Shadow Alliance: A Chronological History of the Templars and Assassins

Popular culture paints the Knights Templar and the Order of Assassins as immortal enemies locked in an endless shadow war. However, as modern historians like Dr. Steve Tibble demonstrate, the historical record reveals a far more complex, date-driven reality—one marked by diplomatic pragmatism, financial extortion, and shared survival strategies in the medieval Levant.

The Rise of Two Powerhouses (1090–1139)

Both orders emerged in response to the massive geopolitical shifts of the First Crusade, establishing distinct operational doctrines early on:

1090 – Foundation of the Order of Assassins: Hassan-i Sabbah captures the mountain fortress of Alamut in northern Persia, formally establishing the Nizari Ismaili state. Lacking a traditional army, the Assassins rely on fida'iyin (dedicated agents) to carry out targeted political assassinations against enemy leaders.

1119 – Establishment of the Knights Templar: French nobleman Hugues de Payens and eight companions form the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem following the First Crusade (1096–1099).

1129 – Papal Sanction (Council of Troyes): Pope Honorius II grants official Papal approval to the Knights Templar at the Council of Troyes, establishing their monastic rule and clearing the way for international recruitment and wealth accumulation.

1141 – The Assassins Claim Masyaf: The Syrian branch of the Ismaili Assassins captures the strategic fortress of Masyaf, which becomes their primary stronghold in the Levant.

Extortion, Assassinations, and Negotiations (1152–1173)

Despite representing opposing religious camps, the two groups frequently engaged in trade, politics, and extortion throughout the 12th century.

1152 – The Assassination of Raymond II: The Assassins murder Count Raymond II of Tripoli. In response, the Templars launch a punitive campaign into Assassin-controlled territory, seizing surrounding lands and forcing the Syrian Ismailis to pay a heavy annual tribute of 2,000 gold bezants.

1162 – The Rise of the 'Old Man of the Mountain': Rashid al-Din Sinan assumes leadership of the Syrian Assassins. Sinan seeks to maneuver between Crusader states and rising Sunni powers, using selective warfare and diplomatic overtures to preserve his territory.

1173 – The Murdered Peace Envoy: Seeking relief from the annual tribute paid to the Templars, Sinan sends an envoy to King Amalric I of Jerusalem proposing a diplomatic alliance. On the envoy's return journey, a Templar knight named Walter de Mesnil ambushes and kills him to prevent the loss of the Templars' tribute revenue. King Amalric arrests the knight, sparking major political tension between the Crown and the Order.

Parallel Downfalls (1256–1312)

By the mid-13th century, changing global power structures brought swift ends to both organisations.

December 1256 – The Fall of Alamut and Destruction of the Assassins: The Mongol army under Hulagu Khan besieges and captures Alamut. The Persian Assassin state collapses, and Baibars, the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, subsequently dismantles their remaining Syrian fortresses (including Masyaf) between 1270 and 1273.

May 1291 – The Fall of Acre: Mamluk forces capture Acre, the final Crusader stronghold in the Levant. Grand Master Guillaume de Beaujeu dies defending the city, forcing the surviving Templars to retreat to Cyprus and mainland Europe.

October 13, 1307 – The Friday the 13th Arrests: King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the order, launches a coordinated dawn raid, arresting hundreds of French Templars on charges of heresy, blasphemy, and financial misconduct.

March 1312 – Official Dissolution of the Templars: Pope Clement V issues the papal bull Vox in excelso at the Council of Vienne, officially dissolving the Order of the Knights Templar. Grand Master Jacques de Molay is executed at the stake in Paris in March 1314.

The historical interaction between the Templars and the Assassins was not a centuries-long secret war for world domination, but a pragmatic, date-marked reality: two highly disciplined factions navigating the ruthless geopolitical arena of the Crusades.

Historical Sources & Further Reading

• Tibble, Steve. Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood. Yale University Press, 2025.

• Tibble, Steve. Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain. Yale University Press, 2023.

• Barber, Malcolm. The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple. Cambridge University Press, 1994.

• Daftary, Farhad. The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press, 2007.

• Lewis, Bernard. The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam. Basic Books, 2003.