Editing Templars

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{{WP-REAL|Knights Templar}}
{{Update|[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]}}
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{{Quote|The people never have the power. Only the illusion of it. And here’s the real secret: they don’t want it. The responsibility is too great to bear. It’s why they’re so quick to fall in line as soon as someone takes charge. They WANT to be told what to do. They YEARN for it. Little wonder, that, since all mankind was BUILT to SERVE.|[[Haytham Kenway]], 1781.|Assassin's Creed III}}
{{Faction Infobox
|name = Templars
|image = Knights.png
|imgdesc = The [[Templar insignia|insignia]] of the Templar Order
|hideo =
|leader = *[[General of the Cross]]
*[[Council of Elders]]
*[[Guardians]]
*[[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]]
*[[Grand Master]]s
|related = *[[Order of the Ancients]] (precursor incarnation)
*[[Roman Empire|Roman Senate]]<ref name="Aquilus"/>
*[[Crusaders]]<ref name="AC"/>
*[[House of Borgia]]<ref name="AC2"/>
*[[Papacy]] (999-1003, 1492-1503)<ref name="Lineage"/>
*[[Byzantine Empire]]<ref name="ACRV"/>
*[[Extremists]]<ref name="ACU"/>
*[[Jacobins]]<ref name="ACU"/>
*[[Blighters]]<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref>
*[[Abstergo Industries]]<ref name="AC"/>
|religion = Irreligious,<ref name="AC"/><ref name="AC2"/> Deist<ref name="ACU" />
|hideh =
|formed = Prehistory<ref name="AC2"/>
|reorganized = 1129<br>1312<br>1937<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
|collapsed =
|hidea =
|notable =*[[Hugues de Payens]]
*[[Jacques de Molay]]
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
*[[François-Thomas Germain]]|founder = [[Cain]]}}
The '''Templar Order''', also known as the '''[[Order of the Ancients]]''' during its early years, the '''Order of the Knights Templar''', the '''Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon''' and the '''Order of Solomon's Temple''' is a monastic military order-turned-corporate giant, which was formed during the prehistoric era. The Templars seek to create a [[New World Order|perfect world]], although their interpretation thereof directly contrasts with the ideals of their sworn enemies, the [[Assassins|Assassin Brotherhood]].

Whereas the Assassins assert that utopia can someday be achieved through a gradual process of learning tolerance and mutual understanding, Templars classically insist that human nature is too prone to corruption for this to be a possibility. Key to their dream is the imposition of a [[New World Order]], and they envision that true peace can only come when all of humanity is shepherded by an enlightened society of people—in their eyes, them. Because of this conflict in ideology, the Templars became involved in a [[Assassin–Templar War|covert war]] against the Assassins, spanning millennia and continuing into the modern era. The Templars have also become enemies with the [[Instruments of the First Will]], a cult who have sworn their lives to restore the [[Isu]]'s rule over [[Humans|humanity]].

==Organization==
Similar to the Assassin Brotherhood, the Templar Order's rules consists of three tenets:
#"Uphold the principles of our order and all that for which we stand."
#"Never share our secrets nor divulge in the true nature of our work."
#"Do so until death, whatever the cost."

Originally, the title of [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] officially denoted the head of the Templar Order. Indeed, during the Middle Ages when the order's existence was public knowledge, the Grand Master was projected as their sole supreme commander. However, as the organization spread across the globe, establishing branches in virtually every country, the title of Grand Master came to designate only the leader of regional factions called Rites.<ref name="The Essential Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref>

Beneath the Grand Master of each Rite are nine ranks, with immediate subordinates being the high-ranking [[Master Templar]]s. In order following the Masters are the Seneschals, Advisors, Commanders, Preceptors, Knights, Warriors, Clerics, and finally, the Disciples.<ref name="ACBH m/p">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Multiplayer]]</ref> These ranks parallel a similar system of hierarchy among their mortal adversaries, the Assassins.<ref name="The Essential Guide" />

===Inner Sanctum===
To maintain cohesion of the Rites as components of a centralized entity, the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] was formed. Consisting of an elite group of nine Templars, the Inner Sanctum harbors direct knowledge of all of the order's plans and is the nucleus from which orders are relayed to the other Rites. Their number, nine, reflects a convention that dates back to at least the [[Third Crusade]], when nine leading Templars coordinated closely to seek after the [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]] in [[Solomon's Temple]].<ref name="AC" /> In modern times, since the foundation of [[Abstergo Industries]] as a public front for the order, the Inner Sanctum simultaneously serves as Abstergo's Board of Directors.<ref name="ACRV" /><ref name="The Essential Guide" />

===Outer Temple===
The Inner Sanctum, in turn, is classified as one of two parts of the order, the other being the Outer Temple. Whereas the Inner Sanctum is privy to all the affairs of the order, being responsible for them, the Outer Temple comprises all other Templars, all of whom are kept in the dark of the full details and extent of the order's operations.<ref name="The Essential Guide" />

===Guardians and General of the Cross===
Although the Inner Sanctum acts as the executive arm of the Templar Order, even they are not its paramount leaders, for they are ultimately subservient to the [[Guardians (Templars)|Guardians]] and the [[Generals of the Cross|General of the Cross]], the latter of whom is the true head of the Templar Order. Every major decision of the Inner Sanctum must be passed to the Guardians for review, who in turn relay them to the General of the Cross for the ultimate grant of approval. Accordingly, the General possesses the sole power to veto any significant action or plan the Inner Sanctum seeks to undertake.<ref name="The Essential Guide" />

Under normal circumstances, even the Inner Sanctum does not know the identity of the General of the Cross, a secret so strictly guarded that only the Guardians are permitted knowledge of it. As a result, the Guardians are the bridge between the Inner Sanctum and the General of the Cross, the medium through which communication between the two exists. There are three Guardians, and as witnessed in the case of the Guardian [[Alan Rikkin]] who also served as Chief Executive Officer of Abstergo Industries and chairman of the Inner Sanctum, a Guardian may hold another office at the same time.<ref name="The Essential Guide" />

===Council of Elders===
Apart from the Inner Sanctum and the Guardians, there exists a [[Council of Elders]] which wielded some authority over even the Guardian Alan Rikkin. Among the Council's functions is the power to dissolve [[Abstergo Foundation]] based on whether they believe the subsidiary is a worthy investment or a waste of resources.<ref name="ACfilm">''[[Assassin's Creed (film)|Assassin's Creed: The Movie]]''</ref>

===Black Cross===
The [[Black Cross]] is a title bestowed upon the members of a branch within the Templar Order tasked with keeping the [[Grand Master]]s of the various Rites in line with the Templar Code and ideals.

Secret inquisitors only answering to the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]]'s orders, the agents were authorized to use any means necessary, even deadly force, to take down corrupted members of the Order. A Black Cross' secondary mission was to track [[Pieces of Eden]] for the Inner Sanctum.

Deadly enforcers acting as an independent morality police force of one man, very few individuals wore the title of Black Cross across the centuries though the Bolden family line counted many among their number.

