Nizari–Seljuk conflicts
By the late 11th century, the Shi'a sub-sect of Ismailism (later Nizari Ismailism) had found many adherents in Persia, although the region was occupied by the Sunni Seljuk Empire. The hostile tendencies of the Abbasid–Seljuk order triggered a revolt by Ismailis in Persia under Hassan-i Sabbah. Siege of Maysaf
| Nizari–Seljuk conflicts | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
(Semi)-independent
| (Nizari) Ismailis of Persia and Syria | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| See list | See list | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Outnumbered | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Minimal; many political and military elites were assassinated | Unknown; many in the massacres | ||||||||
| Many were lynched due to suspicion or accusation of being Ismaili or sympathizing with the Ismailis | |||||||||
Due to the increasingly significant socio-economic issues, the decentralization of the Seljuk government leading to inefficient army mobilization, and a unifying factor of religion in the provinces facilitating the swift spread of the revolt, the Seljuks were unable to quickly put down the revolt.
The conflict was characterized by the weaker Nizaris assassinating key opponents and employing impregnable strongholds, and the Seljuks massacring the Ismailis and their sympathizers.
Due to the Seljuks and Nizaris being unable to complete the war quickly, the Nizaris lost their momentum in the war leading to a stalemate on both sides. Combined with the Nizaris confined to heavily defended castles in unfavorable terrain, the Seljuks reluctantly accepted the independence of the Nizari state.