Editing Madeleine de L'Isle

{{Era|AC3L|ACRG|Templars|Featured}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''}}
{{Quote|Together we shall usher in the dawn of a [[New World Order|New World]]. One in which our hands will ensure that all things find their proper place. My daughter, you are one of us now...|Madeleine inducting Aveline into the Templar Order, 1777.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = MadelieneDatabaseHD.png
|birth = 1732<br>[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana|French Louisiana]], {{Wiki|New France}}
|death = 1777<br>New Orleans, Spanish Louisiana, {{Wiki|New Spain}}
|affiliates = [[Templars]] <small>(1747 – death)</small>
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]''
|voice = [[Leni Parker]]}}
'''Madeleine de L'Isle''' (1732 – 1777) served as [[Master Templar]] in the Southern Colonies of [[United States|America]], operating under the alias of the "Company Man". Living in [[New Orleans]], she was the second wife of the wealthy [[France|French]] [[Merchants|merchant]] [[Philippe de Grandpré]], though she was the first to be legally recognized.

After Madeleine discovered proof that a [[First Civilization]] artifact was located in [[Mexico]], she devised a plan to acquire workers to excavate it. She subsequently entrusted the execution of said plan to her right-hand man, [[Rafael Joaquín de Ferrer]].

Simultaneously, she noticed the potential of her stepdaughter, [[Aveline de Grandpré]], and decided to groom her for membership in the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. Manipulating Aveline's biological mother [[Jeanne]] into leaving New Orleans, Madeleine then adopted the role of doting stepmother. When her stepdaughter later joined the [[Assassins]], Madeleine managed to subtly procure valuable information on the Brotherhood, allowing her to become the head Templar of [[Louisiana]].

In 1765, the [[Slavery|slave]] trafficking operation that Madeleine had orchestrated was discovered by Aveline, who immediately started a journey to find and dismantle it. As the years went by, the Master Templar would see her activities shut down and most of her subordinates eliminated.

When her identity as the Company Man was eventually uncovered in 1777, Madeleine invited Aveline to join her Order, to which her stepdaughter agreed. Confident she had secured Aveline's alliance, Madeleine was then assassinated by her stepdaughter, who had merely pretended to go along with her [[Initiation into the Templar Order|induction]] to eliminate the Templars from within.

==Biography==
===Early life and marriage to Philippe===
{{Quote|You know my arrangement with Madeleine was... business. She convinced me... If the law was different...|Philippe on his marriage with Madeleine, 1776.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
The cherished daughter of a wealthy merchant family, Madeleine was born in New Orleans in 1732. At some point, she came into contact with the Templar Order and subsequently joined it, becoming a dedicated member.<ref name="AC3L">''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]''</ref> Madeleine's family, however, was kept in the dark about her true identity.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

In 1750, Philippe de Grandpré – a business partner to Madeleine's father – began to suffer from financial problems, causing Madeleine to become a frequent visitor of the de Grandpré family. Spotting an opportunity, Madeleine spent the next year convincing Philippe to marry her, to benefit both his business and that of her family's. Eventually, he acquiesced and wed Madeleine in 1752, causing his relationship with his placée, Jeanne, to become strained. Unbeknownst to Philippe, however, Madeleine also used the marriage to conceal her own Templar goals.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Madeleine subsequently moved into the [[De Grandpré Mansion|de Grandpré villa]], though both Jeanne and her daughter Aveline were permitted to stay at the mansion, receiving their own private quarters. By taking on the responsibility of her stepdaughter's education, while also employing Jeanne as her personal handmaid, Madeleine managed to integrate herself into the family.<ref name="AC3L"/>

===Organizing the Chichen Itza excavation===
{{Quote|Madeleine, bless her soul, has sworn to love and raise Aveline as her own, and see to her education and protection - at least until it is safe for me to return. Using her contacts, she has found a place for me in Chichen Itza, where I will find both safety and employment.|Jeanne regarding her departure from New Orleans, 1757.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
Some years later, Madeleine discovered evidence that a valuable First Civilization artifact called a [[Prophecy Disks|Prophecy Disk]] was buried somewhere in the ancient [[Mayans|Mayan]] city of [[Chichen Itza]], Mexico. Realizing the amount of manpower it would require to unearth the relic, she came up with a scheme to procure workers from around the [[Caribbean]]. She subsequently entrusted this task to Rafael Joaquín de Ferrer, her most trusted agent.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

