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Byzantine Empire

2015-01-10T17:22:11Z

108.204.76.85: Adding categories

{{Era|ACR|Rbook}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = Byzantine Empire
|image = 500px-Palaiologos_Dynasty_emblem.svg.png
|founder = {{Wiki|Constantine the Great|Constantine I}}
|leader = Emperor
|headquarters = [[Constantinople]]
|related = [[Roman Empire]]
|religion = {{Wiki|Religion in ancient Rome|Roman Paganism}} (until 391)<br>{{Wiki|Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christianity}} (313 onward)
|formed = 330
|collapsed = 1453
|notable = [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]]<br>[[Manuel Palaiologos]]}}
The '''Byzantine Empire''', known contemporaneously as the '''(Eastern) Roman Empire''', was the predominantly Greek or Hellenized continuation of the [[Roman Empire]] during {{Wiki|Late Antiquity}} and the {{Wiki|Middle Ages}}.

The Byzantine capital, [[Constantinople]], was eventually conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]] and fell into Ottoman control, following which it was renamed Istanbul; until its collapse, the Byzantine Empire had been established for 1123 years.

==History==
===Templar infiltration===
During the early 16th century, after the [[Templars]] were driven from [[Italy]] by the [[Assassins]], the members of the Templar Order were able to seize control of the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. Now in command, the Templars set up their primary headquarters at [[Derinkuyu]] in Cappadocia, where the Byzantines' ultimate aim was to uproot the Ottoman Empire and retake control of Constantinople. For a time, however, they remained relatively quiet.

===Masyaf===
By 1509, the Templars were aware of the five [[Memory Seals|seals]] of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]]. In this year, after an earthquake shook Constantinople, the Templars discovered one of the seals under [[Topkapı Palace]], as the entrance to the seal's chamber had been opened by the seismic activity.

Following this discovery, the Byzantine Templars became more active and militant in their desire to retake Constantinople and find the remaining four seals. Shortly afterwards, this seal passed into the possession of the de facto Byzantine Emperor – the Templar in charge of the hunt for the seals – [[Manuel Palaiologos]].

[[File:The Wounded Eagle 3.png|250px|left|thumb|Leandros instructing Byzantine soldiers]]
By the beginning of 1511, a Byzantine Templar captain named [[Leandros]] had occupied the region surrounding Masyaf, where the [[library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] was located, though by May 1511, the region had been cleansed of Templars by the [[Mentor]] of the [[Italian Assassins]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who was visiting Masyaf to learn more of the Assassin Order.

By this time, the Templars were searching the [[Forum of the Ox]] and the [[Yerebatan Cistern]] in Constantinople for seals, though they were beaten to both of these seals by Ezio.

===Constantinople===
[[File:Cistern_2.png|thumb|250px|Two Byzantines in the Yerebatan Cistern]]
As the Templars plotted to overthrow the Ottomans, many Byzantine soldiers were present in Constantinople by mid-1511. These soldiers rivaled the [[Turkish Assassins|Constantinople Assassins Guild]], and by the month of May, they had seized all of the [[Assassin Dens]] for themselves aside from two, with them being one in [[Galata District|Galata]], and one in the [[Imperial District]], near the [[Grand Bazaar]].

Shortly after Ezio's arrival in the city, the Templars launched an attack on both of the remaining dens, and though they were routed at Galata, they managed to take the den at the Grand Bazaar. However, this would prove to be a temporary victory, as the Assassins retook the den shortly after. Over the 11 months that Ezio spent in the city, he managed to retake the dens one by one and severely weaken the Templars, until March 1512.

Following this, Ezio left for Cappadocia in search of Palaiologos, who possessed the last seal. Ultimately, Ezio killed Manuel and claimed the seal for himself, though, as he was about to leave, he noticed the Ottoman prince [[Ahmet]] on a ship with Byzantines, who revealed that he was the true mastermind behind the Masyaf expedition.

===Cappadocia===
[[File:The_Spy_3.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio eavesdropping on Manuel and Shahkulu]]
During the early 16th century, the Templars set up their headquarters in Cappadocia, after being driven from their previous base in [[Rome]] by the Assassins. There, the Templars set up prisons and instated themselves as the rulers of the city, filling the streets with Byzantine soldiers.

