Editing Grand Master of the Templar Order

{{Era|Templars}}{{WP-REAL|Grand Masters of the Knights Templar}}
{{Youmay|the highest rank of the Templar Order|[[Grand Master|other uses]] of the title}}

[[File:Templars.png|thumb|250px|The emblem of the Templar Order]]
The title of '''Grand Master''' is one of the highest [[Templar rank|ranks]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. Originally, it was the organization's supreme head, but evolution over the centuries led to this status being superseded by newly-created authorities such as the [[Guardians (Templars)|Guardians]] and the [[Generals of the Cross|General of the Cross]]. Since the establishment of the Order's major branches, the title has designated the Order's [[Templar Rite|Rite]] leaders, each corresponding to a specific geographic region, where they serve as the highest authority.<ref name="ACEG">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]] - Chapter 5''</ref>

During the times of the [[Order of the Ancients]], the rank was known under different names depending on the region, with the [[Iran|Persian]] branch of the Order using the title of [[Ra's Al-Af'a]] (English: ''Head of the Snake'') to designate its leader,<ref name="ACMir">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]''</ref> while the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] branch used the title of [[Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients|Grand Maegester]] instead. The rank was also synonymous with that of "[[Father of Understanding]]", or simply "The Father". This term was adopted from the similarly-named title within the ruling triumvirate of [[Isu]] society, in which the Father of Understanding ruled alongside the [[Mother of Wisdom]] and the [[Sacred Voice]].<ref name="ACV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Poor Fellow-Soldier]]</ref> Having previously borne more public faces, most Grand Masters were better known than their [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Mentor|counterparts]]. However, as the Templars slipped into the shadows following their presumed [[Persecution of the Templars|public defeat]] in the 14th century, their leaders' identities eventually fell from the public consciousness.

By the early 17th century, the Templars were no longer ruled by a single Grand Master or independent leaders but instead by two councils of the Order's most prestigious members, the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] and the [[Council of Elders]]. The Sanctum was in charge of creating a globalized plan for the Order, ensuring the Rites' members' cooperation, and preventing any corruption of the Templar ideals, while the Council maintained an advisory role meant to maintain the Order's integrity according to the Templar Code. While still in charge of their respective and autonomous Rites, the Grand Masters were nevertheless accountable to the Inner Sanctum and their inquisitor, the feared [[Black Cross]]es. Furthermore, the Inner Sanctum was in charge of promoting the Grand Masters, keeping their numbers under strict control.

While it was commonly assumed that all [[Templar leader]]s were drawn from the stock of Western nobility, due to the prominence of the front-organization that was the [[Knights Templar]] during the [[Middle Ages]], the truth was that as the Order developed, diversified, and relocated, many different people of various ethnic backgrounds and cultural heritages had assumed the mantle of Grand Master throughout the Templars' longevity.

==Structure==
===Purposes===
{{Quote|The Order of Ancients argues for a hierarchy that flies in the face of God's purpose. They view men and woman as debased and corrupt, borne of evil intent. Yet they worship men they belive were their makers. Akin to a hammer loving the nail, they cannot see outside of their own hermetic system. They are not wrong to belive that there must be order in the world for peace to flourish. But they are wrong about the source of this order. Man was made in the image of God. God is the source of the universe's order. Therefor man need appeal only to God for guidance. |Alfred The Great on why Templars should lead society instead of the Ancients.|Assassin's Creed Valhalla|Notes from Eivor's travels}}
[[File:ACV The Reeve of Wincestre 8.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Alfred requesting Eivor's help to eliminate the Order in Wincestre]]
During the transition from the [[Order of the Ancients]] to the [[Templars|Templar Order]], the title of [[Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients|Grand Maegester]] of the Ancients was inherited from his older brothers, once [[Æthelred I, King of Wessex|Æthelred I]] died from his wound,<ref name="GSChapter 17">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' — Chapter 17</ref><ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Aelfred]]</ref> Alfred began planning the downfall of the Ancients using the pseudonym of "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ", recruited the [[reeve]] of [[Winchester|Wincestre]] [[Goodwin]] as his personal informant and operated from a study in [[The Old Minster]] as a base of operations.<ref name="Poor Fellow">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Poor Fellow-Soldier]]</ref><ref name="Breaking the Order">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Breaking the Order]]</ref> Once Alfred learned that the [[Assassins|Hidden One]] [[Hytham]] ran his group's operations from [[Ravensthorpe bureau|within]] the Raven Clan's settlement of [[Ravensthorpe]], Alfred used Hytham's affiliation with Eivor to make them unwittingly destroy the Order<ref name="Poor Fellow" /> in the city of [[London|Lunden]],<ref name="Walls and Shadows">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Walls and Shadows]]</ref> [[York|Jorvik]],<ref name="TheWelcomingParty">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Welcoming Party]]</ref> and in Wincestre after [[Palatinus]] [[Fulke]] was able to uncover Alfred's "association" with the Poor Fellow-Soldier, she sought to eliminate Alfred.<ref name="Impaling the Seax">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Impaling the Seax]]</ref>
Fulke contacted three Order members operating in Wincestre – [[Selwyn|The Gallows]], [[Hilda|The Quill]], and [[Ealhferth|The Seax]] – and tasked them to ensure the king was "burned to ash" for his betrayal.<ref name="Impaling the Seax"/>