==History==
{{Quote|In hoc signo vinces"<br>"(In this sign you will conquer)|The motto of the Templar Brotherhood|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
===Prehistory===
According to legend, the organization that would later be known as the Templar Order was founded by [[Cain]], a son of [[Eve]] and [[Adam]], who murdered his brother [[Abel]] for an [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]];<ref name="The Essential Guide" /> the Templars' crest is rumored to have been the mark of Cain.<ref name="The Essential Guide" /> Despite their aims being aligned, a conflict in ideology quickly led to the Templars becoming an archenemy of the Assassins, who, as opposed to the Templars, sought to allow the people to retain free will.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Ancient world===
====Aiding the Achaemenid Empire====
During the Achaemenid Dynasty of [[Iran]], the Proto-Templars aided King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius I]] when he overthrew the usurper of the {{Wiki|Achaemenid Empire|Empire}} and became the king of Persia.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

The Templars continued to aid his son, [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes I]], during his invasions of [[Greece]].<ref name="Encyclopedia" />

====Assisting Alexander the Great====
The Proto-Templars' influence reached out to [[Macedonia]], where they succeeded in allying themselves with [[Alexander the Great]]. As a symbol of their alliance, the Proto-Templars entrusted Alexander with one of the [[Alexander's Staff of Eden|Staves of Eden]], which helped Alexander to create one of the largest empires in history and become one of the most successful military commanders.<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> However, Proto-Assassin interference resulted in Alexander's poisoning in 323 BCE, by the [[Babylonian Assassins|Babylonian Proto-Assassin]] [[Iltani]].<ref name="AC2" />

====Qin Dynasty====
The Proto-Templars also became strong allies of [[Qin Shi Huang]], the first emperor of [[China]] and also the founder of several of China's most famous landmarks.<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> Qin Shi Huang was killed by the [[Chinese Assassins|Chinese Proto-Assassin]] [[Wei Yu]] in 210 BCE.<ref name="AC2" />
====Ancient Egypt====
In 51 BCE, as the young [[Ptolemy XIII]] ascended to the throne as co-ruler of Egypt alongside his sister-wife [[Cleopatra]]. The Proto-Templars, then called the [[Order of the Ancients]], quickly became the true power behind the throne and used all their powers to influence, through Ptolemy, the organization of Egyptian society and to push forward their own plans for the realm.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref>

Discovering that the Queen was not as easy to handle as her brother, the Order instigated the expulsion of Cleopatra from Egypt in 48 BCE. They chose Ptolemy, knowing that Cleopatra was a much more cunning ruler and a better strategist than her younger brother, who was more interested in the superficiality of power and was easily swayed by them.<ref name="ACO" />

After he discovered their existence, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] began a quest to thwart their plans for domination and as a result later founded the Brotherhood that was the precursor to the Assassins: the [[Hidden Ones]], an organization which would eventually fight against the next iteration of the Order of the Ancients in the following millennia, the Templar Order.<ref name="ACO" />

====Ancient Rome====
[[File:ACO Brutus stabbing Caesar.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Brutus Assassinates Caesar]]
During the later days of the [[Roman Republic]], the Order of the Ancients heavily influenced its ruling body, the {{Wiki|Roman Senate|Senate}}. Their intervention in Roman politics was continuously thwarted by the Hidden Ones, however. A notable example of this was the plot against the Order-backed general [[Gaius Julius Caesar]], who was appointed dictator for life. Forty Hidden Ones, most notably [[Aya]], [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] and [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], planned to assassinate Caesar, a plan which they successfully executed on 15 March 44 BCE.<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="ACO" />

In 30 BCE, the Order-allied Queen<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> of [[Egypt]] and former Caesar's lover, [[Cleopatra]], was killed by the Aya, then known as Amunet by the use of a venomous snake.<ref name="AC2" />

Additionally, the Order-influenced [[Roman Empire|Emperor]] [[Caligula]] was stabbed with a dagger by the Hidden One [[Leonius]] on 24 January 41 CE.<ref name="AC2" />

====Crucifixion of Jesus====
During the 1st century, they found out that one of the [[Pieces of Eden]], [[Shroud of Eden|the Shroud]], was in the hands of [[Jesus Christ]]. Wanting the Piece for their own purposes, the Order of the Ancients crucified Jesus in order to gain it.<ref name="AC2" />

====Retrieving of the Ankh====
By 259, the Order of the Ancients still had positions within the Roman Empire. However, during the same year, the Hidden One [[Aquilus]], guided by his father [[Lucius]], had begun taking down a number of Order members, until he got to his third target: the Roman general [[Gracchus]]. Being given entrance to Gracchus' military tent, he confronted Aquilus with the information he had gathered on the Hidden Ones' activities. Trying to prevent Aquilus from killing him, Gracchus stabbed Aquilus in the chest;<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed 1: Desmond]]''</ref> however, the wound was not fatal, and the Romans were quickly attacked by [[Alemanni|Alamanni]].<ref name="Aquilus">''[[Assassin's Creed 2: Aquilus]]''</ref>

Around this time, the Roman senator [[Caïus Fulvus Vultur]] - a secret Order member- traveled to Lugdunum to meet with his old contact Lucius; at the same time, Aquilus was traveling home to Lugdunum, carrying with him the [[Ankh]], an ancient artifact capable of reviving the dead which Aquilus retrieved from his Alaman cousin [[Accipiter]]. Lucius and Aquilus, both unaware of Vultur's affiliations, had Vultur stay in their home temporarily. The same night, Aquilus interrogated the Order priest [[Faustinus|Faustin]], whom Lucius suspected on having informed Gracchus. Simultaneously, Vultur betrayed Lucius, killing him and taking possession of the Ankh. Faustin revealed Vultur's ties to Aquilus, who rushed back home, only to find his father dead and the Ankh gone.<ref name="Aquilus" />

===Middle Ages===
{{Quote|Nōn nōbīs, Domine, nōn nōbīs, sed Nōminī Tuō dā Glōriam"<br>"(Not to us God, not to us, but to Your Name Give Glory)|The motto of the monastic Templar Order|Assassin's Creed}}
====Formation as a Knightly Order====
As Christian European lords tried to retake the Holy Land from its Muslim rulers during the Crusades, [[Bernard de Clairvaux]] decided the Templars needed the Church as an ally. He sent nine men to [[Solomon's Temple]]: upon their return nine years later, Grand Master [[Hugues de Payens]] and Bernard created the [[Latin Rule]], and reorganized the Order of the Ancients into a public Order of Knights, whose apparent sole purpose was to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land. In the 1129 Council of Troyes, the Order was officially recognized by the church as the Order of the Knights Templar.<ref name="Encyclopedia" />

As the Hidden Ones, now calling themselves the Assassins, had also been made a public organization and as they were primarily based in the Levant at the time, the two factions often clashed.

