List of the strongholds or dar al-hijra of the Nizari Ismaili state in Persia (Iran) and Syria.

Most of the Persian Ismaili castles were in the Alborz mountains, in the regions of Daylaman (particularly, in Alamut and Rudbar; north of modern-day Qazvin) and Quhistan (south of Khurasan), as well as in Qumis. Most of the Syrian Ismaili castles were in Jabal Bahra' (Syrian Coastal Mountain Range).

According to Juzjani, before the Mongol invasion the Nizaris possessed 70 forts in Quhistan and 35 in Alamut.^[1] Overall, they probably had 250 castles.^[2]

The Ismaili fortresses in Rudbar of Alamut had been built on rocky heights and were equipped to withstand long sieges; they had storehouses with high capacities and elaborate water supply infrastructure such as cisterns, qanats, and canals.^[3]

Persia

Ismaili castles in Persia (Iran)

Name	Image	Condition	Location	Present-day location	Coordinates	Notes
Alamut Castle (قلعه الموت)		destroyed, partially restored	Alamut	Qazvin Province	36°26′40.63″N 50°35′9.58″E / 36.4446194°N 50.5859944°E / 36.4446194; 50.5859944	The capital of the Nizari state.
Atashgah Castle (قلعه آتشگاه)		Ruined	Kashmar	Razavi Khorasan Province	35°18′59″N 58°23′10″E / 35.31639°N 58.38611°E / 35.31639; 58.38611
Lambsar, Lambasar (لمبسر), Lamsar, Lamasar (لمسر), Lanbasar (لنبمسر)		in ruins	Alamut	Qazvin Province	36°32′51″N 50°13′38″E / 36.5476°N 50.2273°E / 36.5476; 50.2273	Captured, refortified, and governed by Kiya Buzurg-Ummid. Probably the largest Nizari castle.
Rudkhan Castle (قلعه رودخان)		rebuilt	Daylam		37°03′52″N 49°14′21″E / 37.064357°N 49.239276°E / 37.064357; 49.239276
Maymun-Diz (میمون‌دز), Meymundezh (میمون‌دژ)	N/A	destroyed and lost	Rudbar	Qazvin Province		Destroyed by the Mongols in 1256.
Semiran castle (قلعه سمیران)		in ruins	Tarem	Qazvin Province
Nevizar Shah Castle (قلعه نویزر شاه), Navisar/Nevisar Shah Castle (قلعه نویسر شاه)			Rudbar	Qazvin Province
Mansur Kuh castle (قلعه منصورکوه),		in ruins	Qumis	Semnan Province		[4]
Mehrnegar Castle (Damghan), Mihrnigar (قلعه مهرنگار), Mihrin/Mehrin Castle (قلعه مهرین)		in ruins	Qumis	Damghan County		[4] Fell at 1253 to the Mongols.
Gerdkuh/Girdkuh (گردکوه), Dezh-i Gunbadan (دژ گنبدان)		in ruins	Qumis	near Damghan	36°09′43″N 54°09′25″E / 36.16194°N 54.15694°E / 36.16194; 54.15694	[4] The last Ismaili castle that surrendered to Mongols.
Ustunawand (استوناوند), Ostanavand (استاناوند), Ostanavand Castle of Naruheh (قلعه استاناوند ناروهه)			Damavand	Garmsar County		[4]
Saru castles (قلعه سارو), Soru		mainly intact	Qumis	near Semnan		Two nearby related castles, Greater Saru and Lesser Saru, are recently attributed to the Ismailis.
Mu'minabad/Mo'menabad Castle (قلعه مؤمن‌آباد), locally known as Kal Hasab Sabbah Castle (قلعه کل حسن صباح)			Quhistan	near Taghandik, Darmian County	32°43′22″N 59°56′29″E / 32.722778°N 59.941389°E / 32.722778; 59.941389
Dara, Darah, Duruh Castle قلعه درح			Quhistan, near Sistan's border	Doreh, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan		A dependency of the Mo'menabad Castle.
Citadel of Takrit (قلعة تكريت)		in ruins		Tikrit, Iraq		One of the few "open" Ismaili stronghold.[5]
Kuh Qaen castle (قلعه قائن), Qal'eh Kuh of Qaen (قلعه کوه قائن), Husayn Qa'ini Castle (قلعه جسین قائنی)			Qaen, Quhistan
Kuh Zardan Castle (قلعه کوه زردان)		in ruins	Quhistan	Zardan, Zirkuh	33°28′58″N 59°39′30″E / 33.482863°N 59.658299°E / 33.482863; 59.658299