Following his defeat at Cippanhamm by Vikings, Alfred<ref name="GSChapter 30">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' — Chapter 30</ref> lived in exile as a commoner in the village of [[Athelnay]] in the west of [[Hampshire|Hamtunscire]] and sent a final letter to Hytham that invited Eivor to the village to discuss the secret society.<ref name="The Letter">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Letter]]</ref>
Eivor accepted the invitation and was told of his identity as the Poor Fellow-Soldier, evealing that the person she sought was himself and elaborated on his motives for bringing down the Order.<ref name="Poor Fellow" />
[[File:ACV The Last Chapter Promo 3.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Alfred's final meeting with Eivor]]
Eventually, Alfred returned from exile and rallied another army to defeat Guthrum's force at the [[Battle of Edington]]. This led to the {{Wiki|Treaty of Wedmore}}, which saw Guthrum's conversion to Christianity and departure from Wessex, and the official establishment of [[Danelaw]] in eastern and northern England.<ref name="Wiki"/> Circa 889, Alfred called on Eivor to meet him at the Old Minster in Wincestre, where he disclosed to her that Guthrum had indeed surrendered and sworn a treaty. He then extended her an offer to serve him and Christ as a lord of Mercia and join his rapidly growing Order, but Eivor politely turned him down and returned the cross he had given her years ago.<ref name="Farewell">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – ''[[The Last Chapter]]'' – [[Fare Thee Well, Aelfred Rex]]</ref>

As the first Grand Master of the Templar Order, Alfred created the foundations for the future of the Templar Order, with the purpose being an universal order meant to work towards the betterment of man in God's name.<ref name="Poor Fellow" /> A central value was the establishment of a strict opposition to the Isu paganism of the Ancients, viewing it as a heretical belief that viewed less of humanity and while agreeing on the matter of the need for there being an organization fighting for peace in the world.<ref name="Commentaries">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – ''[[Notes from Eivor's travels]]'' – ''Alfred's Commentaries''</ref> This purpose would remain a central value of the Templar Order to even the modern day, when the then [[Black Cross]], [[Juhani Otso Berg]] began investigating corruption of the modern Templars, discovering the [[Instruments of the First Will]] within the Order, whom worked to reestablish Isu control of society and successfully purged them after collaboration with the Assassins. Much like Alfred's beliefs, the Templars discovered to be Instruments were accused of "blasphemy against humanity".<ref name="ACT">''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]''</ref><ref name="ACUp">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]''</ref><ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – [[The Fate of Atlantis: Fields of Elysium]]'' – Modern day</ref><ref name="ACEG" />

===Training===
{{Quote|It is a requirement when you are raised in the manner that I was. Perception is fundamental to the Order. It guides the feet when running and climbing. Informs the hands when striking and fighting. But most important, it transforms the senses. And we begin to know the world in a different way.|Haytham Kenway discussing his training with Charles Lee, 1754.|Assassin's Creed III|The Surgeon}}
The Templar Order requires that any member trained to become a Grand Master is prepared to make difficult decisions and confident in their own leadership abilities before being promoted. To uphold the Templar belief of killing for efficiency instead of emotional grounds, they are expected to be resourceful to further the Templars' ideals in pursuit of the greater good.<ref name="Forsaken">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''</ref>
[[File:ACU Elise sword training.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Élise de la Serre training with Frederick Weatherall]]
The strongest minds among the Order are meant to bear the responsibility of the peoples' will for freedom and responsibility;<ref name="ACUN">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref> therefore they themselves seek to take the mantle of leadership in society and expect the people to fall in line because, in their view, "[[Human|mankind]] was [[Isu|built]] to serve".<ref name="LeesLastStand">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Lee's Last Stand]]</ref> Additionally, both combat and stratagem are part of their training.<ref name="ACUN"/><ref name="Forsaken"/> The training itself is under another Grand Master, where it is a chosen Templar being trained,<ref name="Forsaken"/> or it is a birthright in a Templar lineage that ruled a Rite.<ref name="ACUN"/><ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[An Apple a Day]]</ref> After the Inner Sanctum's foundation, promotions to Grand Master came under their control.<ref name="ACT">''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]''</ref>

