Editing Spanish Rite of the Templar Order

{{Era|Organizations|Templars}}
{{Conjecture}}
{{Faction infobox
|name=
|image=The Inquisitions Army.jpg
|founder=
|leader=[[Master Templar]]
|headquarters=[[Granada]]<br>[[Ávila]]<br>[[Madrid]]
|locations=[[Spain]]
|parent=[[Templars]]
|predecessor=
|successor=
|subsidiaries=
|religion=[[Christianity]] {{c|nominally, 15th cen.}}
|active=late 15th cen.<ref name="ACMN">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization]]''</ref> – present<ref name="Film"/>
|}}
The '''Spanish Rite of the Templar Order''' is the branch of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] operating in [[Spain]]. The Rite grew to prominence during the [[Renaissance]] when it spearheaded the [[Spanish Inquisition]] under Grand Inquisitor [[Tomás de Torquemada]], through the machinations of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templars]].

Under the auspices of these two leaders, the Templars enacted a purge of the [[Assassins]] in the region while goading the Christian kingdoms of [[Castile]] and [[Aragon]] to [[Granada War|conquer]] the [[Emirate of Granada]]. At the same time, they attempted to sabotage the expedition of [[Genoa|Genoese]] explorer [[Christoffa Corombo]] through any means necessary so that they may be the first [[Europe]]ans to reach the [[Americas]]. A third scheme involved the Grand Inquisitor's plans to seize the [[Aguilar's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]] in the possession of [[Muhammad XII of Granada]]. Their plots unraveled in particular due to the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]]'s intervention and the successes of the [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassin]] [[Aguilar de Nerha]], though Granada would fall to the Spanish forces.

Following the [[Spanish Empire]]'s expansion to the New World, the Spanish Rite sent agents to the [[Inca Empire]] and the [[Caribbean|West Indies]], including [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]], to lay the seeds for [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|new]] [[American Rite of the Templar Order|rites]] of the Order in the Americas. In [[modern times]], the Templars remain active in Spain through their front company, [[Abstergo Industries]], and its subsidiaries, such as the [[Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center|Abstergo Foundation]].

==History==
===Renaissance===
====Controlling the Inquisition====
{{Quote|Grand Inquisitor! Our agents have infiltrated the courts of the King and Queen. Their army is ours to command!|Ojeda to Tomás de Torquemada, 1489.|Assassin's Creed: Rebellion|Prologue (Rebellion)}}
In the late 15th century, the Templars integrated themselves into the leadership of the [[Spanish Inquisition]], using it to root out those who opposed the Templar agenda and manipulating faith for their own gain. To accomplish this, Grand Inquisitor and [[Master Templar]] [[Tomás de Torquemada]] favored the ''[[auto-da-fé]]'', public executions during which "heretics" were burned at the stake. At some point, the Templars captured and executed [[Aguilar de Nerha]]'s Assassin parents, prompting the Spaniard to join the Brotherhood.<ref name="ACMN"/>

In 1489, after the Heredia noble family refused to support the Inquisition, the Templars branded them as heretics and executed them.<ref name="Home Sweet Home">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[Horacio's Retribution]]'' – [[Home Sweet Home]]</ref> The sole surviving member of the family, [[Horacio de Heredia]], subsequently sought vengeance on his family's murderers and allied with the [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassins]] to eliminate Commandant [[Duran]] and Executioner [[Pedrosa]].<ref name="Horacio's Payback">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[Horacio's Retribution]]'' – [[Horacio's Payback]]</ref>

[[File:Assassinate Gaspar Martinez 4.png|thumb|250px|left|Gaspar Martínez assassinated by Ezio]]
In 1491, Torquemada received a list of names of supposed heretics from cardinal [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templars]]. In reality, the list consisted of the names of [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassins]] whom Rodrigo wished to see executed. Nevertheless, Torquemada followed Rodrigo's orders and had his Inquisitors capture the Assassins, secretly hoping to earn Rodrigo's favor due to his candidacy for the [[Papacy]].<ref name="Find Pedro Llorent">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Find Pedro Llorente]]</ref>

