Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood

Explore the captivating history of two of the medieval world's most extraordinary and mythologized organizations: the Assassins and the Templars. This engaging account by Steve Tibble delves into the origins, strategies, and ultimate destruction of these powerful groups.

Discover how a Shi’ite religious sect and a Christian military order, despite their violent opposition and vastly different reputations, developed strikingly similar survival strategies. Tibble reveals how, outnumbered and surrounded, both the Assassins and the Templars perfected "the promise of death"—whether through a Templar charge or an Assassin’s dagger—making death central to their existence.

This book traces their intertwined stories, highlighting their fanaticism that reshaped the medieval world and continues to influence modern myth and memory, from video games to conspiracy theories.

• Detailed history of the Assassins and the Templars.
• Analysis of their unique survival strategies.
• Exploration of their impact on the medieval world and lasting legacy.

• Author: Steve Tibble
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication Date: September 8, 2026
• Edition: Standard Edition
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Page Extent: 368 pages
• Dimensions: 133 x 24 x 199mm
• Weight: 299g
• ISBN-10: 0300306180
• ISBN-13: 978-0300306187

This book offers a compelling narrative for anyone interested in medieval history, military strategy, and the enduring legends of these iconic medieval organizations.