While de Ferrer began setting up their slave trafficking operation, Madeleine was growing closer to Jeanne, regularly conversing with her on her life as a slave in [[Haiti|Saint-Domingue]]. Aware of the fact that Jeanne was afraid of the Assassins, Madeleine fed the placée's paranoia by telling her that the Assassin [[Mentor]] [[François Mackandal]], a former acquaintance of Jeanne, had been seen boarding a [[Ships|ship]] bound for Louisiana. In doing so, Madeleine endeavored to have Jeanne remove herself from New Orleans, so that Madeleine could raise Aveline – whom she had noticed to possess great potential – as her own.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Madeleine's machinations proved to be a success, with Jeanne eventually succumbing to her fears. After consulting Madeleine for aid, Jeanne left New Orleans in 1757 and was escorted to the work camp in Chichen Itza, being one of the first slaves to arrive there. Having fooled the placée into thinking the arrangement was temporary, Madeleine gradually neglected to stay in touch with Jeanne and dedicated herself to raising Aveline, preparing her for her eventual induction into the Templar Order.<ref name="AC3L"/>

===Master Templar of the Southern Colonies===
{{Dialogue|Madeleine|How many years have we worked together, for the slaves?|Aveline|You kept them enslaved, on your own terms, out of sight, for your ill gain!|Aveline and Madeleine on the latter's activities, 1777.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
After discovering that Aveline had joined the Assassins in 1759, Madeleine took advantage of her stepdaughter's relationship with the local Assassin Mentor [[Agaté]] to uncover information relating to the Brotherhood's activities. This connection allowed her to secure the leadership of the local Templar Order in 1764.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> To prevent people from finding out her true identity, Madeleine adopted the alias of the "Company Man" when acting as Louisiana's head Templar.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Although she largely oversaw the transit of slaves and vagrants, Madeleine would also identify potential workers herself, "rescuing" them from enslavement and having her contacts escort them to Chichen Itza. In doing so, she became a progressive abolitionist in the eyes of Aveline, who was unaware of the slaves' true destination. With their "similar" views on slavery, Madeleine was able to strengthen her bond with her stepdaughter.<ref name="AC3L"/>

[[File:The Safe House 4.png|thumb|left|250px|Madeleine reassuring Aveline]]
In 1765, Madeleine was called upon by Aveline to treat a slave, [[Thérèse]], whom she had rescued from one of Madeleine's subordinates. Sending her stepdaughter into town to fetch traveling clothes, Madeleine treated the young slave and then had her transferred to Chichen Itza, unbeknownst to Aveline. Shortly thereafter, Madeleine, still pretending to be ignorant of her stepdaughter's identity as an Assassin, requested Aveline's help in reuniting an enslaved family.<ref name="AC3L"/>

While Madeleine continued her practices of discreetly liberating workers and sending them to Chichen Itza, Aveline uncovered the slave trafficking operation headed by de Ferrer. Although she remained unaware of her stepmother's involvement, Aveline would, over the years, continually undermine Madeleine and the Templars' efforts, causing the Master Templar to grow frustrated. By 1769, Madeleine had come no closer to acquiring the Prophecy Disk, with her right-hand man assassinated and the work camp of Chichen Itza liberated from Templar control.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Focusing her efforts on maintaining control in New Orleans, Madeleine had [[Diego Vázquez]] come to the city in the 1770s and ordered him to take control of the [[Louisiana Bayou]], which served as an important trade route. Despite the large amount of [[Spain|Spanish]] troops Vázquez managed to gather, so too would his schemes be repeatedly sabotaged by Aveline. However, knowing that her stepdaughter was capable of collecting the shards of the Prophecy Disk, Madeleine did not interfere with Aveline's activities.<ref name="AC3L"/>