After the Spanish Assassin [[Luis de Santángel]] requested his aid,<ref name="Bring the Atlas">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Bring the Atlas to the Harbor]]</ref> the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] traveled to Spain to save his brethren and killed the Inquisitors [[Gaspar Martínez]] and [[Pedro Llorente]], both of whom had been kept in the dark regarding the Assassins and Templars' existence.<ref name="Assassinate Gaspar Martinez">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Assassinate Gaspar Martínez]]</ref><ref name="Assassinate Pedro Llorente">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Assassinate Pedro Llorente]]</ref>

====Search for the Staff of Eden====
{{Quote|Pestilential Assassins! You have gained in strength since we last met. You may have kept me from the second piece of the Staff of Eden, but it is useless to you without the first! We will regroup and take this piece from you when you least expect it.|Ojeda taunting the Spanish Assassins following his defeat, c. 1490.|Assassin's Creed: Rebellion|The Monastery of St. Lucia}}
In 1489, Torquemada began a search for the pieces of the [[Shattered Staff of Eden]], tasking his right-hand man [[Ojeda]] and the Inquisitor [[Gustavo Ramírez]] to find the three Staff sections scattered across Spain. Ramírez found the first section at [[St. Rafael Abbey]] but was targeted by a team of Spanish Assassins led by Aguilar de Nerha, who had uncovered the Templars' plans.<ref name="The Artifact">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Artifact]]</ref> Fortunately, Ojeda was able to warn Ramírez in time and he lured the Assassins into a trap at his stronghold in [[Murcia]] before escaping.<ref name="Death to Ramirez">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Death to Ramírez]]</ref>

[[File:ACReb - The Breaching of Sabada Castle 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Gustavo Ramírez escaping from Sádaba Castle]]
Later, Ramírez ordered the executions of innocent civilians in [[Zaragoza]], which the Assassins prevented,<ref name="Auto-Da-Fe">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Auto-Da-Fé]]</ref> and retreated to [[Sádaba Castle]] until he could safely transport the Staff section to Torquemada.<ref name="Lap Dog">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[A Lap Dog's Death]]</ref> The Assassins again tracked him down, but Ramírez's bodyguard, Captain [[Ordóñez]], fought them to allow his master to escape.<ref name="Breaching of Sadaba Castle">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Breaching of Sádaba Castle]]</ref>

By this time, the Templars had located the second piece of the Staff, which a group of [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] [[Scholar|monks]] loyal to Ramírez were holding for him at the [[Monastery of St. Lucia]]. Ojeda was sent to retrieve the artifact, but the Assassins intercepted and defeated him, forcing the Templar to escape empty-handed.<ref name="Monastery of St Lucia">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Monastery of St. Lucia]]</ref>

====Prolonging the Granada War====
{{Dialogue|Luis|Interesting... first they seek Christoffa's map, then they come to España to exacerbate a war that does not concern them.|Raphael|We have suspected for some time that the Templars were planning their own expedition west. This may be their way of delaying Christoffa's journey.|Luis de Santángel and Raphael Sánchez discussing the Templars' plans, 1491.|Assassin's Creed II: Discovery|Report the Spy's Death}}
Aside from their involvement with the Inquisition, the Templars also discovered the existence of [[North America|an entire landmass]] across the [[Atlantic Ocean]] unknown to [[Europe]]ans at the time. Hoping to claim the continent for themselves, they aspired to prolong the [[Granada War]] indefinitely as a means of exhausting the treasury of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]] and depriving the explorer [[Christoffa Corombo]] of his much-needed funds for {{Wiki|Voyages of Christopher Columbus|his own voyage}} across the Atlantic.<ref name="Report the Spy's Death">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Report the Spy's Death]]</ref> In order to accomplish this, the Templars placed a spy within Emir [[Muhammad XII of Granada|Muhammad XII]]'s circle of advisors, who provided the emir with false counsel that downplayed the peril he was in.<ref name="Assassinate the Templar Spy">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Assassinate the Templar Spy]]</ref>

In late November 1491, just before the night of the last assault on Granada, the Templar spy present in Muhammad's circle of advisors was assassinated by Ezio Auditore.<ref name="Assassinate the Templar Spy"/> In the wake of this development, the Templars seized Muhammad outright in his throne room at the [[Alhambra]] palace, without even his [[Soldier|guards]] being aware of it. As a hostage, Muhammad could do nothing but listen as his Templar captor gloated over his schemes, all while the battle of Granada raged on outside.<ref name="Find King Muhammad">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Find King Muhammad]]</ref>

