British Brotherhood of Assassins

2017-07-29T13:00:57Z

177.86.106.125:

{{Era|AC3|AC4|ACRG|ACS|DYL|3book|4book|UW|Assassins}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{Revamp}}
{{Faction Infobox
|image =British Assassin Insignia (1).png
|headquarters = [[London]]<br>[[Crawley]]
|locations =
|related = [[Assassins]]<br>[[Rooks]]<br>First International<br>[[Metropolitan Police Service]]<br>[[British Empire]] <small>([[World War I|WW1]]/[[World War II|WW2]])</small>
|religion =
|hideh = yes
|notable = [[Robert Fitzwalter]]<br>[[William of Cassingham]]<br>[[Michel Reuge]]<br>[[Edward Kenway]]<br>[[Moina Mathers]]<br>[[Miko]]<br>[[Duncan Walpole]]<br>[[Ethan Frye]]<br>[[Jacob Frye]]<br>[[Evie Frye]]<br>[[Jack the Ripper]]<br>[[Lydia Frye]]<br>[[George Westhouse]]}}
The '''British Brotherhood of Assassins''' is a [[Assassin Guilds|Guild]] of [[Assassins]] based in the [[United Kingdom|British Isles]] which has existed since at least the early 13th century.

==History==
===First Barons' War===
The earliest known actions of the British Branch was its support of the French-supported baronial uprising against the King during the [[First Barons' War]] from 1215 to 1217. Led by [[Robert Fitzwalter]], the Assassins were determined to end the despotic rule of King [[John, King of England|John]], who they knew was nothing but a pawn of his Templar advisors.<ref name="ACM">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''</ref>

However, the [[Master Assassin]] [[William of Cassingham]], operating independently from the Brotherhood, led a guerrilla force supporting the King, firstly because he refused to side with the French but mainly because he was a staunch supporter of John's son, Prince Henry.<ref name="ACM"/>

===Contact with the Caribbean branch===
The Order still existed in the early 18th Century and had a [[Mentor]] within the ranks as well as various other senior members. Around 1700, an Assassin sailor introduced [[Duncan Walpole]] into the Brotherhood. Duncan eventually became a Master Assassin, though his immoderate temper and arrogance was seen as a liability to most of the Order. This lack of loyalty led to Duncan defecting to the Templar cause and began corresponding with [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]].<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref>

In 1714, Duncan was tasked with meeting [[Ah Tabai]], Mentor of the [[Caribbean Assassins|Caribbean Brotherhood]]. After learning the locations of the Assassins' headquarters in the [[Caribbean|West Indies]], Duncan sailed aboard [[HMS Intrigue|HMS ''Intrigue'']], with the hope of joining the Templar Order. His plan began to unravel after HMS ''Intrigue'' attacked the ''[[Jacobite]]'', shipwrecking Duncan and a [[Piracy|pirate]] named [[Edward Kenway]], who ultimately killed Duncan at [[Cape Bonavista]].<ref name="AC4"/>

In 1722, Edward, who had become affiliated with the Caribbean Assassins, eventually joined the British Brotherhood after sailing to [[London]]. He quickly ascended to the rank of Master Assassin and, alongside [[Miko]], effectively became a co-leader of the branch. Together, the two managed to bring great stability to the Brotherhood, creating vast connections throughout London ranging from the noble high society to the criminal underworld. This further expanded their forces and presence and thus managed to diminish the Templar threat in the country. Outside of London, Miko began searching all over [[Europe]] for the [[Pieces of Eden]] whilst making connections and providing his aid to the various regional branches.<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref>

Over the following years, Edward continued his research, utilizing his commercial activities to locate [[Isu|First Civilization]] sites across the globe; he discovered numerous [[Temples]] located in [[Italy]] and [[Alamut]], as well as the hidden [[library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] at [[Masyaf]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> Additionally, Kenway attempted to discover the location of the [[Grand Temple]] and thus recorded his research into his [[Edward Kenway's journal|personal journal]].<ref name="Forsaken">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''</ref>

At some point during his travels, Edward discovered the [[Shroud of Eden 2|Shroud of Eden]], a powerful Precursor artifact capable of healing fatal injuries. Upon learning of its power, Edward elected to keep the artifact hidden and thus concealed the artifact in a case constructed by the First Civilization which would be accessible only to a key of the same design. In order to ensure its secrecy, Edward stored the artifact underneath the [[Tower of London]] and placed the key within a secret room above the dome of [[St. Paul's Cathedral]].<ref name="ACS"/>