===Authority===
{{Quote|As a Master Templar, you have learned your lessons well, and have earned this opportunity. You are my eyes and ears in the New World now. Do not fail me, Lawrence.|Reginald Birch in a letter to Lawrence Washington, 1738.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue|War Letters}}
A Grand Master controls a specific geographic region and their Rite is named after it.<ref name="ACEG"/> Under their leadership was the ability to appoint a [[Lieutenant of the Templar Order|Lieutenant]] as their second-in-command.<ref name="P307-324">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' (novel)]] – 5 October 1789</ref><ref name="Rank">''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' – [[A Cautious Alliance]]</ref> Despite holding the highest attainable rank within their Rite, a Grand Master is not all-powerful and is dependent on the support of their fellow Templars and other Rites around the world. Nevertheless, their duties are essential to the proper functioning of the Templar Order as a whole, so Grand Masters may elect to have bodyguards to protect them at all times, as were the cases with [[Frederick Weatherall]] for the [[de la Serre family]],<ref name="ACUN"/> and [[El Tiburón]] for [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]].<ref name="AC4BF">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> With the Grand Master themselves being the ruling authority for their own Rite's plans, all members required their superior's approval to enact any changes.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' - [[Birds of a Feather]]</ref><ref name="Kenway">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[The Braddock Expedition (memory)]]</ref><ref name="Torres">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Mister Walpole, I Presume?]]</ref>
[[File:Shayandcharles.PNG|thumb|250px|right|Shay recovering the Precursor Box from Charles in Versailles]]
A Grand Master's power can extend beyond their own Rite, as their higher rank allows them to have influence over other Rites' members, including [[Master Templar]]s.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref><ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref><ref name="AC2D">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref> To extend their reach further without breaking their own duties, Grand Masters could appoint agents to investigate the Order's operations elsewhere, such as Grand Master Birch charging the British Templar, [[John Harrison]], with finding Precursor sites and artifacts<ref name="agent1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]] - [[War Letters]]''</ref> and Grand Master Haytham ordering [[Master Templar]] Shay Cormac with finding the [[Precursor box]].<ref name="agent2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]] - [[Non Nobis Domine]]''</ref> Other tasks included providing founding,<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: Charles Gabriel Sivert]]</ref> providing manpower, couriers, agents, arms, spies, medical supplies and food. To give support, get an exchange of intelligence and build support or unrest among the masses in support of various Rites.<ref name="foreign policy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]] - [[The Naval Campaign]]''</ref><ref name="agent1"/> If needed, sending a prominent Templar member to support specific campaigns can also be done.<ref name="support">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]] - [[The Battle of Labrador (memory)]] - [[The Battle of Quiberon Bay (memory)]]''</ref>

However, this does not mean they can neglect the duties of their own Rite to actively participate in the duties of another Grand Master and their Rite. In the 18th century, the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Templar]] [[Reginald Birch]] entrusted [[Haytham Kenway]] with searching for the [[Grand Temple]]'s location and founding a new [[American Rite of the Templar Order|Colonial Rite]], but Birch himself purposefully remained behind in England to maintain his Rite's other goals.<ref name="ADeadlyPerformance">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[A Deadly Performance]]</ref><ref name="Forsaken"/> A prominent example of this was Grand Master and [[Papacy|Pope]] Rodrigo Borgia, as European Templar leaders came under control of the Roman Rite and became blinded by greed and personal ambition above the Templar principles, whom was so influential over European Templars that his reign is considered a Dark Age of the Templar Order and considered among mistakes of the era by modern Templars.<ref name="Corruption">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]] - Chapter 2''</ref><ref name="ACEG"/><ref name="Borgia interferences">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]] - [[Abstergo Files]]: File.0.13\Hst_LibidoDominand''</ref><ref name="contracts">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]] - [[Contracts (Italian Brotherhood)]]''</ref>

[[File:ACIII-BraddockExpedition 18.png|thumb|250px|left|Haytham Kenway inducting Charles Lee into the Order]]
The Grand Master would also occasionally meet with other Rites' Templars to discuss domestic and global politics, and the Order's own conditions,<ref name="ACUN"/> while also communicating through their various businesses and organizations such as Templar fleets, like [[Shay Cormac's fleet]].<ref name="ACRG"/> An advantage of being Grand Master is a personal network that functions as their eyes and ears everywhere, and they get regular updates from agents, especially Templars directly under their command.<ref name="Forsaken"/> Another responsibility of the Grand Master is the [[Initiation into the Templar Order|initiation]] of new Templar members,<ref name="Kenway"/><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[Scars]]</ref><ref name="Torres"/> as well as the exile of those who have betrayed the Order, either directly or indirectly.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref>

After the Inner Sanctum's founding, the Grand Masters' powers were kept under check by the [[Black Cross]]es, whose main objective was to keep the various Rites free of corruption. If a Grand Master was found guilty of breaking the Order's principles, the Black Cross held the authority to execute them on the spot. During an ongoing investigation, all Templars, including the Grand Master, were obliged to assist the Black Cross by providing them with any information or resources they demanded, but were otherwise forbidden from interfering with the investigation or even speaking of their interactions with the Black Cross.<ref name="ACT"/> As of the 21st century, the Inner Sanctum also strictly regulates the number of Grand Masters worldwide, all of whom became answerable to Guardians and the General of the Cross.<ref name="ACU"/>

