Realm · approximate borders · 1096–1256

Nizari Ismaili state (Girdkuh)

The Alamut state founded by Hasan-i Sabbah in 1090: a network of castles rather than a contiguous realm. It held the Rudbar valley of Alamut, Quhistan (from 1091), Girdkuh (from 1096) and the Jabal Bahra castles in Syria (acquired from the 1130s; Masyaf 1140/41).

The Mongols took Alamut in 1256; Girdkuh held out to 1270 and the Syrian castles fell to Baybars by 1273. Sources: Wikipedia 'Nizari Ismaili state'.

See Nizari Ismaili state (Girdkuh) on the map in 1096

On the map: 1096–1256
Capital: Alamut

Rulers named in the sources

Hasan-i Sabbah 1090–1124

States of the Middle East, 2400 BCE–1886

Among the smaller states of Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Iran and the South Caucasus were Bronze and Iron Age kingdoms (Ebla, Mari, Yamhad, Kizzuwatna, Arzawa, Ugarit, Aram-Damascus, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Mannaea), the city-kingdoms of Cyprus, Characene, Elymais, Hatra, Kinda and Muhammad's state at Medina; the Caucasian kingdoms and emirates of the 9th–12th centuries (Tbilisi, Lori, Kakheti-Hereti, Syunik, Kars) and the dynasties of the 'Iranian intermezzo' (Sallarids, Rawwadids, Hasanwayhids, Kakuyids, Marwanids, Uqaylids, Mirdasids, Mazyadids, Ikhshidids); the Burids of Damascus, the Nizari Ismaili castles, the atabegs of Azerbaijan, Fars, Luristan and Kerman; the eastern Anatolian beyliks (Saltukids, Mengujekids, Shah-Armens, Artuqids, Eretnids, Kadi Burhan al-Din, Erzincan, Tacettin, Lâdik, Alaiye); the Mamluk pashas of Baghdad; Arabian states from the Sulayhids to the Jabrids, Bani Khalid, Kathiri, Mahra and Lahej; and the South Caucasus khanates of 1747–1828. Few pre-modern sources describe frontiers.