[[File:An Urgent Favor 2.png|thumb|250px|Madeleine requesting Aveline's help with freeing George]]
In 1776, Philippe discovered evidence of Templar interference in his business, though Madeleine reacted quickly and began poisoning him. That same year, Madeleine also freed a slave by the name of [[George Davidson|George]], though she demanded his servitude to the Templar Order in return. Securing his alliance, she aided her new recruit in his escape, but her plan went awry when George was discovered by [[Guards|soldiers]]. Madeleine then requested Aveline's help in escorting George out of the city, to the North.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Madeleine would continue administering her bedridden husband an herbal tonic, laced with {{Wiki|Digitalis|foxglove}}, which eventually proved fatal for Philippe. After informing Aveline, who had been out to track down Vázquez, Madeleine met with her stepdaughter and [[Gérald Blanc]] at Philippe's grave in [[Saint Peter's Cemetery]]. There, Madeleine, to whom the de Grandpré villa had been left, assured Aveline that she was still welcome to live at the mansion.<ref name="AC3L"/>

===Death===
{{Quote|I needed you to quash the terrorist elements in my organization. I need you still. I cannot let the Assassins waste your talents. You are too valuable to me.|Madeleine attempting to convince Aveline to join the Templars, 1777.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
In 1777, Aveline finally discovered that the Company Man, the person she had been searching for, was in fact Madeleine; she returned to New Orleans at once and confronted her stepmother in their mansion. During the encounter, Madeleine reacted with amusement, as she revealed that she had known all along of Aveline's affiliations.<ref name="AC3L"/>

[[File:Abandoning Pretense 4.png|thumb|250px|left|Madeleine beckoning Aveline to join the Templar Order]]
Furious, Aveline refused Madeleine's order to stay and ran outside, where the Assassin was quickly surrounded by her stepmother's guards. Forthwith, Madeleine warned her stepdaughter to cease her struggling or she would die, and the Brotherhood with her; she then proceeded to question Aveline's motivations. Maintaining an air of hostility, Aveline retorted that Madeleine kept her slaves for her own selfish purposes, though Madeleine tried to convince Aveline that she had ended the operation and that de Ferrer did not represent the Templars.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Madeleine insisted that she genuinely cared for Aveline, but her stepdaughter angrily accused her of lying. In response, Madeleine defended herself, claiming that she had only been trying to protect her, and attempted to persuade Aveline to join the Templars. She then cited the broken relationship between Aveline and her Mentor as proof that their goals were the same.<ref name="AC3L"/>

[[File:Reconciliation 2.png|thumb|250px|Madeleine with the Prophecy Disk]]
Ultimately, Aveline agreed and traveled to the bayou to confront Agaté. She later returned with his necklace as proof of his death, following which she handed Madeleine the Prophecy Disk. After inducting Aveline into the Order, Madeleine attempted to use the Prophecy Disk, but the artifact failed to work as she had intended it to, causing her to become frustrated.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Seeing her chance, Aveline attacked, as her induction had merely been a ploy to eradicate the Templar Order from within. After she eliminated all the Templars present, the Assassin confronted a defeated Madeleine, who asked her why she had done what she had. Aveline responded by blaming her stepmother for secretly killing her father with poison, enslaving her mother and attempting to force Aveline into the Templar Order.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Madeleine insisted that it had been for the benefit of [[Humans|humanity]], but Aveline refused to serve her and assassinated Madeleine, eradicating the Templar Order of Louisiana. Madeleine would later be buried inside the [[Saint Louis Cathedral]], in recognition of a lifetime of service to the people of New Orleans.<ref name="AC3L"/>

==Legacy==
{{Quote|However, as Aveline matured, a new side emerged. A well-mannered and considerate lady of poise and compassion. Aveline came to embrace a new mentor: her stepmother Madeleine de L'Isle, a tireless fighter for the rights of slaves.|A biased market analysis of Aveline's memories.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
In the 21st century, the Templar-run [[Abstergo Industries]], a corporate giant, had one of their [[Abstergo Entertainment|subsidiaries]] produce a [[Liberation|video game]] based on Aveline de Grandpré's [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]]. In it, Madeleine was portrayed as an unappreciated abolitionist of slavery, with key events deliberately omitted to validate her actions and Templar views. The game's ending had also been doctored, with Aveline supposedly abandoning the Assassins to join her stepmother's cause.<ref name="AC3L"/>

In a similar vein, Abstergo had portraits commissioned of several notable Templars, among which they counted Madeleine, for a series titled "Great Minds in History". In the accompanying description, she was called one of history's "most overlooked leaders". Notably, said description also claimed Aveline was an orphan that Madeleine had rescued from a broken home.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref>