===Accession===
{{Quote|When our brother Templars see the old institutions crumble, they will adapt.|François-Thomas Germain to Élise de la Serre and Arno Dorian, 1794.|Assassin's Creed: Unity|The Temple}}
[[File:Apple a day 4.png|250px|thumb|right|Cesare arguing with Rodrigo about power]]
A Templar aiming to become the Grand Master must quickly recruit members within the group before initiating a coup, and would ideally also contact other Rites to convince them that the action is necessary, though the latter step is more of a courtesy.<ref name="ACUN"/><ref name="ACU"/> During the [[Renaissance]], the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templar]] [[Cesare Borgia]] gathered supporters and assumed ''de facto'' leadership of the Rite from his father [[Rodrigo Borgia|Rodrigo]], the Grand Master. With his elder brother [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan]] providing funds, the [[French Army]] general [[Octavian de Valois]] offering military support,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[The Plan]]</ref> and his executioner [[Micheletto Corella]] ensuring that puppets<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> and generals<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]''</ref> obeyed him, Cesare led the Templars to untold power over [[Italy]], though this was all for personal ambition above Templar principles.<ref name="Corruption"/><ref name="ACEG" /> When Rodrigo refused to fund Cesare's unauthorized campaigns<ref name="ACB"/> following the deaths of Juan<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[In and Out]]</ref> and Octavian,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Au Revoir]]</ref> Cesare killed him in a rage. As Rodrigo's main support then was the church, which was unaware the [[Papacy|Pope]] was a Templar, Cesare had uncontested claim to the title of Grand Master.<ref name="ACB"/>

Conversely, should a competitor fail to attract sufficient backing, as happened to the 19th century British Templar [[Cavanagh]] when he sought to overthrow [[Crawford Starrick]] with an [[Apple of Eden 7|Apple of Eden]], they will only facilitate their own end, since Starrick soon learned of Cavanagh's intentions and ordered his death.<ref name="ACUW">''[[Assassin's Creed: Underworld]]''</ref> This likewise applies to defending incumbents, as seen not just in Renaissance with Rodrigo but again in the late 18th century with the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]]. In the lead up to the [[French Revolution]], Grand Master [[François de la Serre]] was unaware that his entire inner circle<ref name="HighSociety">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[High Society]]</ref> except [[Chrétien Lafrenière]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Estates General]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Prophet]]</ref> pledged allegiance<ref name="HighSociety"/> to the recently-exiled [[François-Thomas Germain]], who had successfully petitioned the [[American Rite of the Templar Order|American]], Italian, and [[Spanish Rite of the Templar Order|Spanish Rites]] for support following his banishment. After Germain had de la Serre assassinated in a coup and began purging all French Templars opposing him, Chrétien and François' daughter [[Élise de la Serre|Élise]]<ref name="ACUN"/>—who had been presumed the heir apparent<ref name="HighSociety"/>—petitioned other Rites for aid, but they only lent their sympathies, believing there was no need for intervention since the Rite ran smoothly under Germain's control.<ref name="ACUN"/>
[[File:High Society 12.png|thumb|250px|left|François de la Serre killed in Germain's coup]]
In the event of a Grand Master's untimely death, a successor may be appointed as a Rite's ''de facto'' leader until a new Grand Master is officially elected, as was the case during the [[Third Crusade]] when [[Basilisk]] assumed temporary leadership of the Knights Templar following Grand Master [[Gerard de Ridefort]]'s death.<ref name="ACAC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''</ref> The same is true in the case of Templar leaders who did not hold the title of Grand Master, such as [[James Wardrop]] succeeding [[Lawrence Washington]] as leader of the Templars in the [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]].<ref name="ACRG"/> There have also been several instances of a Grand Master being chosen by the Rite itself for their own qualities as leaders, such as [[Ahmet]] becoming Grand Master of the [[Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order|Byzantine Rite]] while the long-time Templar [[Manuel Palaiologos]] was demoted to his second-in-command,<ref name="ACEG"/> and Crawford Starrick's rise in the British Rite until he was appointed Grand Master.<ref name="ACUW"/>