Additionally, Edward donated his [[Ships|ship]], the ''[[Jackdaw]]'', to the Brotherhood, expanding their forces out to the open sea. He kept the vessel's wheel for a hidden compartment in his [[Kenway Mansion|manor]] which inside held a Precursor artifact designed to open the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as the detailed history of the London Assassins. Edward raised his son [[Haytham Kenway|Haytham]] to become an Assassin from an early age.<ref name="ACS"/>

In 1723, Edward became acquainted with [[Reginald Birch]] who, unbeknownst to him, was a member of the [[British Rite of the Templar Order]]. Birch planned to acquire Edward's journal, with a view to locating the Grand Temple himself. Birch succeeded in this endeavor in 1735, when a group of mercenaries hired by Birch killed Edward and obtained his journal.<ref name="Forsaken"/>

===Struggling against the Templars===
During the mid-18th century, the British Brotherhood was at a disadvantage with their limited manpower and resources, and struggled to combat against their Templar counterparts.{{Fact}} After the death of Kenway, Miko attempted to lead the Brotherhood to his best efforts. At some point Miko became acquainted with [[Achilles Davenport]], Mentor of the newly established [[Colonial Assassins|Colonial Brotherhood]]. In 1751, Miko informed him that Reginald Birch had begun searching the world for various Pieces of Eden that would defiantly aid the British Templars in their search for the Grand Temple. More importantly, they feared that Birch would send his deadliest agent, Haytham Kenway, to the colonies. With this message, Miko was sent on an assignment in [[Corsica]], but not before promising to contact Achilles as soon as possible.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>

By 1753, Miko had arrived in Corsica and was assigned to protect [[Lucio Albertine]], a codebreaker and ally to the Order. However, with Corsica in the midst of a revolution, the two resided in an encampment along with several rebels fighting for independence against [[Genoa]]. One June night, their camp was attacked; while Miko fought against the Genoese soldiers, Lucio attempted to escape, only to be kidnapped by Haytham Kenway. With haste, Miko caught up and engaged Kenway in battle. Despite a valiant attempt, Haytham managed to fend Miko off. After climbing a rope, Miko was forced to end his pursuit of the Templar, for fear of falling to his death. Before he ended the chase, Miko promised Haytham that the two would encounter each other again, but only one would survive.<ref name="Forsaken"/>

At some point after returning to London, Miko was entrusted with the [[Grand Temple Key]]. In 1754, Miko, accompanied by his [[Duncan Little|nephew]], attended a performance of ''The Beggar's Opera'' in the [[Theatre Royal]]. During the play, Haytham navigated through the theatre and assassinated Miko, taking possession of the key.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

Following Miko's death, the Brotherhood tasked [[Louis Mills]] with pursuing Haytham and eliminating him. To execute his plan, Mills boarded the ''[[Providence]]'' posing as one of its crew members, and secretly threw marked cargo overboard each night, leaving a trail for the Assassin vessel, the ''[[Aquila]]'', to pursue the ''Providence''.<ref name="AC3"/>

The plan failed, however, as Haytham managed to kill Louis in a duel. Shortly after, the ''Aquila'' appeared in pursuit of the ''Providence'', lured by Mills' trail of cargo. Haytham persuaded [[Samuel Smythe]], the captain of the ''Providence'', to sail through a brewing storm in order to lose the pursuers. During the storm, the ''Aquila'' was heavily damaged and forced to abandon the pursuit.<ref name="AC3"/> Following this, the London Brotherhood began to largely diminish in numbers until their presence was almost completely eradicated from London by the growing British Templars who managed to seize control of the country, and began to serve as a centuries-long decline of the Assassin Order.<ref name="ACS"/>

===Industrial Revolution===
During the 19th century, the British Brotherhood was led by an [[Assassin Council]], forming a more structured and ordered branch that attempted to solve matters in a more methodical approach. [[Ethan Frye]] joined the Brotherhood alongside his wife [[Cecily Frye|Cecily]]; the pair became high ranking members who undertook missions for the Brotherhood operating in [[Crawley]]. Some point later, Ethan rescued a local mill worker, [[George Westhouse]], from robbers near a riverbank. Grateful for his aid, George subsequently joined the Brotherhood with Ethan and Cecily acting as his mentors, tutoring him in methods of the Assassins.<ref name="ACS"/>