====Quest for the Chalice====
In 1190, the Templars were searching for a fabled artifact known as the [[Adha|Chalice]] thought to grant the power to unite all factions of the war. To that end, they hunted down an Assassin with intel on the relic to the outskirts of [[Alep]]. Learning that it was hidden in the [[Temple of Sand]], whose location remained lost in the desert, and that they needed three keys for entry, they launched a furious campaign to acquire these keys. Despite their efforts, all three keys, alongside the map to the Temple, were eventually lost to the Assassin [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] in his [[Quest for the Chalice|quest]] for the same relic. This proved to be an inconsequential setback as even without the keys, Basilisk managed to lead an expedition to force their way into the Temple ahead of Altaïr.<ref name="ACAC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''</ref>

Even still, they did not find the treasure that they had hoped for within its premises, discovering instead that the Chalice was a woman named Adha. The Templars acted swiftly in tracking Adha to [[Don Carvaggio's villa]] in [[Jerusalem]], but Basilisk was forced to divulge her location to Altaïr in exchange for mercy after the Assassin infiltrated the [[Templar's Hold]] in [[Tyre]] and defeated him in single combat. As a bonus, Basilisk shared with Altaïr the Templar plot to poison the entire populace of Acre, ending the long siege at last. While he had hoped that this would force Altaïr to delay his rescue of Adha to save the people of Acre, the Assassin countered by burning down Basilisk's fleet.<ref name="ACAC" />

On the same day that the Templars seized Adha captive, Altaïr arrived in Jerusalem and liberated her. Because Adha was aware that [[Harash]], the lieutenant of the Assassin leader [[Al Mualim]], was a Templar spy, she did not dare to return with Altaïr to the Brotherhood. As a result, Basilik's agents recaptured her at the Tyre harbor while she was awaiting alone for Altaïr to return from assassinating Harash. Just as they prepared to set sail, Altaïr arrived and fought his way through the Templar ranks until he slew Basilisk himself.<ref name="ACAC" />

Using a fireship as a diversion, the Templars were able to escape with Adha despite the loss of their commander.<ref name="ACAC" /> Their enemy did not relent and pursued them across the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. In the end, the Templars had Adha murdered after she failed to live up to their expectations, an act that incited the fury of Altaïr who was in love with her. By the following year, every Templar involved in Adha's demise had been hunted down by the vengeful Assassin and killed.<ref name="AC2" />

====Third Crusade====
By 1191, the Templars had come under the leadership of [[Robert de Sable]]. The Templars joined in the [[Third Crusade]] that was waging in the Holy Land, and De Sable started secretly recruiting men on both sides of the war. Among these were [[Garnier de Naplouse]], [[William of Montferrat]] and [[Sibrand]] on the [[Crusaders|Crusader]] side, and [[Tamir]], [[Talal]], [[Abu'l Nuqoud]], [[Majd Addin]] and [[Jubair al Hakim]] on the [[Saracens|Saracen]] side. Unknown to the Assassins however, was that [[Al Mualim]], the [[Mentor]] himself had joined with the Templar cause, though only as a means to obtain the Apple for himself. These ten men found [[Apple of Eden 2|an Apple of Eden]] together in [[Solomon's Temple]], and made a few discoveries with it.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

[[File:Siege of Masyaf Templars.png|thumb|250px|Robert de Sable leading the Templars to Masyaf]]
When Robert de Sable and a few of his men went to retrieve it from the temple, though, their progress was delayed by a small group of Assassins consisting of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and the brothers [[Malik Al-Sayf|Malik]] and [[Kadar Al-Sayf]], who were sent by Al Mualim to retrieve the treasure. Despite Altaïr being routed, Kadar's death, and Malik losing his arm, the artifact was brought into Assassin possession. This event prompted Robert to lead his men to an [[Defense of Masyaf|attack]] on the Assassins' fortress of [[Masyaf]], but as soon as they arrived at the fortress gates, they were routed by a wave of falling tree logs.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim sent Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad on a [[Hunt for the Nine|quest to take down nine Templars]] . One by one, the Templars spread throughout the cities of [[Damascus]], [[Acre]] and [[Jerusalem]], fell to Altaïr's blade, until he was assigned to take down Robert de Sable. De Sable had foreseen when his time would come, and assigned [[Maria Thorpe]] to impersonate him at Majd Addin's funeral, while Robert himself would ride for Arsuf in an attempt to have the Crusaders and Saracens unite in the face of the “Assassin threat”. The Assassin fell for the trap, but quickly found out about Robert's true location. Robert and Altaïr engaged in a battle at Arsuf before Robert was successful in his plan, and Robert was defeated. Before dying, he revealed to Altaïr that the last Templar was his own master, and the Assassin rode off to his final target. After Altaïr killed Al Mualim, the Apple was ultimately lost to the Assassins.<ref name="AC" />

====Relocating to Cyprus====
[[File:Altair Acre Ship.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Templars sailing to Cyprus]]
Control of the Order fell to De Sable's successor, [[Armand Bouchart]]. Not too soon afterwards, Bouchart bought the island of [[Cyprus]] from King [[Richard I of England|Richard I]], which was formerly ruled by the secret Templar [[Isaac Comnenus]]. Planning to retrieve all the artifacts that were hidden in the [[Templar Archive]] underneath [[Limassol]], the Templars set sail from Acre to Cyprus in the fall of 1191.<ref name="Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>

The Templars quickly expanded their reach, starting with building strongholds in Limassol but rapidly taking control of [[Kyrenia]] as well. As the Templars used brute force to stay in control, the people formed a Resistance force that aimed to route the Templars from Cyprus. Additionally, the Templars were followed by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, who had taken Maria Thorpe as a captive. Due to Altaïr's efforts, all of Bouchart's generals in Limassol and Kyrenia were assassinated, and the Templars began to lose grip of Cyprus.<ref name="Bloodlines" />

[[File:Templar Archive1.jpg|thumb|250px|Altaïr killing Bouchart]]
Despite the loss of many men, the Templars were successful in their objective, because while Altaïr was busy with removing Templar control in Kyrenia, the Templars had shipped out all of the artifacts in the Templar Archive underneath Limassol. After all the artifacts were shipped out, Bouchart found himself confronted by Altaïr in the Archive. The two faced off in a duel, but Bouchart too fell to Altaïr's blade.<ref name="Bloodlines" />

====Returning underground====
By 1307, the French King [[Philip IV of France|Philip IV]] was manipulated by the [[French Assassins|French Assassin]] [[Mentor]] [[Guillaume de Nogaret]] into accusing the Templars of heresy, forcing Pope [[Clement V]] to disband them.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> The Grand Master [[Jacques de Molay]] allowed himself to be burned at the stake to fool his enemies into believing the Templars were destroyed. However, Jacques passed his knowledge of the [[Isu|Ancients]] to nine of his subordinates, whom he sent into the world to continue his work, so the Templars would fade from public awareness and operate underground.<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> 
[[File:Tragedy of Jacques de Molay 13.png|thumb|220x220px|De Molay burned at the stake]]
In 1321, the Templars killed the Italian Assassin [[Dante Alighieri]], making their existence known to the Assassins. Three years later, they also killed the Assassins [[Marco Polo]] and the father of [[Domenico Auditore]].<ref name="AC2" />

====Hundred Years' War====
In 1337, [[United Kingdom|England's]] {{Wiki|House of Plantagenet}}, which held a strong claim on the French crown, attacked the [[France|Kingdom of France]], ruled by the {{Wiki|House of Valois}}. Around 1428, a young French women named [[Jeanne d'Arc]], who had somehow obtained one of the [[Swords of Eden]], joined the French forces and lead them French to a series of victories. However, this caught the attention of the Templars, who had set their sights on the Piece of Eden she had in her possession. In 1430, Jeanne was captured and interrogated by the English, before being executed by burning by the Templars, who subsequently gained possession of the Sword.<ref name="AC2" />