However, it was at that moment that Ezio, under the guidance of the Assassin [[Raphael Sánchez]], infiltrated the palace through the catacombs, entered the throne room and killed the Templar from behind, freeing Muhammad. He wasted no time in convincing the Emir to surrender to Spain, effectively ending the war and thwarting the Templars' plans.<ref name="Find King Muhammad"/>

In a last-ditch attempt to prevent Corombo's voyage, the Templars attempted to kill the explorer during his journey to [[France]] to accept a sponsorship from King [[Charles VIII of France|Charles VIII]]. However, Ezio protected him and the Assassins convinced Queen [[Isabella I of Castile]] to sponsor Corombo' voyage, ultimately leading to the discovery of the "New World".<ref name="Find Christoffa">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Find Christoffa (2)]]</ref>

====Quest for the Apple====
{{Quote|Thanks to the Apple of Eden, the known world will be ushered into a new age. One of peace, in which all the warring populations of mankind shall bow in perfect obedience to our one Templar rule.|Torquemada upon acquiring the Apple, 1492.|Assassin's Creed (film)}}
During this time, the Templars discovered that Muhammad was in possession of an [[Aguilar's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]] given to him by the Assassins. Prior to the Granada War's end, the Templars took advantage of the ongoing siege of Granada to try and infiltrate the city and steal the Apple. They successfully captured [[Fort Baza]], one of Granada's last lines of defense,<ref name="Retiring Captain Ordonez">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Retiring Captain Ordóñez]]</ref> but their actual attempts to breach the city were thwarted by the Assassins.<ref name="Ammunition Ablaze">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Ammunition Ablaze]]</ref><ref name="A Spy Among Us">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[A Spy Among Us (Rebellion)|A Spy Among Us]]</ref>

[[File:ACfilm - Andalusian village.png|thumb|250px|left|Ramirez addressing the villagers]]
Eventually, Torquemada devised another plan to acquire the Apple and decided to kidnap Muhammad's son, Prince [[Ahmed of Granada|Ahmed]], and exchange him for the artifact. The Templars Ojeda and [[Ramirez]] led a company to a remote [[Andalusia]]n village, having received intelligence that the prince was supposedly being sheltered there. The information turned out to be correct, as they found the prince hidden in one of the residences. However, the Templars were then ambushed by a team of Assassins led by their [[Mentor]], [[Benedicto]].<ref name="Film">[[Assassin's Creed (film)|''Assassin's Creed'' film]]</ref>

Despite the unexpected resistance and the loss of Ramirez and several soldiers, the Templars were ultimately victorious and captured Ahmed, as well as the Assassins Benedicto, Aguilar de Nerha, and [[María]]. Subsequently, on 2 January 1492, the captured Assassins were taken to [[Seville]] to be publicly executed in an ''auto-da-fé'', presided over by Torquemada. Although Benedicto was burnt at the stake, Aguilar and María escaped and, after a long pursuit across the city's rooftops, fled Seville.<ref name="Film"/>

After the fall of Granada, the Templars marched into the city and took over the [[Alhambra]], confronting Muhammad. With his Assassin protectors dead and his son in the hands of the Templars, the defeated Emir led them to the room where the artifact was hidden and relinquished the [[Piece of Eden]] to Torquemada, who in turn released the young prince. As Torquemada held up the Apple in victory, Aguilar and María commenced their attack and dispatched the Grand Inquisitor's guards.<ref name="Film"/>

[[File:ACM Apple of Eden Torquemada.jpg|thumb|250px|Torquemada holding the Apple of Eden]]
During the chaos, Aguilar seized the Apple from Torquemada, and Ojeda took María hostage, prompting her to commit suicide, to prevent Aguilar from renouncing the Apple to save her. Enraged, Aguilar killed Ojeda, then fled with the Apple as Templar reinforcements arrived. Although Torquemada and his guards pursued him, they ultimately failed to prevent the Assassin's escape.<ref name="Film"/>

Later that day, on the night of Muhammad's abdication ceremony, the Templars struck again, targeting not him this time, but Queen Isabella I. However, the Templar assassins were intercepted and killed outside the ceremony by Ezio Auditore and his friend, the former [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassin]] [[Helene Dufranc]].<ref name="Stop the Assassination">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Stop the Assassination]]</ref>