===Reforms===
{{Quote|They become increasingly aware of our existence. We can no longer rely on the divine right of the aristocracy to maintain control. We need a new system, something much more subtle.|An unidentified Templar about the Order's the transition from feudal monarchies to capitalism.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|Rifts}}
The first major reform of the Templar Order was done by the [[France|French]] knight and Grand Master [[Hugues de Payens]] and his Templar colleague [[Bernard de Clairvaux]] in the 12th century, to accomplish an alliance with the Church, Bernard sendt 9 trusted men to the Holy Land searching for the Temple of Solomon. 9 Years later and the Templar Order itself was reformed after the return of the 9 men and Payens and Bernard co-created the [[Latin Rule]] and gained support by the Church. For their efforts to reform the Templar Order to a public organization, the Templars were recognised and confirmed as the Order of Knights Templars during the Council of Troyes in 1129. Creating a Golden Age for the Templar Order that lasted almost two hundred years were they influenced kings, popes, and men of science alike until the early 14th century.<ref name="ACEG"/><ref name="Corruption"/><ref name="File.0.02">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]] – [[Abstergo Files]]:File.0.02\Hst_Beginning''</ref>
[[File:Tragedy of Jacques de Molay 12.png|thumb|right|250px|King Philip's men arresting de Molay, ending the Golden Age of the Templar Order]]
During another major reform,<ref name="ACEG"/> the Templar Order already were supportive of the Liberal ideals that emerged during the [[Age of Enlightenment]] were intellectuals such as [[Isaac Newton]], [[Baruch Spinoza]], [[John Locke]], and [[Francis Bacon]] represented a new emerging society of science and technology.<ref name="Corruption"/> At some point after Germain became a member of the Parisian Rite, were he became the [[Lieutenant of the Templar Order|lieutenant]] of Grand Master de la Serre.<ref name="Cautious Alliance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[A Cautious Alliance]]</ref> Germain discovered [[Jacques de Molay]]'s ''[[Codex Pater Intellectus]]'' in the vault beneath the [[Temple, Paris|Parisian Temple]] and would advocate for the abolishment of [[Monarchy]] to create a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] society.<ref name="Temple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref> A controversial work of de Molay deemed heresy, Germain became expelled for his views by Grand Master de la Serre and<ref name="ACEG"/><ref name="Cautious Alliance" /><ref name="Hoarders">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Hoarders]]</ref> began recruiting followers against the French Monarchy to his reformed Parisian Rite<ref name="Le Roi Est Mort">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Le Roi Est Mort]]</ref><ref name="Rise of the Assassin">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Rise of the Assassin]]</ref> to realise the reforms advocated in the work of de Molay for a society dominated by finance and<ref name="Temple"/> ran the newly reformed Parisian Rite under control with support from the American, Italian, and Spanish Rites in the new direction of the Templar Order.<ref name="ACUN"/> 

==History==
=== Order of the Ancients===
{{Main|Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients}}
{{Main|Ra's Al-Af'a}}

Prior to the establishment of the Templar Order, the [[Order of the Ancients]] used various titles to denote the leaders of its different branches around the world. In 44 BCE, when the [[Assassins|Hidden One]] [[Amunet|Aya]] the Ancient [[Lucius Septimius]] if [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] was the King of the Order, Septimius corrected her, claiming that Caesar was the "[[Father of Understanding]]". Following the Hidden Ones' [[Assassination of Julius Caesar|assassination]] of Caesar,<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Fall of an Empire, Rise of Another]]</ref> his adoptive son [[Augustus|Octavian]] succeeded him as leader of the Order, though he did not inherit the title of Father of Understanding and the name eventually fell out of use.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]] – [[The Hidden Ones (DLC)|The Hidden Ones]]'' – [[Sic Semper Tyrannis]]</ref>

In the 9th century, the Order's leader in the [[Abbasid Caliphate]] was called the [[Ra's Al-Af'a]], or the "Head of the Snake".<ref name="ACMir"/> By the 860s, the position had been attained by the royal [[concubine]] [[Qabiha]], whose Order eventually fell to the Hidden Ones based in [[Alamut]] while Qabiha herself was killed by the [[Master Assassin]] [[Roshan]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Serpent's Nest]]</ref>[[File:ACVBB - Aelfred and Aethelred.png|thumb|250px|Alfred and Æthelred, Kings of Wessex and Grand Maegesters of the Order]]In the case of the Order's [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] branch based in [[Great Britain]], the organization was headed by a [[Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients|Grand Maegester]], who was also known by the title of "The Father".<ref name="ACV"/> During the 9th century, the position was held by members of the [[House of Wessex]], beginning with King [[Æthelwulf, King of Wessex|Æthelwulf]]. After his death, King [[Ælla of Northumbria]], another high-ranking Order member, was expected to succeed him as Grand Maegester, but due to his own demise at the hands of the [[Great Heathen Army]], the title passed down to Æthelwulf's son [[Æthelred I, King of Wessex|Æthelred I]].<ref name="Poor Fellow Soldier">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Poor Fellow-Soldier]]</ref>

In 871, Æthelred died from wounds sustained during the [[Battle of Meretun]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Aelfred]]</ref> and his younger brother [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]] succeeded him as both King of [[Wessex]] and Grand Maegester of the Order. Unlike his father and brother, however, Alfred was against the Order's beliefs and secretly sought to bring about its collapse.<ref name="Poor Fellow Soldier"/>

Working under the pseudonym of a "Poor Fellow-Soldier of [[Jesus of Nazareth|Christ]]", Alfred manipulated the [[Vikings|Viking]] [[Eivor Varinsdottir]] into helping him achieve his goal, rendering the Order in Great Britain extinct and the title of Grand Maegester obsolete by 878.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Breaking the Order]]</ref> Alfred subsequently set about rebuilding the Order into a new organization that more closely followed his [[Christianity|Christian]] beliefs, and became its first Grand Master.<ref name="Poor Fellow Soldier"/>

