, 2004
- ↑ Masiaf
- ↑ Aga Khan Development Network
- ↑ assassinscreed.wikia.com
Links
- Masjaf Castle
- Anthony Campbell, " The Assassins of Alamut ", 2004
Literature
- Janine & Dominique Sourdel, Dictionnaire historique de l'islam, PUF, coll. "Quadrige", 2004, 1056 p. ( ISBN 978-2-13-054536-1 ), p. 550, article Masyaf
- Georges Pillement, Liban, Syrie et Chypre inconnus, Albin Michel, coll. "Les guides Pillement," 1971