===Renaissance===
In the second half of the 15th century, the Brotherhood had regained a stronger position of strength on the world stage, spreading deep into the Church and nobility of [[Italy]], which served as the primary headquarters of Templars and Assassins alike during this era. Under the command of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], the Templars sought to unify Italy under their command, and regain the Apple of Eden which they knew to be buried in Cyprus.<ref name="AC" />

====Sforza assassination====
[[File:Galeazzo and the Assassin.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Lampugnani kissing Sforza's hand]]
Under Rodrigo, the Templars sought to remove the [[House of Sforza|Sforza family]] from power in [[Milan]], thus destabilizing the city's relations with [[Florence]]. Their plan was to assassinate the Duke, [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], on the Feast of Santo Stefano. Rodrigo, having made plans in Florence, left the city with a couple of henchmen, but was followed by [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze]], an Assassin. Rodrigo, frightened, left his henchmen to fight Giovanni while he made his escape. Giovanni managed to kill the henchmen, and take one captive. Giovanni brought this man to the [[House of Medici|Medici]], where he was tortured by [[Lorenzo de' Medici]] and [[Uberto Alberti]], who was secretly a Templar.<ref name="Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

Having gathered enough information on their plans from Rodrigo's henchman, Giovanni hurried to Milan to prevent the Duke's assassination. However, the Templars [[Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani]], [[Carlo Visconti]] and [[Gerolamo Olgiati]] killed the Duke when the church bell rang for the twelfth time. Visconti and Olgiati managed to escape, while Lampugnani was killed by a Sforza guard.<ref name="Lineage" />

====Auditore execution====
Having been successful in their plan for Milan, the Templars switched their attention to the city of Florence. However, Florence's ''de facto'' ruler, Lorenzo de' Medici, was an ally of the Assassin Giovanni Auditore, and his family was a strong enemy of the [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]]; the Templars' main stronghold in Florence. In order to avoid further interventions from the Assassins, Giovanni Auditore and his two sons [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]] were imprisoned in the [[Palazzo della Signoria]], and they would be trialed by their former ally Uberto Alberti, who was corrupted by the Borgia.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:LMS 1 v.png|thumb|250px|Uberto Alberti and Rodrigo Borgia watching over the Auditore execution]]
However, the Pazzi guards were unable to capture Giovanni's remaining son; [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]]. Nonetheless, Giovanni, Federico and Petruccio were hanged in front of the Palazzo della Signoria. Ezio, who had attended the execution, realized that his family had been betrayed by Alberti, and after escaping, began making preparations for his revenge. Not too soon afterwards, Ezio, using his father's equipment, killed Alberti during an exhibition of [[Andrea del Verrocchio|Verrocchio]]'s latest work.<ref name="AC2" />

However, the Borgia, believing their problems with the Assassins were solved, continued with their plans to take down the Medici.<ref name="AC2" />

====Pazzi Conspiracy====
Over the next two years, the Templars, (or more specifically, the Pazzi family), continued their schemes for control over Florence. In 1478, Rodrigo met with [[Jacopo de' Pazzi|Jacopo]], [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]] and [[Vieri de' Pazzi]] in [[San Gimignano]], discussing everyone's tasks in the conspiracy. However, Vieri was killed right after the meeting ended by Ezio, who had attacked the town alongside his uncle [[Mario Auditore|Mario]] and his [[mercenaries]].<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:WiSC 8.png|thumb|250px|left|Francesco attacking Giuliano, with Bernardo in the back]]
Nonetheless, the Templars continued their plans, again arranging a meeting underneath [[Basilica di Santa Maria Novella|Santa Maria Novella]] not too long after the former meeting. Rodrigo, who had received Pope [[Sixtus IV]]'s blessing on the conspiracy on the condition that nobody was killed, was again present, and made the final preparations. The following Sunday, the Pazzi attacked the Medici when they arrived at the [[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore]] for High Mass; causing the event that would be known as the [[Pazzi conspiracy|Pazzi Conspiracy]]. Francesco successfully killed [[Giuliano de' Medici]], stabbing him in the chest nineteen times, but the Pazzi Conspirators were only able to wound Lorenzo de' Medici, who was joined by Ezio Auditore in fighting off the Medici. With Ezio's help, Lorenzo managed to escape, but the Pazzi did not cease to cause trouble in the city. On Lorenzo's request, Ezio hunted Francesco de' Pazzi down and killed him.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:With Friends 2 v.png|thumb|250px|Jacopo trying to reason with Rodrigo]]
With the Templars routed from Florence, Jacopo and the other conspirators fled to San Gimignano in [[Tuscany]], where they had once again arranged to meet with Rodrigo in 1480. However, all four remaining Pazzi Conspirators - [[Bernardo Baroncelli]], [[Antonio Maffei]], [[Stefano da Bagnone]] and [[Francesco Salviati]] - all fell to Ezio's blade over the course of two years. Jacopo went to the meeting alone, where his failure and words angered Rodrigo; in the process, Jacopo was stabbed in the chest, nearly killing him. Sensing Ezio's presence at the meeting, Rodrigo sent his guards after the Assassin; nonetheless, Ezio was once again able to fend the guards off and put Jacopo out of his misery. With their plans for Florence thwarted by the lone Assassin, the Templars turned their attention to [[Venice]].<ref name="AC2" />

====Taking over Venice====
[[File:BoF 9.png|thumb|250px|left|The Barbarigos meeting with Rodrigo Borgia]]
By 1480 in Venice, [[Emilio Barbarigo]] was attempting to unite all the merchants in Venice's commercial district under his banner. Despite failed attempts from the city's [[Thieves|Thieves Guild]], Emilio was assassinated in 1486 by Ezio Auditore. A meeting between [[Carlo Grimaldi]], [[Silvio Barbarigo]], [[Marco Barbarigo]], [[Dante Moro]] and Rodrigo Borgia took place soon afterwards, discussing their plans for Venice. They decided that they would kill the Doge, [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], that same night and that Marco Barbarigo would take his place. In fact, the plan to take the Doge's seat was a plan to distract the Assassin from the Templars' real objective: retrieving the Apple of Eden from Cyprus.<ref name="AC2" />

Ezio Auditore, who had eavesdropped on the meeting, quickly devised a strategy to prevent the killing of Mocenigo and used [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Flying Machine|flying machine]] to infiltrate the Doge's residence, the [[Palazzo Ducale di Venezia|Palazzo Ducale]]. However, Ezio was too late to prevent the Doge from being poisoned, but he managed to kill Carlo Grimaldi, who was responsible for the Doge's death.<ref name="AC2" />

