Hashshashins
What do you know of the 'Hashshashins'?
"Professor Lewis traces the history of the secret Islamic sect known as the Hashshashins that used targeted assassinations throughout the Middle Ages to achieve political, military, and religious goals. The sect is considered heretical in Islam."
Ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Assassins...l_Sect_in_Islam
I always understood that the word "assassin" came from this sect, and came about as a result of frequent use of hashish. However, the wikipedia article points out several other possible sources for the name.
It is fascinating to learn of their role in politics in the 11th through 13th centuries. Apparently, they even forced Saladin to come to some arrangements with them.
Edited: Nighthawk on 18th Mar, 2006 - 6:05pm