===Middle Ages===
The first publicly known Grand Master of the Templar Order was the [[France|French]] knight [[Hugues de Payens]]. When he and his colleague [[Bernard de Clairvaux]] realized they needed the protection of the Church for their endeavors, they transformed the Templars into the publicly recognized military and monastic Order of the Knights Templar, trusted with the protection of pilgrims to the Holy Land, with Hugues becoming its first Grand Master in 1129.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>[[File:Siege of Masyaf Templars.png|thumb|250px|left|Robert de Sablé leading the Templars to Masyaf]]After two years without a Grand Master following [[Gerard de Ridefort]]'s death, [[Robert de Sablé]] joined the Templar Order and reigned as the Grand Master of the Knights Templar during the year 1191. During his reign, he sought a [[Piece of Eden]], specifically an [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]], intending to use it to achieve the Order's goal of establishing a [[New World Order]]. After losing the Apple, he launched an [[Defense of Masyaf|attack]] on the [[Levantine Assassins]]' stronghold of [[Masyaf]] to recover it, but was defeated. Later on, during the [[Battle of Arsuf]], he was killed by his rival, the Assassin [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="The Essential Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref>

After Robert's death, [[Armand Bouchart]] took on the mantle of Grand Master as he and the Templars retreated to [[Cyprus]]. However, Altaïr pursued him and the two fought in the [[Templar Archive]] after the Assassin foiled the Grand Master's plans, resulting in Altaïr's victory and the Templars losing another leader.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>

During the early 14th century, the French Assassins influenced King [[Philip IV of France|Philip IV]] into conspiring against the Templars, who he branded as heretics. Hundreds of them were ordered arrested, with the last official Grand Master, [[Jacques de Molay]], understanding that the Order would not survive as a public organization. With this, he allowed himself to be burned at the stake, saving the lives of his brethren and making his enemies believe that the Templars were finished, though in reality, the Order continued to exist underground.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

===Renaissance===
[[File:In and Out 8.png|thumb|250px|Cesare Borgia and his father Rodrigo]]In 1476, the Italian Rite came under the leadership of the [[Spain|Spanish]]-born Rodrigo Borgia, originally a [[cardinal]] under Pope [[Sixtus IV]]. Operating from [[Rome]], Rodrigo's primary objective was to unite [[Italy]] under the Templar banner,<ref name="AC2"/> however, the Italian Templars strayed far from the main Templar ideology and used the Order as a way to achieve and sustain power for themselves.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><ref name="ACEG"/> Despite facing complications from the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassins]], mainly [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], Rodrigo managed to bribe the other cardinals and was appointed Pope during the {{Wiki|1492 papal conclave}} convened after Pope [[Innocent III]]'s death, taking on the name Alexander VI.<ref name="AC2"/>

Rodrigo then secured the power of the Church for the Templars, and from [[Vaticano District|the Vatican]], he oversaw the progress of the other Templars in [[Europe]], including [[United Kingdom|England]] and [[Spain]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> However, by 1500, Rodrigo's resolve had weakened, and control over the order fell to his son Cesare Borgia, who acted as the ''de facto'' Grand Master.<ref name="ACB"/>

After he killed his own father in August 1503,<ref name="ACB"/> Cesare became the official Grand Master of the Order,<ref name="ACB novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> though without his father's power in the Church, he could not maintain the same influence in Europe that his father had. With Pope [[Julius II]]'s ascension in December, he ordered Cesare's arrest and imprisonment<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[All Roads Lead To...]]</ref> in the [[Castillo de la Mota]], but Cesare escaped two years later and fled to his [[Kingdom of Navarre|Navarrese]] brother-in-law King [[John III of Navarre|John III]] in Spain.<ref name="ACB novel"/> Ezio ultimately killed the Grand Master during his [[siege of Viana]] in 1507,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Pax Romana]]</ref> destabilizing the Templars in Europe and causing them to temporarily withdraw.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

Circa 1509, the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Prince [[Ahmet]] became the Grand Master of the [[Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order|Byzantine Rite]],<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> and sought to acquire the [[Masyaf Key]]s and open the [[library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], believing the knowledge inside could lead the Order into a new era. However, his efforts were opposed by Ezio Auditore, who assisted the [[Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins|Ottoman Assassins]] in driving the Templars out of the Empire, while Ahmet himself was killed by his brother [[Selim I]] for betraying his country.<ref name="ACR"/>

===Colonial era===
[[File:Mister Walpole I Presume 9.png|thumb|250px|left|Laureano Torres (far right) explaining his plans with the Observatory]]
During the time of colonial expansion by the major European empires, the [[Cuba]]n governor Laureano de Torres y Ayala assumed the role of Grand Master of the [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]]. Operating out of [[Havana]], he sought the fabled [[Observatory (Isu)|Observatory]] in order to spy upon and thus bend the leaders of the European colonial empires to Templar will, ensuring peace through order. Before he could succeed in his goal, the pirate-turned-Assassin [[Edward Kenway]] killed him in 1722.<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref>