Marco had taken the position of Doge and had decided to never come out in order to prevent the Assassin from having an opportunity to kill him. However, during [[Carnevale]], Marco was obliged to show himself to the people at his personal party. Ezio had managed to obtain entry to the party, and as soon as Marco showed himself, the Assassin struck.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:Two birds 8.png|thumb|250px|The Templar boats setting sail from the Arsenal]]
Due to the Assassin's efforts, the Venetian Templars had to rely on Silvio Barbarigo and Dante Moro. They had hired a group of mercenaries to strengthen their forces, and positioned themselves in the [[Arsenale di Venezia|Arsenal of Venice]], fighting with Venice's Mercenaries Guild led by [[Bartolomeo d'Alviano]]. Ezio Auditore joined forces with Bartolomeo, and together they managed to draw Silvio and Dante away from their troops. Without any protection, the two attempted to flee to their boat inside the Arsenal to sail to Cyprus, but they were killed by Ezio before they could set sail. Other boats had already managed to set sail, though, and were on their way to Cyprus.<ref name="AC2" />

====Quest for the Apple====
[[File:He who waits 3.png|thumb|250px|left|The Apple being given to the courier]]
Despite the Templars facing "complications" on Cyprus, the Templar boat returned to Venice in 1488. A Templar courier was assigned to bring the Apple to a Templar guard post, from where the Apple would be escorted to Rodrigo Borgia. However, Ezio killed the guard assigned to carry the Apple, and put on his uniform; impersonating him. After the escort had reached Rodrigo, its members were killed by Ezio and the latter faced off in a fight with Rodrigo. Ezio was later joined by other members of the Assassin Order, and Rodrigo made his escape, leaving the Apple behind.<ref name="AC2" />

With the Apple in the hands of the Assassins, the Templars approached the Orsi brothers – [[Ludovico Orsi|Ludovico]] and [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] – to obtain a map detailing the location of the Codex pages from the wife of the Templar [[Girolamo Riario]] – [[Caterina Sforza]]. Invading [[Forlì]], the Orsi brothers demanded the map, and the Apple in exchange for the lives of Sforza's children. The brothers were rebuked, and assaulted the [[Rocca di Ravaldino]]. Together with the city guards, the Assassins Ezio Auditore and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] held off the assault, although a second succeeded in claiming the Apple briefly when Ezio Auditore left to kill Ludovico. After Ezio had returned successfully, he chased after Checco and assassinated the latter, taking the Apple with him.<ref>''Assassin's Creed II'' - ''[[Battle of Forlì (DLC)]]''</ref>

====Control over the Papacy====
Despite the loss of the Apple, Rodrigo was ultimately unfazed. In 1491, he became a candidate in the Papal conclave and fooled the Spanish Inquisitor General [[Tomás de Torquemada]] into following his orders. Much of these orders involved annihilating the Assassins Guild in [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]], with Rodrigo claiming they were heretics. Rodrigo also made attempts to thwart [[Christopher Columbus]]' journey to the New World, and planning to make the Templars journey there. However, all of these plans were thwarted again by Ezio Auditore, who had sailed to Spain.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref>

On 11 August 1492, Rodrigo had become Pope Alexander VI after having bribed most of the cardinals.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Renaissance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''</ref> Being the head of the {{Wiki|Christianity|Christian}} church, the Templars became the most powerful force in [[Europe]] and based their headquarters in [[Rome]].<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> As the Pope, Rodrigo had access to the Papal Staff, which was in reality one of the Staves of Eden.<ref name="AC2" />

In the late 1490s, Rodrigo learned that the Apple had come into the possession of the monk [[Girolamo Savonarola]], who had just become the ruler of Florence. Aiming to get the Apple back in their possession, the Borgia sent continuous waves of soldiers to Florence. However, the bodies kept being sent back,<ref>''Assassin's Creed II'' - ''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)|Bonfire of the Vanities]]''</ref> and the Borgia were disappointed when Savonarola was executed without them having the Apple in their possession.<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

[[File:IBAL 4.png|thumb|250px|Ezio confronting Rodrigo in the Vatican]]
In 1499, the leading Assassins in Italy traveled to Rome to distract the Borgia guards, while Ezio traveled along the [[Passetto di Borgo]] to [[St. Peter's Basilica|St. Peter's Cathedral]]. Once inside, the Assassin lunged at Rodrigo Borgia while he was proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. Rodrigo shoved the Assassin away, then used the Staff to subdue his entire congregation. A fight ensued with Rodrigo using the Staff and Ezio using the Apple. The power of the Staff was able to overpower Ezio, and after Rodrigo stabbed Ezio in the abdomen, he entered [[Vatican Vault|the Vault]] underneath the [[Sistine Chapel]]. Rodrigo wasn't able to enter the Vault, though, as only the "Prophet" could do it. Rodrigo was soon faced by Ezio again, and after one final fight in hand-to-hand combat, Ezio informed Rodrigo that he was not the Prophet and had never been. Broken by this revelation and accepting defeat, Rodrigo told Ezio to kill him and put an end to it, but unlike Ezio's other targets, Rodrigo was not killed as Ezio could not find a reason to do so, stating that killing him wouldn't bring his family back. As Ezio entered the Vault, Rodrigo fled back to safety.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:ACBH Cesare Apple of Eden.png|thumb|left|250px|Cesare Borgia in Monteriggioni]]
Five days afterwards, Rodrigo's son [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], who served as the Captain General of the Papal Army, had slowly begun to take control over the Templar Order and laid siege to the Assassins' and Auditore's headquarters of [[Monteriggioni]]. In the process, the Templars captured Caterina Sforza, executed Mario Auditore, shot Ezio Auditore and obtained the Apple of Eden. After Monteriggioni lay in ruins, the Borgia returned to Rome victorious.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

As control over the Templars slowly shifted to Cesare, he became the new Grand Master and strived to take over all of Italy, and later Europe. As the Templars were ruling the church, individuals such as King [[Louis XII of France]], King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] and King [[Manuel I of Portugal]] all answered to the Borgia. Meanwhile, Cesare planned to strengthen his army with [[War Machines|war machines]] created by Leonardo da Vinci, who had been forced into serving the Borgia. With his army, Cesare quickly conquered various states in Italy.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

However, Ezio Auditore had moved to Rome and started rebuilding the Assassin Brotherhood there. In Cesare's absence, Ezio destroyed the war machines and the Assassins killed most of Cesare's high-ranking generals, including his personal banker [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]] and the French general [[Octavian de Valois]]. Control over Rome became lost to the Templars, and their plans couldn't be executed. Returning home from war, Cesare found all his support gone and his funds cut off.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

====Routing from Italy====
[[File:Apple a day 5.png|thumb|250px|Cesare Borgia killing his father]]
On 18 August 1503, Rodrigo, who had begun to see Cesare as a threat, met with his son in the papal apartments of the Castel Sant'Angelo. There, he placed a platter with poisoned apples on the table, and as planned Cesare took a bite from one of them. However, Cesare's sister [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]] had found out about Rodrigo's intentions and entered the room to warn her brother. Furious, Cesare shoved the remaining apple down Rodrigo's throat, asking him where the Apple was simultaneously. However, Rodrigo died and Cesare obtained the Apple's location after threatening his sister. Ezio Auditore entered the room after Cesare left, and also got the Apple's location from Lucrezia. Both Cesare and Ezio raced to the Apple, though the latter got to it faster. With the Apple, Ezio exterminated most of Cesare's remaining followers and Cesare himself was arrested on orders of [[Julius II|Pope Julius II]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Cesare, who had become the sole ruler of the Templars, was able to escape his imprisonment in the Castel Sant'Angelo. He tried to escape by boat, but was captured by Ezio once again. The Pope had Cesare transferred to [[Castillo de la Mota]], {{Wiki|Aragon}} in Spain in 1504; a location that only the Pope was aware of.<ref name="Brotherhood novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref>