[[Jayadeep Mir|Henry Green]] was assigned as the leader of the weakened Assassins stationed in London where he became acquainted with George Westhouse. During this time, Henry was able to make several connections throughout London, gaining resourceful information and considerable allies. Among his allies were [[Alexander Graham Bell]], an inventor whose ingenuity aided the Brotherhood and [[Frederick Abberline]], Chief Inspector of the London [[Metropolitan Police Service]] whose aid became beneficial for keeping the Assassins' activities secret from the populace.<ref name="ACS"/>

The Templars were led by [[Crawford Starrick]], who held a stranglehold on London's industry, gangs, boroughs and social classes. Green petitioned the Council for aid but was declined, as the Council felt that Starrick's empire was too powerful to defeat, and any Assassin who felt otherwise were encouraged not to intervene. In 1868, the twins [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye]], who were born into the Brotherhood, decided to defy the Council and moved to London. While there, the two worked to eliminate the oppressive Templar presence. Jacob created a gang called the [[Rooks]] to combat the Templar-controlled [[Blighters]].<ref name="ACS"/>

However, the Frye twins had diverging goals; Jacob simply wanted to kill Templars, neglecting that their deaths would affect the citizenry, whereas Evie focused all her efforts on locating the [[Shrouds of Eden|Shroud of Eden]]. Ultimately, the twins agreed to work together one last time to stop Starrick from killing the ruling class of London and obtaining the Shroud. Following Starrick's death, the Fryes reconciled their difference and agreed to continue working together.<ref name="ACS"/>

With the defeat of the Templars, the British Brotherhood began to recover and rebuild their ranks. Evie later married Henry Green and moved with him to [[India]] subseqently joining the [[Indian Assassins|Indian Brotherhood]]. Jacob remained behind in London to strengthen the Assassin's presence and thus recruited several initiates into the brotherhood, among them was a young apprentice named '[[Jack the Ripper|Jack the Lad]]' whom Jacob liberated from Lambeth Asylum and was described as 'reckless and roguish'.

Around 1870, Jacob travelled to India visiting his sister and brother-in-law Henry alongside Jack as well as several of his new initates in order to train in the fear tactics of the [[Indian Assassins|Indian brethren]].<ref name="JTR">''Assassin's Creed: Syndicate'' - ''[[Jack the Ripper (DLC)|Jack the Ripper]]''</ref>

===Autumn of Terror===
In 1888, one of Jacob's apprentices, known only by the name [[Jack the Ripper|Jack]], developed an extremist view of the Assassins' mission. Eventually, Jack usurped control of the Rooks from Jacob and killed anyone sent to deter him. Radicalizing his followers, Whitechapel, the center of Jack's operations, descended into a cesspool of crime and depravity. Jacob sent Assassins disguised as prostitutes after Jack, all of which were brutally killed at the hands of Jack, who thereafter began to go by the pseudonym "Jack the Ripper". Jacob was later captured by Jack, but not before the Master Assassin sent a letter summoning Evie back to London. Evie later go on to assassinate Jack's underlings before tracking him down and put an end to the Ripper, saving Jacob in the process. To avoid public exposure of the Brotherhood, Evie requested Inspector Frederick Abberline to cover up the Ripper's death.<ref name="JTR"/>

=== World War I ===
Many British assassins such as [[Sam Crowder]] and an [[Assassin medic (1914)|assassin medic]], enlisted in the army during the war. On the Christmas truce of 1914, the assassin medic treated wounded British soldiers while German artillery hit the British trenches. As the British and German troops fraternized, the medic assisted the German general and member of the [[Templar Order]], [[Erich Albert]], with saving the life of a wounded German soldier. Following this, Albert showed his [[Templar ring|ring]] to the medic. In return, the medic revealed the Assassin brand on his finger, and killed Albert with his Hidden Blade before the Templar could react. In 1916, at the behest of [[Winston Churchill]], the assassin [[Lydia Frye]], Jacob Frye's granddaughter, eliminated a German spy ring operating around [[Tower Bridge]]. The spy ring was led by a Templar Master
Spy, who was killed by Lydia. In exchange for her services, Churchill promised Lydia that he would do what he could for the enfranchisement of women when he had returned to parliament after
the War.

==Techniques==
The members of the British Brotherhood were trained in the methods of [[Blending|stealth]], [[eavesdropping]], marksmanship, [[Fists|hand-to-hand combat]], [[freerunning]] as well as [[pickpocketing]] and [[lockpicking]].