====Torquemada's downfall====
{{Quote|Ugh, why do you continue to resist? Had I the Apple as well, you would be mewling at my feet! Bow to me! I am Order! I am the future of the WORLD!|Torquemada being confronted by the Assassins inside the Forge, 1498.|Assassin's Creed: Rebellion|The Forge}}
In the aftermath of the fall of Granada, Torquemada acted swiftly in dispatching an Inquisitor, [[Juan de Marillo]], to round up all heretics in the city. This operation failed when Ezio rescued many of these condemned citizens before proceeding to assassinate Juan in the city's sewers without anyone noticing.<ref name="Assassinate Juan de Marillo">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Assassinate Juan de Marillo]]</ref>
[[File:Assassinate Tomas Torquemada 5.png|thumb|250px|left|Torquemada confronted by Ezio]]
Shortly after Corombo set sail on his first voyage, the Inquisitors, under the manipulation of the Templars, sent soldiers to kill the Assassins Luis de Santángel and Raphael Sánchez in retaliation for foiling their plans to stall the expedition. Ezio protected both men,<ref name="Rid the Palace of Inquisitors">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Rid the Palace of Inquisitors]]</ref><ref name="Rescue Raphael Sanchez">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Rescue Raphael Sánchez]]</ref> before infiltrating Torquemada's estate in an attempt to assassinate him. However, the Grand Inquisitor managed to escape, though not before denying any knowledge of the Assassins and Templars. This led Ezio to conclude that Torquemada was just a puppet of Rodrigo Borgia and abandon any plans to eliminate him.<ref name="Assassinate Tomas Torquemada">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' – [[Assassinate Tomás Torquemada]]</ref>

During this time, Gustavo Ramírez continued his search for the third and final piece of the Shattered Staff of Eden, secretly aided by the Assassin turncoat [[Diego de Alvarado]].<ref name="Northern Ally">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Rescue of a Northern Ally]]</ref> Ramírez and his forces captured and tortured a sect of monks from the [[Asturias]] mountains, learning that they had entrusted the Staff section to the nobleman [[Pedro Madruga]].<ref name="Abbot Extraction">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Abbot Extraction]]</ref> Diego subsequently retrieved the artifact from [[Sobroso Castle]], Pedro's former residence,<ref name="Sobroso Surprise">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Sobroso Surprise]]</ref> but while meeting with Ramírez, he decided to double-cross and kill the Templar so he could personally deliver the Staff to Torquemada and be rewarded accordingly.<ref name="A Brother's Betrayal">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[A Brother's Betrayal]]</ref>

After also stealing the Staff section in the Assassins' possession,<ref name="Higher Education">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Higher Education (Rebellion)|Higher Education]]</ref> Diego delivered the complete Staff to Torquemada, shortly before he was tracked down and killed by the Brotherhood for his betrayal.<ref name="Pieces of Silver">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Pieces of Silver]]</ref> With all pieces of the Staff in-hand, Torquemada traveled to "[[the Forge]]", an [[Isu]] vault underneath the [[Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás]], where he sought to use the ancient technology inside to repair the Staff and then use its power to subjugate Spain.<ref name="The Forge">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[The Forge]]</ref>

[[File:ACReb Dead Torquemada.jpg|thumb|250px|Torquemada killed by the Assassins]]
On 16 September 1498, the Assassins launched an assault on the heavily-guarded monastery with the help of their [[mercenary]] allies, and confronted Torquemada inside the Forge. Although the Grand Inquisitor used the Staff to summon an army of holographic soldiers, he was ultimately killed and the Staff destroyed. With Torquemada's demise, Templar control over the Spanish Inquisition came to an end, although the Inquisition itself would continue for another three centuries.<ref name="The Forge"/>

====Routing from Spain====
In 1499, the Templar [[Garza]] and the Assassin turncoat [[Ubayd Alayza]] captured Assassin sympathizers in Granada. The Spanish Assassins intervened and worked with Ubayd's sister [[Najma Alayza|Najma]], a [[Libyan Brotherhood of Assassins|Libyan Assassin]] who wanted to kill her brother for betraying the Brotherhood and their family.<ref name="Crossed Blades">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[Kinslayer]]'' – [[Crossed Blades]]</ref> As Ubayd rebelled against the Templars after seeing that they did not care about the population of Granada, Garza killed him.<ref name="Vengeance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[Kinslayer]]'' – [[Vengeance (Rebellion)|Vengeance]]</ref> Later, Najma assassinated Garza and joined the Spanish Brotherhood.<ref name="Storm Chasing">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[Kinslayer]]'' – [[Storm Chasing]]</ref>