In 1506, Cesare was freed from La Mota by [[Micheletto Corella]], and together they rode to [[Valencia]]. There, Cesare started to raise an army, operating from the [[Lone Wolf Inn]]. Ezio, who had used the Apple to track Cesare, destroyed Cesare's encampment and twelve ships together with Niccolò Machiavelli. Cesare blamed Micheletto for the attack, and the latter attempted to strangle Cesare. Cesare gained the upper hand during the struggle, though, and shot Micheletto. Without any men, Cesare made his escape to the Kingdom of Navarre, ruled by his brother-in-law [[John III of Navarre|John III]].<ref name="Brotherhood novel" />

[[File:PaxR 6.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio letting Cesare fall to his death]]
In March 1507, John III appointed Cesare to lead his forces during the [[Siege of Viana]]. During the battle, Cesare was once again faced by Ezio, who used the Apple to locate Cesare. Cesare made his escape towards the castle, but was ultimately confronted by Ezio atop the walls of [[Viana Castle]]. After being defeated, Cesare got thrown off the castle walls by Ezio. With Cesare's death, the Templars were no longer led by the Borgia and their quest to conquer Italy and the rest of Europe was at an end.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
{{-}}
====Search for the Masyaf Keys====
In the wake of the {{Wiki|1509 Istanbul earthquake|earthquake}} in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] capital of [[Constantinople]] in 1509, the [[Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order]] returned to prominence in the city. Due to Sultan [[Bayezid II]]'s disappearance from the city following the earthquake, the Byzantine Templars could easily integrate into the city and start their plans for taking over the [[Ottoman Empire]] and restore the [[Byzantine Empire]], while operating from their headquarters in the underground city of [[Derinkuyu]] in the region of {{Wiki|Cappadocia}}.<ref name="ACRV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> Initially led by [[Manuel Palaiologos]], the Byzantine Templars quickly caught the eye of Prince [[Ahmet]], Bayezid's son and supposed successor. Ahmet joined the Templar Order, and his youth and charisma allowed him to slip into the position of leader while Manuel was forced to become a second-in-command.<ref name="Encyclopedia" />

The Templars somehow recovered "[[The Secret Crusade]]", the journal of the Italian explorer and secret Assassin [[Niccolò Polo]], from which they found out about the existence of the [[library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] in Masyaf and the [[Masyaf Keys|keys]] needed to open it. Ahmet placed Manuel Palaiologos in charge of the Masyaf expedition to find the Masyaf Keys throughout Constantinople, while Ahmet himself continued his plans to secure the Templars' power in the Empire.<ref name="ACRV" />

[[File:The Wounded Eagle 3.png|thumb|250px|Leandros giving instructions to the Templars]]
By 1511, the Templars had managed to obtain one of the Masyaf Keys from underneath [[Topkapı Palace]], and had taken full occupation of Masyaf. Without the other Keys in their possession, the Templars had resorted to digging their way into the library, with no success. In the winter of 1511, Ezio Auditore da Firenze arrived in Masyaf, also wanting to access the library. He was ambushed by Byzantine Templars led by [[Leandros]], and was overpowered and captured. The Templars subsequently led him to Masyaf's watchtower, where he was to be hanged. At the very last moment, he fought back against Leandros, who was tying the noose around Ezio's neck. Ezio threw the noose around Leandros' neck instead, and Ezio jumped down to a scaffolding below. With no sign left of Ezio in the thick snowstorm that was brewing, Leandros instead decided to focus on other matters and was about to leave on a horse cart. Ezio gave chase, and jumped to a rope hanging on Leandros' cart, eventually procuring his own cart and chasing Leandros.<ref name="ACRV" />

Leandros crashed Ezio's cart near [[Atlas Village]] in the mountains, and made his way into the village while sending the other Templars to deal with Ezio. However, the wounded Ezio made his way through the guards and into the village's center with some difficulty, coming to the area where Leandros had taken refuge. Leandros, sending more of his men at Ezio, was ultimately confronted and killed by Ezio on top of the village's watchtower, where Ezio took "The Secret Crusade" from him.<ref name="ACRV" />

====Struggle in Constantinople====
In Constantinople, the Templars were still ever present, engaging in heavy combat with the [[Turkish Assassins]], occupying numerous [[Assassin Dens]] throughout the city and searching for the secret locations in the city leading to the Masyaf Keys. The Templars discovered that two of the Masyaf Keys were located in the [[Yerebatan Cistern]] and the [[Forum of the Ox]], but Ezio Auditore recovered the artifacts before the Templars could.<ref name="ACRV" />

Ahmet personally devised a plan to have his nephew [[Suleiman I|Prince Suleiman]] kidnapped at a feast in the Topkapı Palace, allowing Ahmet to "rescue" him and gain the Ottoman citizens' favor over his brother [[Selim I|Selim]] for the Ottoman throne. However, [[Yusuf Tazim]] and the Turkish Assassins found out about the Templars' plan and plotted to stop their plan. With the help of Ezio Auditore, the Turkish Assassins - dressed as Italian minstrels - found and killed all of the Templars hidden amongst the party goers. Ahmet, of whom no one was aware of his Templars affiliations, instead accused [[Tarik Barleti]], the captain of the [[Janissaries]], from being unable to stop the 'attack' of the Italian minstrels.<ref name="ACRV" />

[[File:TAG 1.png|thumb|left|250px|Manuel and Shahkulu making the deal with Tarik]]
Some time later, Manuel journeyed to Constantinople to buy guns from the Tarik and the Janissaries to arm the Templars in Cappadocia with them. Accompanied by the Turkmen renegade and Templar [[Shahkulu]], Manuel inspected the weapons in the city's [[Harbor of Theodosius|arsenal]] and successfully closed the deal before returning to Cappadocia. Tarik was assassinated by Ezio Auditore some time later on Suleiman's orders, after the two came to the wrong conclusion that Tarik was in league with the Templars; Tarik had instead been spying on the Templars in Cappadocia in order to thwart them. Tarik's death was quickly believed to be conducted by Ahmet, damaging his public image.<ref name="ACRV" />

====Collapse of Cappadocia====
Manuel and Shahkulu returned to Derinkuyu in Cappadocia, where they continued building up the Byzantine army's strength and the capture and execution of numerous Ottomans.<ref name="ACRV" />

Due to Ezio Auditore, who had trailed Manuel to Cappadocia, an Ottoman spy named [[Dilara]] was captured from Templar imprisonment. Consequently, Shahkulu gained the attention of Dilara and Ezio. Ezio jumped down and stabbed Shahkulu from on high, though Shahkulu resisted against Ezio and a fight ensued. Ultimately, Ezio killed Shahkulu and simultaneously stopped the torture and execution of the Ottoman spies in the city.<ref name="ACRV" />

