Firuz Kooh Fortress قلعه فیروزکوه

Town of Firuz Kooh is 150km east of Tehran on Firuz Kooh road which runs through Alborz Mountains to the northern provinces of Mazandaran and Golestan.

Firuz Kooh fortress; at 1900 meters above the sea level is believed to have been built during the Sassanian dynasty (224-651A.D.) and was later renovated and expanded by Ismaili (اسماعیلی) sect, led by Hassan Sabbah (حسن صباح); a patriot who opposed the Saljughi (Seljuk) government that ruled Iran between 11^th to 13^th century.

Ismailis controlled more than 100 fortresses in Iran and a few in Pakistan and Syria. They rarely built any fortresses from scratch; they captured pre-existing fortresses and turned them into strong and impenetrable military complexes.

Ismailis possessed a group of specially trained soldiers called Fadaii (فدائی). They are responsible for some well planed and skillfully executed assassinations of high government officials like Khaje Nezam (خواجه نظام الملک) who was the most powerful and evil minister. Ismaili movement lasted for about 170 years (1090-1258 A.D.), they never did manage to overthrow the Saljughi government and rule the country.

Ismailis and Saljughis were both wiped out by the 3^rd Mongolian invasion led by Holaku Khan .(هلاکو خان) Mongolians destroyed most of the fortresses after Ismailis were defeated.

Clueless officials, careless visitors and treasure hunters also contribute to the destruction of what is left of Ismaili’s fortresses, which is why you find most of them as ruins today.

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