Palaiologos resided in Cappadocia for some time after his family lost their hold on the Byzantine throne. He, along with his bodyguard and fellow Templar, [[Shahkulu]], governed much of the city and held power within its walls until Ezio's arrival.

==Trivia==
*The frequently spoken name 'Byzantine' is an anachronism, as this name was given to the Eastern Roman Empire by later historians, in order to distinguish between it and ancient Rome. As such, the Byzantines would have referred to themselves as "Romans", "Greeks" and/or "Hellenes" (''Romaioi'', ''Graikoi'' and ''Ellines'' in Greek respectively) since they were the political continuation of the Roman Empire in the east, as well as the direct heirs and guardians of Hellenic civilization. Despite the word Byzantine first being used roughly 30 years after the events of ''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'', and widespread use of the word not occurring until the 19th century, Manuel Palaiologos and many other characters still use the term, likely for the sake of audience recognition.
*Once Ezio had liberated all of the [[Assassin Dens|Templar Dens]] and completed the [[Master Assassin]] memories, Byzantine soldiers would rarely be encountered in Constantinople, aside from a few lingering patrols in the [[Constantine District]], the bodyguards of Templar officials once [[Social Stealth#Notoriety|notoriety]] was high enough, and patrols of Byzantines that would occasionally appear and ambush him (usually consisting of two or three militia and a [[Varangians|Varangian]]).

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACR Soldier Art HD.png|Concept art of a Byzantine soldier
Byzantine Gunman Artwork.jpg|Concept art of a Byzantine Gunman
Byzantine Leader Artwork.jpg|Concept art of a Varangian
Manuel Palaiologos.png|Manuel Palaiologos, heir to the Byzantine throne
Leandrosrenderhd.png|Leandros
Guard-byzantine-ACR.png|Byzantine Militia
Guard-varangian-ACR.png|Byzantine Varangian
Guard-almogavar-ACR.png|Byzantine Almogavar
ACR Byzantine Bombman render.png|Byzantine Bombman
ACR Byzantine Gunman render.png|Byzantine Gunman
</gallery>

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
{{ACR}}
[[Category:Former empires]]
[[Category:Templars]]

Category:Byzantines

2015-01-10T17:20:12Z

108.204.76.85: Adding categories

People of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] nationality.
[[Category:Greeks]]
[[Category:Templars]]

Shahkulu

2015-01-10T17:19:52Z

108.204.76.85: Adding categories

{{Era|ACR|Templars}}
{{WP-REAL|Şahkulu}}
{{Dialogue|Manuel Palaiologos|Ah! What the hell is that smell?|Shahkulu|Apologies, Manuel. Some of these Ottoman prisoners are so... fragile.|Shahkulu, revealing his cruelty.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = Shahkulu render.png
|death = March 1512<br>[[Derinkuyu]], {{Wiki|Cappadocia}}, [[Ottoman Empire]]
|affiliates = [[Templars]]<br>[[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
|voice = [[Tony Calabretta]]}}
'''Shahkulu''' (unknown – 1512) was a {{Wiki|Oghuz Turks|Turkmen}} renegade, who became an orphan after an Ottoman attack on his tribe. Homeless, Shahkulu joined the [[Templars|Templar Order]], and dedicated his life to his new cause.

By 1511, he had become the leader of the {{Wiki|Şahkulu Rebellion|Shahkulu rebellion}} – a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in {{Wiki|Anatolia}}, directed against the [[Ottoman Empire]].

In 2012, his [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]] were used as an Animi Avatar by the Templar company [[Abstergo Industries]], in the [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations|second stage]] of training for their [[Animus]] recruits, under the title of the [[Renegade]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
As a child, Shahkulu was born into a Turkmen tribe in eastern Anatolia, which was oppressed by the Ottoman Empire, as it was on the edge of its boundaries. Later on in his life, an Ottoman ambush on his tribe left him orphaned and alone. Seeking revenge and a sense of belonging, Shahkulu joined the Templar Order.

Over time, Shahkulu grew to hate the Ottoman Turks for what they had done to his people, as well any who opposed the Templar ideology, and made it his personal mission to eliminate any that stood in his Order's way.