[[File:Last Palaiologi 2.png|thumb|250px|Manuel and a Byzantine spotting Ezio]]
The Templars panicked when Ezio Auditore blew up the ammunition and armaments hidden inside the city, and Manuel Palaiologos tried to calm the city's citizens. Upon spotting Ezio, Manuel fled and sent the Templars to kill Ezio. The Templar soldiers proved no match for Ezio, and the Assassin confronted Manuel after the latter ran to a dead end on a jetty. Manuel was easily slain, and gave up his Masyaf Key to Ezio, cynical that he would survive long enough to enter the library. At that very moment, Ahmet arrived on the scene by boat, revealing his Templar affiliations and threatening to capture Ezio's love interest [[Sofia Sartor]] when Ezio did not give up the Masyaf Keys.<ref name="ACRV" />

====Fall of the Byzantines====
Ahmet returned to Constantinople not too long afterwards, and sent a battalion of Templars to capture Sofia from her book shop. The book shop was guarded by Yusuf Tazim and other Assassins, though the Templars emerged victorious, killing Yusuf in the process. Upon discovering Yusuf's lifeless body, Ezio rallied the Assassins against Ahmet and the Templars, who had located themselves in the arsenal. When Ezio reached Ahmet, the latter explained that his death would prevent Ezio from knowing where Sofia was, and subsequently lectured Ezio that they both wanted peace and tried to convince him of the people's reluctance to acknowledge the truth. Unsuccessful in convincing the Assassin, Ahmet instead told Ezio to meet him at the Galata Tower with the Masyaf Keys.<ref name="ACRV" />

Ahmet and a group of Templars waited for Ezio on the wall of Galata Tower, and demanded the Keys from Ezio upon his arrival, in exchange for Sofia, who was held by a Byzantine atop Galata Tower. However, Ahmet instead had [[Azize]]<ref name="ACRV novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' novel]]</ref> dressed in Sofia's clothing with a bag hidden over her head held by the Byzantine soldier, while the real Sofia was being hanged on a nearby plaza. Ahmet made his leave out of the city with the Masyaf Keys, and started his journey to Masyaf to open the library.<ref name="ACRV" />

[[File:End road 22.png|thumb|250px|left|Selim killing Ahmet]]
Ahmet and his Templar entourage were tailed by Ezio and Sofia, who was rescued by Ezio, and a chase on horse cart ensued. The other Templar horse carts were taken out by Ezio, only to be knocked off his own cart by Ahmet. Ahmet continued making his way forward, with Sofia driving their horse cart and Ezio hanging on to the cart with a [[Parachutes|parachute]] deployed. After a long chase through the mountains, Ahmet obliterated Sofia's cart. Ezio landed on a nearby hill and from there jumped onto Ahmet's cart, causing the two to fall off a cliffside.

Though initially fighting during their freefall, Ezio deployed another parachute to result his safe landing, while Ahmet held on to Ezio. They both safely landed, but showed signs of heavy fatigue. At that moment, Selim arrived with his army from battle with his father, and walked up to Ahmet. Revealing that he had been assigned as the next Sultan, Selim started choking Ahmet and threw him off a cliff to ensure that there would be no conflicts for succession. With Ahmet's death, the Byzantine Templars were ultimately dissolved.<ref name="ACRV" />

====Aiding Jiajing's ascendance====
In 1521, Emperor [[Zhengde]] of China passed away, and lacked a proper heir. The Chinese Templars, eager to gain power, aided in the ascendance of Zhengde's nephew [[Jiajing Emperor|Jiajing]]. With Jiajing as the Emperor, the Assassins in China were [[Great Rites Controversy|hunted down]] and nearly fully eradicated. The remaining Assassins were forced to flee, with Jiajing's men in hot pursuit. The imperial soldiers even followed the Assassins to Europe, where the Assassin [[Shao Jun]] had made her way to Italy in order to seek aid from Ezio Auditore, the now-retired Mentor of the Italian Assassins. Jiajing wanted the Chinese Assassins eradicated at all costs, and the imperial guards even went as far to attack Shao Jun in Ezio's villa in Tuscany. However, Shao Jun and Ezio, in his mid 60s, were able to defeat the soldiers.<ref name="Encyclopedia" />

===Age of Reason===
Templars looked at the [[Renaissance]] as a dark time for the Order: while other men progressed humanity's knowledge, 15th-century Templars led by the debauched Borgia did not care for such ideals, using the Order as a platform to gain power and influence. By the 17th century, the Templars began adjusting their philosophy. Instead of making personal bids for powers, the Templars sought to influence rather than control the leaders and intellectuals of the new age.<ref name="Encyclopedia" />

====Golden Age of Piracy====
[[File:Mister Walpole I Presume 9.png|thumb|250px|A Caribbean Rite Templar meeting]]
In the following centuries, the Templars expanded their enterprise to the New World, establishing their first [[Caribbean Templars|notable Rite]] in the [[Caribbean|West Indies]], led by [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] and operating largely out of [[Havana]], [[Cuba]]. It was the mission of this branch to locate and secure the First Civilization site known as the [[Observatory]], a complex that would further the Templar goal of influencing world governments through the application of precursor technology to spy, blackmail, and coerce politicians and other men in positions of power.<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref>

Although the Templars searched for nearly fifty years, it was only in 1715 that they received their first solid lead, locating a [[Sage]] named [[Bartholomew Roberts]] and bringing him to Havana. With the Sage's knowledge, the Templars planned to finally find the Observatory; however, the Sage's subsequent escape, coupled with the discovery that one of their newest recruits, [[Duncan Walpole]], had been impersonated by the [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Edward Kenway]], set the Order back once again.<ref name="AC4" />

In the next years, Templar [[Woodes Rogers]], governor of [[the Bahamas]], attempted to dislocate pirates around the region, convincing [[Benjamin Hornigold]] and two of his subordinates, [[Josiah Burgess]] and [[John Cockram]], to join the Order as pirate hunters. However, Kenway, searching for the Observatory for his own gain, eventually killed all three of the hunters. Roberts resurfaced, became a pirate, and soon took Kenway to the Observatory.<ref name="AC4" />

In 1720, Kenway finally allied himself with the Assassins, and was tasked with eliminating three targets, two of which, Rogers and Torres, were Templars. Although he attacked Rogers in [[Kingston]], the Templar was able to survive. Disgraced and in heavy debt, the man returned to England, but was expelled from the order for his continued trading in slaves and hot temper.<ref name="AC4" /> 
[[File:Ever a Splinter 8.png|thumb|220x220px|Edward assassinates Torres]]
Torres, having finally located the Observatory on his own, rushed to the complex to secure it. However, he was soon followed by Kenway, who managed to make his way through the chamber and assassinate the Grand Master.<ref name="AC4" />

====French and Indian War====
[[File:ACIII-BraddockExpedition 3.png|thumb|left|250px|The Colonial Templars at the Wright Tavern]]
In the years that followed, the Templar Order sought to expand their influence to North America, permitting them to locate and access a hidden First Civilization [[Grand Temple|temple]] in the region. In 1754, the Grand Master [[Reginald Birch]] sent [[Haytham Kenway]], Edward's son, to the British colonies to recruit other Templars there into the quest to find the temple.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