By the turn of the 15th century, the Templars had infiltrated Queen Isabella I's inner circle and began influencing her. The Assassin Luis de Santángel discovered their plans and attempted to poison the queen, but died before he could succeed. In 1504, a group of Assassins from [[Rome]] sent by Ezio Auditore finished Luis' mission and successfully poisoned the queen.<ref name="Contracts PL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Contracts (Project Legacy)|Contracts]]</ref><ref name="Contracts BH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Contracts (Italian Brotherhood)|Contracts]]</ref>

In 1511, the Templars commandeered the forges of [[Toledo]]'s famous [[blacksmiths]], causing them to flee to [[Madrid]]. However, the Assassins reclaimed their properties from the Templars, returning them to their rightful owners. Later that year, the Assassins sought out the leaders of the Templar network in Madrid and eliminated them, eventually expelling the Templars from the city.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense]]</ref>

===Age of Discovery===
In 1521, the Spanish Templars influenced the explorer [[Juan Ponce de León]] to journey to [[Florida]] in search of the [[Fountain of Youth]]. However, the Assassins in Florida stopped Ponce de León by sending their agent [[Miguel Ramón Carlo de Lugo]] to convince him to abandon his quest and turn back. When de León refused, the Assassin struck him with a [[Poison|poisoned]] [[arrow]] that soon afterwards resulted in his demise, thereby ending his quest.<ref name="ACR:DYL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy]]'' – Bloodlines: "Miguel Ramón Carlo de Lugo"</ref>

The Templars also influenced [[Francisco Pizarro]], who led the Spanish [[Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire|conquest]] of the [[Inca Empire]]. After discovering his affiliation with the Order, the Assassins killed Pizarro in 1541 to end his tyrannical rule over [[Peru]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs#15|Glyph 15: "Guardians"]]</ref>

===Age of Enlightenment===
[[File:Mister Walpole I Presume 11.png|thumb|250px|left|Laureano Torres with the West Indies Templars]]
In the mid-to-late 17th century, [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] was recruited into the Templar Order while serving in the [[Spanish Army]].<ref name="Torres DB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[Database: Grand Master Torres]]</ref> Tasked by the Templar [[Council of Elders|council]] to locate the [[Observatory (Isu)|Observatory]], an Isu surveillance facility hidden in the West Indies, Torres traveled to the [[Caribbean]] and established the [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]],<ref name="Mister Walpole">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Mister Walpole, I Presume?]]</ref> leading it as its Grand Master until 1722 while searching for the Observatory.<ref name="Ever a Splinter">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Ever a Splinter]]</ref> The West Indies Rite also comprised several other Spanish Templars, such as [[Renardo Aguilar]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Abstergo Data]]: "Customization – Characters: The Duelist"</ref>

At some point before 1747, the Spanish Templar [[Juan Vedomir]] was given a [[Edward Kenway's journal|journal]] to decipher by [[Reginald Birch]], Grand Master of the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]]. However, Vedomir eventually betrayed the Order for unknown reasons, leading Birch to send his agent [[Haytham Kenway]] to kill the traitor in {{Wiki|Altea}} and recover the journal.<ref name="ACF">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''</ref>

In 1750, the Spanish Templar [[Rafael Joaquín de Ferrer]], whose family owed a debt to Reginald Birch, was sent to [[Cuba]] in search of a [[Precursor box]].<ref name="Cuban Salvage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[War Letters]]: "Cuban Salvage"</ref> After stealing a set of maps of the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] from the Assassin [[Rhona Dinsmore]], de Ferrer discovered the ruins of the [[Maya]] city of [[Chichen Itza]], which he believed to house Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Chichen Itza">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[War Letters]]: "Chichen Itza"</ref> The [[Louisiana Rite of the Templar Order|Louisiana Templars]] would subsequently set up an excavation site in the area, overseen by de Ferrer.<ref name="AC3L">''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]''</ref> 

