Masyaf (Arabic: مصياف Miṣyāf) Miṣyāf
it's a city in northwestern Syria which before the war had a population of around 22,000 inhabitants who basically were following the alawite and Ismailli shia faiths.
The city is notable for its large medieval castle. It was used by the Nizari Ismailis and their elite Assassins (Hashashin) unit as the headquarters of their territory in the Jabal Ansariyah range.
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The city became popular among The Assassin's Creed fans.
According to its wiki page:
"It once served as a base of operations for the Assassin Order during the High Middle Ages, but fell into disrepair after the Mongol siege of 1257. By the early 16th century, it was, for a time, occupied by Byzantine Templars."
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[November 2008]