During the 18th century, the two co-leaders Edward Kenway and Miko were known to utilize [[Hidden Blade]]s, [[swords]], [[Firearms|pistol]] alongside the [[Cane-sword|cane-sword]] which over the following years became a significant weapon for the British Brotherhood due to the weapon's concealed usage and efficiently which was passed down through the following centuries.

The British Assassins utilized [[throwing knives]] and cane-swords as well as [[Bombs|smoke bombs]] and Hidden Blades.<ref name="ACS"/>

During the 19th century, the standard Hidden Blade acquired two new insertions. These included a rope launcher and the ability to fire [[Poison darts|hallucinogenic darts]]; firing a dart into an open flame would result in a poisonous gas cloud, allowing the Assassin to eliminate multiple enemies from a distance.<ref name="ACS"/>

While in London, Jacob and Evie Frye were introduced to [[Kukri]]s, [[brass knuckles]], revolvers and voltaic bombs. During the 20th century, [[Lydia Frye]] would continue using some of these weapons.<ref name="ACS"/>

==Members==
'''Middle Ages'''
*[[Robert Fitzwalter]]<ref name="ACM" />
*[[Maria Thorpe]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[William of Cassingham]] {{c|independent}}<ref name="ACM" />

'''Colonial Era'''
*[[Samuel Bellamy]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]''</ref>
*[[Edward Kenway]]<ref name="Forsaken" />
*[[Miko]]<ref name="AC3" />
*[[Louis Mills]]<ref name="AC3" />
*[[Phillip Randall]] {{c|Mentor; c.1714}}
*[[Bernard Ruddock]] {{c|excommunicated}}<ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref>
*[[Duncan Walpole]] {{c|betrayed}}<ref name="AC4" />

'''[[Victorian era]]'''

<div style="float:left; width:48;">
*[[Cecily Frye]]<ref name="ACS"/>
*[[Emmett Frye]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Ethan Frye]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Evie Frye]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Jacob Frye]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Annie Horniman]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations - Discover Your Legacy]]''</ref>
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*[[Jack the Ripper]] {{c|went rogue}}<ref name="JTR" />
*[[Moina Mathers]] {{c|left of own accord}}<ref name="PL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>
*[[Jayadeep Mir]] {{c|[[Indian Brotherhood of Assassins|Indian Brotherhood]]}}<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Mary Ann Nichols (Assassin)|Mary Ann Nichols]]<ref name="JTR" />
*[[Michel Reuge]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[George Westhouse]]<ref name="ACS" />
</div>
{{-}}

'''World Wars'''
*[[Robert Burton]]<ref name="ACC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Conspirations]]''</ref>
*[[Sam Crowder]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Lydia Frye]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Eddie Gorm]]<ref name="ACC"/>
*[[Assassin medic (1914)|Medic]]<ref name="PL" />

'''Modern Times'''
*[[Shaun Hastings]]<ref name="ACS" />

===Allies and puppets===
'''[[Renaissance]]'''
*[[Elizabeth I of England]]
*[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] {{C|[[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Brotherhood]]}}
*[[Henry VII of England]]<ref name="PL" />

'''Colonial Era'''
*[[Lucio Albertine]]<ref name="Forsaken" />
*[[Monica Albertine]]<ref name="Forsaken" />
*[[Robert Walpole]]

'''[[Industrial Revolution]]'''

<div style="float:left; width:48;">
*[[Frederick Abberline]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Alexander Graham Bell]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Nigel Bumble]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Charles Darwin]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Charles Dickens]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Benjamin Disraeli]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Agnes MacBean]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Karl Marx]]<ref name="ACS" />
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*[[Nellie]]<ref name="JTR" />
*[[Florence Nightingale]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Clara O'Dea]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Duleep Singh]]
*[[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom]]<ref name="ACS" />
*[[Ned Wynert]]<ref name="ACS" />
</div>
{{-}}

'''20th Century'''
*[[Winston Churchill]]<ref name="ACS" />

==Trivia==
*In the non-canon modern part of the French comics, the Assassin cell based in London is composed of [[Stella Crow]], [[Jonathan Hawk]], [[Nancy]] and [[Steve]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Assassins nav}}
{{ACIII}}
{{ACIV}}
{{ACRG}}
{{ACS}}
{{ACPL}}
{{ACDYL}}
{{ACM}}
[[Category:Assassin branches]]

Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

British Brotherhood of Assassins