In Britain, the local Rite's Grand Master was Reginald Birch, an Englishman who used the pretext of business to cover his affiliations. He was responsible for the growth of Templar influence in the British colonies, sending over Haytham Kenway to lead them.<ref name="ADeadlyPerformance"/><ref name="Forsaken"/> Upon his arrival in the colonies, Haytham gathered his co-conspirators, who had been recruited and located by Birch, and became the first Grand Master of the newly-founded Colonial Rite.<ref name="AC3"/>

During the [[Seven Years' War]], the Colonial Rite grew in power, acquiring such influence that they soon posed a serious threat to the [[American Brotherhood of Assassins|Colonial Assassins]] under [[Achilles Davenport]]. At the time, the Assassins were more preoccupied with investigating Pieces of Eden and largely ignored the organization's new leadership, an error that proved fatal.<ref name="ACRG"/>
[[File:ACIII-BraddockExpedition 3.png|thumb|250px|Haytham Kenway leading the Colonial Templars]]
Shortly after founding the Colonial Rite, Haytham led the rite in an [[Colonial Assassin purge|assault]] against the Assassins.<ref name="ACRG"/> Aided by the Assassin turncoat [[Shay Cormac]] and led on the field by Haytham himself, the Templars removed key figures in the Brotherhood, greatly reducing the Assassins' presence.<ref name="ACRG"/> This cumulated in an attack on the [[Davenport Homestead]] in 1763, where the remaining Assassins were killed and Achilles was exiled on the condition that he never revive the Brotherhood, thus effectively exterminating the Colonial branch.<ref name="AC3"/>

In 1781, the title of Grand Master was bestowed upon [[Charles Lee]], following Haytham's death during the siege of [[Fort George]] at the hands of his son, the Assassin [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]].<ref name="LeesLastStand"/> Lee, as the only Templar conspirator left from Haytham's rule, attempted to flee back to England by [[ship]] after his initial plan to kill Connor failed.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Laid to Rest]]</ref> He was unsuccessful however, and Connor assassinated him inside the [[tavern]] ''[[Last Drink]]'' in 1782.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Chasing Lee]]</ref>

In Europe, François de la Serre had risen to the position of Grand Master of the Parisian Rite. However, he was ultimately deposed in a ''coup d'etat'' orchestrated by François-Thomas Germain, who usurped the position of Grand Master following de la Serre's death. Germain's ascension was opposed by de la Serre's daughter Élise, who worked with her lover, the French Assassin [[Arno Dorian]], to hunt the Grand Master and his allies, eventually succeeding in killing Germain in 1794.<ref name="ACU"/>

===Early modern era===
[[File:ACS Overdose 10.png|thumb|250px|left|Grand Master Crawford Starrick of the British Rite]]
By 1868, the British Rite was controlled by Crawford Starrick, who expanded the Templars' reach to every major corner of industrialized society, from the highest official to the lowest criminal. He was [[Liberation of London|opposed]] by the few remaining Assassins in [[London]], namely, [[Jayadeep Mir|Henry Green]], and the Frye twins [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye|Evie]], who killed Starrick during his quest for a [[Shroud of Eden 2|Shroud of Eden]], freeing London from Templar influence.<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref>

In 1925, Assassins killed the [[Shanghai Rite of the Templar Order|Chinese Rite]]'s Grand Master [[Sun Yat-sen]]. He was succeeded by [[Stirling Fessenden]], who hoped to recruit [[Chiang Kai-shek]] into the Order and have him become the new Grand Master. However, Chiang ultimately rejected Fessenden's offer and ended his alliance with the Templars after they helped him gain control of [[Shanghai]].<ref name="ACT"/>

By 1927, [[Thaddeus Gift]] had become the Grand Master of the British Rite, although he was a corrupt leader who used the Templars' connections to embezzle money for his personal gain. In retaliation for breaking the Order's principles, Gift was later assassinated by the Black Cross [[Albert Bolden]].<ref name="ACT"/>
===Contemporary era===
In 1937, the "Founders" created [[Abstergo Industries]], which from that point on served as the Templars' public front. Though its highest-ranking employees all held leadership in the Order,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Abstergo Files]]</ref> there were multiple Grand Masters who still maintained control over their operations. As of 2014, there are three known Grand Masters operating respectively in Cuba, [[Mexico]], and the United States. During this period, the Grand Masters were no longer the Templars' highest rank, instead answerable to the Guardians, who in turn answered to the General of the Cross.<ref name="ACU database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo]]</ref>

==Known Grand Masters==
===Order of the Ancients===
====Fathers of Understanding====
{{Main|Father of Understanding}}
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACO Julius Caesar render.png|[[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]<ref name="ACO"/><br>[[Rome]]<br>c. 47 BCE – 44 BCE
</gallery>

