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Alamut () or Rudbar () is a region in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
including western and eastern parts on the western edge of the Alborz (Elburz) range, between the dry and barren plain of
Qazvin Qazvin (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Qazvin County), Central District of Qazvin County, Qazvin province, Qazvin province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the provi ...
in the south and the densely forested slopes of the Mazandaran province in the north. Starting from
Qazvin Qazvin (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Qazvin County), Central District of Qazvin County, Qazvin province, Qazvin province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the provi ...
toward Alamut, passing through the first range of hills, curvatures, forms, are significant themes in nature's composition of this area. The famous Ismaili castle of Alamut and numerous others are in this area, which served as the heartland of the state founded by Hassan-i Sabbah. According to some sources, the majority of people in northern Qazvin (Alamut) are Tats who speak a dialect of the Tati language.گونه‌های زبانی تاتی، دونالد استیلو، ۱۹۸۱ However, other sources claim that the majority of people in Alamut are Mazanderani or Gilaks who speak a dialect of the Mazanderani language or Gilaki language. According to some linguists, the term ‘Tati’ was used by Turkic speakers to refer to non-turkic speakers. This could explain why some sources claim the people of Alamut are Tats, while others claim they are Mazanderanies or Gilaks. Likely, the ‘Tats’ of Alamut are Mazanderani or Gilak speakers who have been labeled as Tats as historically they were considered Mazanderani or Gilaks.


Name

Alamut (), historically known as Rudbar () or Rudbar of Alamut ( ''Rūdbār-i Alamūt''), named after the Shahrud river. More precisely, Alamut is a small region in the historical Rudbar in which the namesake castle is located.


History

In 1090 CE, Hassan-i Sabbah, the Arab founder and leader of the Assassins, a sect of Nizari Ismailis in Iran, chose the Alamut region as his headquarters to campaign, preach and convert new followers. This proved to be a turning point for the destiny of Alamut Valley. The result of over two centuries of Ismailite stronghold, the region witnessed numerous castles throughout, of which at least 20 "castles" dating back to this era have been identified. The most magnificent castle in the Alamut Valley is the
Alamut Castle Alamut (, meaning "eagle's nest") is a ruined mountain fortress located in the Alamut region in the South Caspian Sea, Caspian, near the village of Gazor Khan in Qazvin Province in Iran, approximately 200 km (130 mi) from present-day Teh ...
, which is built on top of a high rock reaching 2163 m above sea level near the Gazor Khan Village. The rock is 200 m high and covers an area of ; with its steep slope and deep and dangerous ravine, the rock is practically inaccessible and forms a part of the fort’s structure. Currently, only ruins of the fort and some towers are apparent, and it is only through archaeological excavation that the main portions can be discovered.Alamut Castle (Eagle’s Nest): Hassan Sabbah Stronghold
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Lords of Alamut Castle who ruled the Nizārī Ismā'īlī state from Alamūt

Today, the leader of the contemporary Ismaili community is the
Aga Khan Aga Khan (; ; also transliterated as ''Aqa Khan'' and ''Agha Khan'') is a title held by the Imamate in Nizari doctrine, Imām of the Nizari Isma'ilism, Nizari Isma'ilism, Ismāʿīli Shia Islam, Shias. The current holder of the title is the ...
. File:Fall in Hir.jpg, Hir, West Alamut File:OvanLakeAlamut.png, Ovan Lake, East Alamut File:Alamut2.jpg, Alamut fortification in Iran and Ismailites Assassins stronghold


Alamut rulers

* Hassan-i Sabbah * Kia Bozorg Omid * Muḥammad ibn Kiyā Buzurg-Ummīd * Ali al-Hadi ibn Nizar * Al-Muhtadi (Nizari imam) * Al-Qahir (Imam) * Hasan Alâ Zikrihi’s Selâm * Nūr al-Dīn Muḥammad II * Jalaluddin Hasan * ‘Alā’ ad-Dīn Muḥammad III * Ruknu-d-Dīn Khurshāh (The last ruler of the
Alamut Castle Alamut (, meaning "eagle's nest") is a ruined mountain fortress located in the Alamut region in the South Caspian Sea, Caspian, near the village of Gazor Khan in Qazvin Province in Iran, approximately 200 km (130 mi) from present-day Teh ...
)


See also

* Alamut River * List of Ismaili castles * Alamut-e Gharbi District * Alamut-e Sharqi District * Alamut-e Bala Rural District * Alamut-e Pain Rural District * Kıyâmet-i Kûbrâ * '' Alamut'', novel written by Vladimir Bartol in 1938 * Alam-Kuh


References


Further reading

* {{Coord, 36, 26, 41, N, 50, 35, 11, E, display=title