===Partnership with Manuel===
{{Quote|When the Palaiologos line is restored, Manuel, do not forget who helped you bring it back.|Shahkulu to Manuel Palaiologos.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
Shahkulu eventually became a feared Templar, and circa 1511, he formed a partnership with a fellow Templar, and heir to the fallen [[Byzantine Empire]], [[Manuel Palaiologos]]. Shahkulu aided Manuel in his attempt to restore the Byzantine remnants to their former strength, partly because he believed Manuel would reward him if the Empire was successfully restored.

By mid 1511, Shahkulu and Manuel met with [[Janissaries|Janissary]] Captain [[Tarik Barleti]] in [[Constantinople]], in order to gain access to the [[Harbor of Theodosius|Arsenal]] and check on a shipment of weapons Tarik had promised their forces. While inspecting the [[firearms]], Shahkulu reminded Manuel that he had assisted him in restoring his army, and that he should not be forgotten. Nodding, Manuel assured him that he would remember the debt he owed Shahkulu.

===Death===
{{Quote|Shahkulu, try to moderate your anger. I know the Sultan humiliated your people. But there is no need to spit on men who are beneath us.|Manuel, regarding Shahkulu's brutal actions.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:The Spy 3.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio eavesdropping on Manuel and Shahkulu]]
In 1512, Shahkulu retreated to the Templar headquarters in [[Derinkuyu]], Cappadocia. There, several of Tarik Barleti's spies were captured, and, as they were Ottoman Turks, Shahkulu personally killed many of them by savagely beating them to death. After a meeting with Manuel, who had reprimanded the renegade on his treatment of the Ottoman spies, Shahkulu demanded that his men bring the remaining ones to the chapel, where he intended to publicly torture and execute them.

As one of the [[guards]] replied that he did not have the key, Shahkulu angrily ordered him to find it. However, unknown to him, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] had being spying on the entire meeting, and, after learning the location of the key, set off to retrieve it before them. Shortly afterwards, a crowd gathered at the chapel where Shahkulu was to perform his public killings.

[[File:Renegade 7.png|thumb|250px|Ezio assassinating Shahkulu]]
Shahkulu took his place in the open courtyard, and began beating a spy named [[Janos]] to death. However, having been led to the chapel by Janos' fellow spy, [[Dilara]], Ezio climbed onto a cross above Shahkulu, and attempted to assassinate the renegade with his [[Hidden Blade]].

Believing him to be dead, Ezio told Shahkulu that he deserved no pity for the pleasure he derived from sadism. However, Shahkulu's armor had saved him from the killing blow, and he reached up suddenly to strangle Ezio. To stop him, the Assassin stabbed Shahkulu in the chest with his [[Hookblade]], yet he threw Ezio aside, prompting a duel between the two. Despite the presence of several Byzantine troops aiding him, Shahkulu was eventually defeated and killed.

==Trivia==
*Shahkulu was based upon the historical {{Wiki|Şahkulu}}, who died in 1511.
*Shahkulu was the third target to resist Ezio's last rites, with the others being [[Rodrigo Borgia]] during Ezio's [[Confrontation in the Vatican|first attempt]] on his life in 1499, and [[Cesare Borgia]] in 1507.
*Shahkulu can be translated as "servant of the Shah".
*Shahkulu is one of four assassination targets in the ''Assassin's Creed'' series to be stabbed with the Hidden Blade while in the [[Memory Corridor]], the others being [[Majd Addin]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', [[Checco Orsi]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and [[Edward Braddock]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACR Shahkulu conversation.png|Shahkulu speaking to Manuel Palaiologos
Arsenal Infiltration 3.png|Shahkulu reminding Manuel of his service
Renegade 3.png|Shahkulu at an execution
Renegade 6.png|Shahkulu strangling Ezio
Shahkulu-dead.png|Shahkulu's body
</gallery>

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
{{ACR}}
[[Category:1512 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Turkmen]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Byzantines]]

Talk:Il Carnefice

2014-12-30T17:26:21Z

108.204.76.85: Templar Membership

I never saw any evidence the executioner was a Templar himself. I thought he was just a useful thug Cesare kept around to scare people. I mean, most of the guards aren't Templars, why is this guy?