Furg Castle (قلعه فورگ), Furk Castle (قلعه فورک)		rebuilt	Quhistan	Darmian County
Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows (قلعه کوه فردوس)		in ruins	south of Tun, Quhistan	Ferdows County	33°32′N 58°05′E / 33.54°N 58.08°E / 33.54; 58.08	The biggest fortress of Quhistan, per Tarikh-i Jahangushay. Burned by the invading Mongols. Connected to the Ghal'eh Kuh of Hasanabad.
Ghal'eh Kuh of Hasanabad (قلعه کوه حسن‌آباد), Ghal'eh Dokhtar (قلعه دختر حسن‌آباد)		in ruins	north-west of Tun, Quhistan	Ferdows County	34°04′21″N 58°05′05″E / 34.072556°N 58.084722°E / 34.072556; 58.084722	Connected to the Ghal'eh Kuh of Ferdows.
Khalanjan Castle (قلعه خالنجان), Khulanjan Castle (قلعه خولنجان), Bazi Castle (قلعه بزی)		destroyed	Khulanjan town, south of Isfahan (the exact location of the town is uncertain)[6]	Isfahan Province
Anjudan (انجدان)			Anjudan	Anjudan, Markazi Province
Sa’adat-kuh (سعادت‌کوه)			Rudbar
Mubarak-kuh (مبارک‌کوه)
Firuzkuh castle (قلعه فیروزکوه) (قلعه فیروزکوه [fa])		in ruins	Rayy	Tehran Province		A concentric castle
Shah-Dizh (شاهدژ), Shahdez (شاهدز), Dizkuh (دژکوه), Dizhkuh (دژکوه)		in ruins	near Isfahan	on Nehbandan hill, Isfahan	32°35′48″N 51°38′38″E / 32.59667°N 51.64389°E / 32.59667; 51.64389	Peacefully captured and refortified by Ahmad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Attash, recaptured and destroyed by the Seljuqs[7]
Kafer Ghal'eh (Sangsar) (کافر قلعه سنگسر)	fa:File:Mahdishahr_Kafar_Ghal'e.JPG			Mehdishahr County, Semnan Province
Hesaruiyeh (حصاروئیه)					30°02′37″N 55°12′59″E / 30.04361°N 55.21639°E / 30.04361; 55.21639
Ghal'eh Dokhtar of Shurab (قلعه دختر شوراب)			Quhistan	Gonabad County, South Khorasan Province
Shir Qal'eh (شیرقلعه)				near Shahmirzad, Semnan Province
Gahur Castle (قلعه گهور), Boz Qal'eh (بز قلعه)		in ruins		Eshtehard County, Alborz Province
Qal'eh Qela' of Mud (قلعه قلاع مود)			Quhistan	near Mud, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan Province
Chimarud Castle (قلعه چیمارود)				Anbuh, Gilan Province
Kalisham Castle (قلعه و پای قلعه کلیشم)				Kalisham, Gilan Province
Rostam Castle of Khusf (قلعه رستم خوسف), Qal'eh Dokhtar (Khusf) (قلعه دختر (خوسف))	[1]		Quhistan	Ganj village, Khusf County
Labrud Castle (قلعه لبرود)			Qumis	Ahvanu, Semnan Province
Arzang Castle (ارزنگ قلعه)				near Pashand in Savojbolagh County, Alborz Province
Kolim Fortress (دژ کلیم), Kolim Castle (قلعه کلیم)				Kolim, Poshtkuh Rural District (Semnan Province)
Mahtabi Fortress (دژمهتابی)			Arrajan	Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province
Gabaran castle (قلعه گبران)				near Hiv, Savojbolagh County
Forud castle (قلعه فرود)				Kalat, Gonabad
Arzhang Castle (قلعه ارژنگ or ارژنگ قلعه)			Talaqan	Minavand, Alborz Province
Mansur Castle (قلعه منصور)			Talaqan
Markuh Castle (قلعه مارکوه), Marku Castle (قلعه مارکو)				Ramsar County
Qal'eh Qela' of Sarayan (قلعه قلاع سرایان)			Quhistan	Masabi Rural District
Qal'eh Qela' of Nowzad (قلعه قلاع نوزاد)			Quhistan	Darmian County
Bamrud Castle (قلعه بمرود)			Quhistan	Bamrud, South Khorasan Province
Espahabdan Castle (قلعه اسپهبدان)				Espahabdan
Qal'eh Dokhtar (قلعه دختر)			Kuhsorkh County	Razavi Khorasan Province
Qal'at al-Jiss (قلعة الجص)			Arrajan
Qal'at Halādhān, Dez Kelat (دز کلات)			Arrajan
Qal'at al-Nazir (قلعة الناظر)			Arrajan
"Mor"			Uncertain			Based on the Ginanic accounts, Mor was a fortress and the place of residence of the Imam who was living in concealment.[1]