In 1751, the Templar [[Alonso Fernández de Heredia]] was appointed Governor of Florida, a post he held until 1758. During his tenure, Heredia established a naval industry in Florida and used military action against the [[British Empire]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] to cover the Templar activities in the Gulf of Mexico. He also supplied the Templar excavation site in Chichen Itza with [[Slavery|slave]] workers and, after being appointed Governor of Yucatán in 1758, helped to conceal the site's existence.<ref name="Savannah">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[War Letters]]: "Savannah"</ref>

Prior to his ''coup d'etat'' of the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]] in 1789, [[François-Thomas Germain]] likely contacted the Spanish Rite to gain their support for his plot by convincing them that the overthrowing of Grand Master [[François de la Serre]] was necessary. In 1794, [[Frederick Weatherall]] contacted the Spanish Rite and sent appeals asking them to support the overthrown [[de la Serre family]] against Germain and his extremists. Though they lent their sympathies, they offered no support, as the Parisian Rite ran smoothly, making [[Élise de la Serre]]'s request for support of marginal interest.<ref name="ACUN">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref>

===Modern times===
[[File:Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center.png|thumb|250px|The Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center]]
By 2016, the [[Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center]], a subsidiary of [[Abstergo Industries]], was located in Madrid. Like its parent company, it operated as a front for the modern-day Templar Order. Ostensibly, the Foundation's goal was to find a genetic "cure to violence" by locating an Apple of Eden. Headed by Dr. [[Sofia Rikkin]], the Foundation held a number of imprisoned subjects, many of whom were either descended from or active members of the Assassin Brotherhood, who were forced into the [[Animus]] in order to explore their ancestors' [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]].<ref name="Film"/>

On 22 October 2016, [[Callum Lynch]], a descendant of the 15th-century Spanish Assassin Aguilar de Nerha, was brought to the facility by Sofia Rikkin and placed into their Animus. After several sessions in the Animus, the Templars succeeded in locating Aguilar's Apple, but were forced to flee the facility when its inmates organized a revolt and overcame the guards.<ref name="Film"/>

==Members==
;Renaissance
*[[Ubayd Alayza]]
*[[Bordingas]]
*[[Duran]]
*[[Garza]]
*[[Lord Captain]]
*[[Ojeda]]
*[[Pedrosa]]
*[[Ramirez]]
*[[Gustavo Ramírez]]
*[[Tomás de Torquemada]] {{c|[[Templar leader|leader]]; until 1498}}
*[[Templar agent|Unidentified agent]]
;Age of Discovery
*[[Francis Xavier]] {{c|[[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Rite]]}}
;Age of Enlightenment
*Alejandro Estrada de Ortega
*[[Renardo Aguilar]] {{c|[[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]]}}
*[[Rafael Joaquín de Ferrer]] {{c|[[Louisiana Rite of the Templar Order|Louisiana Rite]]}}
*[[Alonso Fernández de Heredia]]
*[[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] {{c|[[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]]}}
*[[Juan Vedomir]] {{c|betrayed}}

===Allies and puppets===
;Renaissance
<div style="float:left; width:48;">
*[[Alonzo]]
*[[Diego de Alvarado]] {{c|[[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Brotherhood]]}}
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]] {{c|[[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Roman Rite]]}}
*[[Cesare Borgia]] {{c|Roman Rite}}
*[[Diego de Burgos]]
*[[Cadavid]]
*[[Chacon]]
*[[The Cygnet]]
*[[Hassan (merchant)|Hassan]]
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*[[Isabella I of Castile]]
*[[Pedro Llorente]]
*[[Gaspar Martínez]]
*[[Juan de Marillo]]
*[[Muhammad XII of Granada]]
*[[Nuñes]]
*[[Ordóñez]]
*[[Del Salto]]
*[[Inquisitor's scribe]]
</div>
{{-}}
;Age of Discovery
*[[Francisco Pizarro]]
*[[Juan Ponce de León]]
;Age of Enlightenment
*[[Reginald Birch]] {{c|[[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]]}}
;Modern times
*[[McGowen]]
*[[Alan Rikkin]]
*[[Sofia Rikkin]]

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Contracts (Project Legacy)|Contracts]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Contracts (Italian Brotherhood)|Contracts]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Black Flag]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]] {{Mo}}
*[[Assassin's Creed (film)|''Assassin's Creed'' film]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]''
**''[[Horacio's Retribution]]''
**''[[Kinslayer]]''

==References==
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[[Category:Templar Rites]]
[[Category:Abstergo Industries]]