====Ra's Al-Afa's====
{{Main|Ra's Al-Af'a}}
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACMirage DB Qabiha.png|[[Qabiha]]<ref name="ACMir"/><br>[[Abbasid Caliphate]]<br>c. 860s
</gallery>

====Grand Maegesters====
{{Main|Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients}}
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Æthelwulf, King of Wessex]]<ref name="ACV"/><br>[[Anglo-Saxons|England]]<br>until 858
ACV BB - Æthelred.jpg|[[Æthelred I, King of Wessex]]<ref name="ACV"/><br>England<br>c. 865 – 871
ACV Alfred the Great render.png|[[Alfred the Great]]<ref name="ACV"/><br>England<br>871 – c. 873
</gallery>

===Order of the Knights Templar===
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACV Alfred the Great render.png|Alfred the Great<ref name="ACV"/><br>England<br>began c. 878
Hugh de Payns.jpg|[[Hugues de Payens]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>[[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|French Rite]] / [[Levantine Rite of the Templar Order|Levantine Rite]]<br>Knights Templar<br>1118 – 1136
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Gerard de Ridefort]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>Levantine Rite<br>Knights Templar<br>1185 – 1189
AC1 Robert render.png|[[Robert de Sablé]]<ref name="AC"/><ref name="The Essential Guide"/><br>Levantine Rite<br>Knights Templar<br>1190 - 1191
Bouchart1.png|[[Armand Bouchart]]<ref name="ACBL"/><br>Levantine Rite<br>1191 – 1193
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Philippe du Plessis]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref><br>Levantine Rite<br>Knights Templar<br>1201 – 1208
ACU De Molay Render.png|[[Jacques de Molay]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>[[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|French Rite]]<br>Knights Templar<br>1292 – 1312
ACB Rodrigo render.png|[[Rodrigo Borgia]]<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACB"/><br>[[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Roman Rite]]<br>1476 – 1503
ACB Cesare render.png|[[Cesare Borgia]]<ref name="ACB novel"/><br>Roman Rite<br>1500 – 1503 {{C|''de facto''}}<br>1503 – 1507 {{C|''de jure''}}
ACR Ahmet v.png|[[Ahmet]]<ref name="ACEG"/><br>[[Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order|Byzantine Rite]]<br>c. 1509  – 1512
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Alexandre de Hautecourt]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Witches of the Moors]]'' – Chapter 21: Pierre de Lancre</ref><br>[[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|French Rite]]<br>c. 1609
AC4 Laureano Torres render.png|[[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>[[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]]<br>c. 1673 – 1722
Reginald Birch ACIII.png|[[Reginald Birch]]<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref><br>[[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]]<br>c. 1735 – 1757
AC3 Haytham Kenway render.png|[[Haytham Kenway]]<ref name="AC3"/><br>[[American Rite of the Templar Order|Colonial Rite]]<br>1754 – 1781
AC3 Charles Lee.png|[[Charles Lee]]<ref name="AC3"/><br>Colonial Rite<br>1781 – 1782
ACU De La Serre Render.png|[[François de la Serre]]<ref name="ACU"/><br>French Rite<br>1768 – 1789
ACU François-Thomas Germain Render.png|[[François-Thomas Germain]]<ref name="ACU"/><br>French Rite (radical faction)<br>1789 – 1794
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[William M. Tweed]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants]]''</ref><br>American Rite<br>c. 1863
ACS Crawford Starrick Render.png|[[Crawford Starrick]]<ref name="ACS"/><br>British Rite<br>until 1868
ACT Thaddeus Gift.png|[[Thaddeus Gift]]<ref name="ACT"/><br>British Rite<br>until 1927
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Sun Yat-sen]]<ref name="ACT"/><br>[[Chinese Rite of the Templar Order|Chinese Rite]]<br>until 1925
ACT Fessenden.jpg|[[Stirling Fessenden]]<ref name="ACT"/><br>Chinese Rite<br>began 1925
ACM Templar Rikkin.jpg|[[Alan Rikkin]]<ref name="ACMN">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization]]''</ref><br>''Worldwide''<br>until 2016
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[American Grand Master]]<ref name="ACU database"/><br>American Rite<br>c. 2014
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Caribbean Grand Master]]<ref name="ACU database"/><br>West Indies Rite<br>c. 2014
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Mexican Grand Master]]<ref name="ACU database"/><br>[[Mexican Rite of the Templar Order|Mexican Rite]]<br>c. 2014
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*''Assassin's Creed'' material occasionally identifies Assassins, including Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, [[Mario Auditore]], [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau|Mirabeau]] and [[Mujir]] as Grand Masters of the Assassin Order.

==References==
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[[hu:A Templomos Rend Nagymestere]]
[[pt-br:Grão-Mestre]]
[[ru:Великий Магистр Тамплиеров]]
[[fr:Grand Maître]]
[[Category:Templar ranks]]
[[Category:Articles that need updating]]