==Personality and characteristics==
{{Quote|You, who know so well the pain of a life lived in secret, shrouding your power in petticoats and lace, pretending obedience to men who deny you the right to your own abilities. Am I really so strange to you?|Madeleine pointing to the similarities between her and Aveline, 1777.|Assassin's Creed III: Liberation}}
[[File:Reconciliation 3.png|thumb|left|250px|Madeleine as Master Templar]]
Despite living in a time when women generally wielded very little political or economic influence, Madeleine managed to attain a position of power amongst her fellow Templars, owing to her keen intellect and sharp sense of business. However, in spite of these skills, her journey to becoming Master Templar of the Southern Colonies was a long one.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Hiding her Templar identity behind the guise of a loving wife, Madeleine spoke cautiously at all times, so as not to reveal herself through her actions or words. By relegating many tasks to her subordinates, most obviously her right-hand man de Ferrer, Madeleine herself managed to stay in the shadows, allowing her to escape the notice of her enemies. To further disassociate her position of Master Templar from her public persona, she began utilizing the "Company Man" pseudonym.<ref name="AC3L"/>

A gifted actress, Madeleine was particularly adept at manipulating others, by uncovering their weaknesses and then exploiting them. This made her a particularly persuasive speaker, as noted by Jeanne, who always found herself "compelled to answer", beyond the politeness she owed Madeleine as an employer. Indeed, by preying on the placée's paranoia and feeding her lies about the Assassins, Madeleine managed to scare Jeanne into leaving New Orleans. Similarly, she was able to steer conversations in a certain direction, if she so desired.<ref name="AC3L"/>

[[File:Only a Nightmare 9.png|thumb|250px|Madeleine consoling Aveline after the latter woke up from a nightmare]]
In raising Aveline, Madeleine perfected the role of a doting stepmother. Her act became so convincing that, in many ways, her care and love for Aveline seemed to be almost genuine. This made it difficult to determine whether Madeleine was honestly fond of her stepdaughter, or merely playing her part so as to have more control over Aveline. At the very least, she considered Aveline to be too valuable to have her talents wasted by the Assassins.<ref name="AC3L"/>

Although she portrayed herself as an abolitionist to Aveline to win her trust, Madeleine seemed to have little issue with enslaving people, justifying it by insisting that work had always been the "divine purpose" for which humanity had been created. Much like other Templars, she sacrificed the lives of individual people for what she believed to be the greater good.<ref name="AC3L"/>

==Trivia==
*Madeleine is the first female Templar to play the role of main antagonist in the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]].
*Madeleine's speech during Aveline's induction was nearly identical to the one spoken by [[Haytham Kenway]].
*During her final confrontation with Aveline, Madeleine justified the Templars by stating that "''Work''" was the purpose for which humanity had been created. This was a reference to how humans were originally a slave race under the First Civilization.
*Along with her Master Templar outfit, Madeleine wore a hat that had a floral accessory in the shape of a foxglove flower, which was the same plant Madeleine used to kill Philippe.
*Madeleine is a French variant of the name Magdalene, meaning "of Magdala", originally an Aramaic word meaning "tower". De l'Isle means "of the Island", "Isle" being an archaic script for "Île" meaning "Island", or a region isolated by marshes or rivers in Middle French.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
Templar Madeleine de L'Isle - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Madeleine in her Master Templar outfit
Madeleine Database.png|Madeleine's appearance in the Vita iteration
The Safe House 5.jpg|Madeleine agreeing to help Aveline with Thérèse
The Last Dance 8.png|Madeleine informing Aveline of Philippe's death
The Last Dance 9.png|Madeleine, Aveline and Gérald at Philippe's grave
Abandoning Pretense 1.png|Madeleine having her identity unmasked by Aveline
Abandoning Pretense 3.png|Madeleine arguing with Aveline
Erudito 4.png|Madeleine's final moments
Erudito 9.png|Aveline assassinating Madeleine
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC3L}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isle, Madeleine de la}}
[[Category:1732 births]]
[[Category:1777 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Frenchmen]]
[[Category:Merchants]]
[[Category:Slavers]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Master Templars]]
[[Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden]]