Syria

The strongholds in Jabal Bahra' were known as the "Castles of the da'wa" (قلاع الدعوة qilāʿ al-daʿwah).^[8]

Ismaili castles in Syria

Name	Arabic name / Alternative spellings	Location	Condition	Image	Coordinates	Notes
Qal'at Balis (Barbalissos)	قلعة بالس	on the Aleppo-Baghdad road			35°50′11.76″N 38°18′9.36″E / 35.8366000°N 38.3026000°E / 35.8366000; 38.3026000 (Barbalissos)	Ceded by Alp Arslan al-Akhras to Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh, commanded by Ibrahim al-Ajami. It was soon abandoned.[9]
Baniyas (Nimrod Fortress)	قلعة بانياس	Banias, Southern Syria (modern-day Israel)			33°15′10″N 35°42′53″E / 33.25278°N 35.71472°E / 33.25278; 35.71472 (Nimrod Fortress)	Given by Toghtekin to Bahram al-Da'i[10]
Masyaf Castle	قلعة مصياف	Hama	Partially restored		35°03′58″N 36°20′36″E / 35.06611°N 36.34333°E / 35.06611; 36.34333 (Masyaf Castle)	The most famous Syrian Ismaili castle.
Abu Qubays	قلعة أبو قبيس	Hama	Partially ruined		35°14′5.92″N 36°19′50.83″E / 35.2349778°N 36.3307861°E / 35.2349778; 36.3307861	Purchased from Iftikhar al-Dawla, the Fatimid governor of Jerusalem.
Qalaat al-Madiq	قلعة المضيق, Qal'at al-Mudiq	Hama	Residential area		35°25′12″N 36°23′33″E / 35.42000°N 36.39250°E / 35.42000; 36.39250 (Qal'at al-Madiq)	Briefly captured by Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh.
Aleika Castle	قلعة العليقة, Uleyqa	Tartus (in Jabal Bahra')			35°10′37″N 36°7′20″E / 35.17694°N 36.12222°E / 35.17694; 36.12222	A concentric castle
Al-Qadmus Castle	قلعة القدموس, Al-Qadmous; Kadmus	Tartus (in Jabal Bahra')	Ruined		35°06′05″N 36°09′40″E / 35.10139°N 36.16111°E / 35.10139; 36.16111	Purchased from Muslim forces.
Al-Kahf Castle	قلعة الكهف	Tartus (in Jabal Bahra')	Partially ruined		35°02′27″N 36°04′58″E / 35.04083°N 36.08278°E / 35.04083; 36.08278 (Al-Kahf Castle)	Probably the main residence of Rashid al-Din Sinan. He died in the castle in 1192. Ismailis had purchased the castle from Muslims in 1138.
Khariba Castle	قلعة الخريبة	Tartus (in Jabal Bahra')			35°6′16″N 35°58′29″E / 35.10444°N 35.97472°E / 35.10444; 35.97472	Captured by local Nizaris in 1136–1137 from the Franks.[8]
Khawabi Castle	قلعة الخوابي	Tartus (in Jabal Bahra')	Residential area		34°58′22″N 36°00′06″E / 34.97278°N 36.00167°E / 34.97278; 36.00167 (Qala'at Khawabi)	Conquered by Baibars in 1273.
Rusafa Castle	قلعة الرصافة	Hama (in Jabal Bahra')	Partially ruined		35°2′15″N 36°18′00″E / 35.03750°N 36.30000°E / 35.03750; 36.30000 (Qala'at al-Rusafa)	Rebuilt by Sinan. Conquered by Baibars in 1271.
Qulay'ah Castle	قلعة القليعة	Latakia (in Jabal Bahra')			35°19′34″N 36°7′22″E / 35.32611°N 36.12278°E / 35.32611; 36.12278
Sarmin Castle	قلعة سرمين	Idlib			35°54′7″N 36°43′26″E / 35.90194°N 36.72389°E / 35.90194; 36.72389
Maniqa Castle	قلعة المنيقة	Latakia (in Jabal Bahra')			35°14′5″N 36°5′46″E / 35.23472°N 36.09611°E / 35.23472; 36.09611	Dated back to the Roman era, it was also known as "Malikas" or "Malghanes" during the Crusader rule.
Shaizar Castle	قلعة شيزر	Hama (in Jabal Bahra')	In ruins		35°16′04″N 36°34′00″E / 35.26778°N 36.56667°E / 35.26778; 36.56667	Briefly occupied by the Assassins