After gathering his fellow Templars and assaulting [[Southgate Fort]], Haytham earned the trust of a local [[Kanien'kehá:ka]] woman named [[Kaniehtí:io]], who eventually led him to the temple, although he was unable to open it. With his mission a failure, he turned his focus instead to bringing the colonies under the influence of the Templar Order.<ref name="AC3" />

The Templars later had the [[Precursor boxes|Precursor box]], capable of interpreting and translating First Civilization language, in their possession. The Templars hoped to translate the [[Voynich manuscript]], so as to discover the location of any First Civilization temples and obtain the Pieces of Eden. They were unsuccessful in using the box, however.<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>

In 1755, [[Shay Cormac]], a former Assassin, discovered that these temples held Pieces of Eden that did not control power, but rather held the Earth together. If these [[Seismic Pieces of Eden|Pieces]] were removed or destroyed, they would trigger a massive earthquake. As the Assassins still continued their search for these pieces, Shay joined the Templars so as to stop the Assassins from interfering with these artifacts.<ref name="ACRG" />

By 1760, Shay had eliminated many of the Assassin's important members, all except for the [[Mentor]] [[Achilles Davenport]]. Shay convinced Haytham to spare Achilles, reasoning that Achilles finally realised the true purpose of the Pieces of Eden they sought, and that if Haytham killed Achilles, the Assassins would continue their search.<ref name="ACRG" />

In 1763, the Templars launched [[Colonial Assassin purge|an attack]] on the Assassins in America, decimating the Brotherhood and leaving only Achilles as the sole survivor. However, confident that the old man posed no threat, the Templars allowed him to live quietly on his remote [[Davenport Homestead|homestead]]. With the Assassins all but exterminated, the Templars' dominion on the colonies was secured.<ref name="AC3" /><ref name="ACRG" />

====American Revolution====
However, in 1770, a Kanien'kehá:ka boy, [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]] - the son of Haytham and Kanienhtí:io - allied himself with Achilles in an effort to save his land and people, and dedicated himself to eliminating the Templars that threatened his [[Kanatahséton|village]].<ref name="AC3" />

After Ratonhnhaké:ton - going by the name of Connor - killed the Templars [[William Johnson]] and [[John Pitcairn]], the Templars caught onto the renewed presence of the Assassins; in the meantime, however, the [[American Revolutionary War]] was in full swing, and the Templars set about influencing its battles and events to gain the upper hand. Chief among their goals was the ultimate murder or disgrace of [[George Washington]], Commander of the [[Continental Army]], so that he could be replaced with Haytham's right-hand man, [[Charles Lee]].<ref name="AC3" />

As the Templars fought on both sides of the conflict, and in various locales, Connor sent his [[Assassin apprentices|recruits]] across the colonies to assist the revolutionaries, often eliminating the Templars' presence as they went. By the end of the war, the Templars' network in the newly-formed nation was crumbling.<ref name="AC3" />

[[File:ACIII-Laststand 18.png|thumb|250px|Connor killing Haytham]]
There was a short time in which Connor and his father Haytham worked together, to find and kill [[Benjamin Church]], a traitor to both the Templar Order and the Continental Army. After killing Church, Connor considered the possibility of the two factions uniting, saying that they could accomplish much more together than either could apart; however, a falling-out between Haytham and his son destroyed any hope of an alliance.<ref name="AC3" />

[[File:ACIII-Chasinglee 13.png|thumb|220x220px|Connor kills Charles]]
Ultimately, Connor foiled plot after plot, helping the [[Patriots|Patriot]] cause and securing the freedom of his people, and worked to rid the colonies of the last of their Templar influence. After killing his father in [[New York City|New York]], Connor focused on the last Templar, Lee, and finally removed the Templars from the [[United States]].<ref name="AC3" />

However, in the generations that followed, the Templars once again built their presence in the country and elsewhere around the globe, regaining the advantage in the war against the Assassins.

====French Revolution====
The French Templar Grand Master, [[François de la Serre]], was murdered in a coup d'etat by former Templar and Sage [[François-Thomas Germain]] who sought to use the political turmoil in France to develop a new Templar ideology based on de Molay theories. Instead of continuing to whisper in the ears of the ruling class of aristocrats and monarchs, this new leader and his faction opposed the old guard of the Templars, and thought that by empowering the middle class, and [[Capitalism|creating a consumerist society]], it would be more easy for the Templars to control Humanity. It was unknown if Germain's ideology was also influenced by the memories of his First Civilization incarnation, [[Aita]].<ref name="ACU" />

Germain's method of controlling humanity is done by orchestrating the French Revolution, which overthrew the French monarchy and established a Republic in France, led by the Templar and Jacobin [[Maximilien de Robespierre]]. Once the Templars were in power, Robespierre would enforce the [[Reign of Terror]] to establish tight control over the people in France.<ref name="ACU" />

[[File:ACU The Temple 9.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Arno kills Germain]]
However, this new branch was opposed by both the Assassins and the old guard, the latter led by de la Serre's daughter, [[Élise de la Serre|Élise]]. Robespierre was later overthrown and executed by the people for his crimes during his Reign of Terror. On the same day, Germain was assassinated by the Assassin [[Arno Dorian]], though Élise was killed in the resulting conflict as well.<ref name="ACU" />

With Robespierre's death, the Templars lost control of the revolution. Both the old and new guard of the Templars collasped as well, as their respective leaders were killed.<ref name="ACU"/> After the end of the French Revolution and later [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s fall, the United Kingdom became the first superpower in the world. The new Templar generations, influenced by Germain's theories, understood that the old aristocracy was at an end and the New World Order must be realized through the middle class: the [[Industrial Revolution]] was generated by the Templars as means for obtain the power and the control on the masses, together with the research on the Pieces of Eden.<ref name="ACS"/>

====Victorian Era====
By the 1860s, under the leadership of Grand Master [[Crawford Starrick]], the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]] had brought under their control almost all forms of governance within the city of [[London]], which had been under Templar control for the last 100 years. The political, medical, and economic fields, as well as the criminal underworld, were dominated by the [[James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan|Earl of Cardigan]], [[John Elliotson]], [[Philip Twopenny]], [[Maxwell Roth]], respectively. Starrick's final goal was the elimination of the British managing class, including the Prime Minister [[Benjamin Disraeli]] and Queen [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom|Victoria]], in order to control the [[British Empire]], and so the world.<ref name="ACS" />

[[File:Starrickdeath.jpg|thumb|250px|The Frye Twins kill Starrick]]
However, the Templars suffered losses as members of their inner circle were assassinated one-by-one by [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye]], liberating London from their influence. Finally, with Starrick's death, the Templars lost control of London and were exiled from the city for many years.<ref name="ACS" />

====War of Currents====
[[File:Ford Edison Firestone1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The three leaders of American industry, in [[Florida]]]]
By the 19th century, the Templars had established a major foothold in the American industry, with important figures such as [[Thomas Edison]], [[Henry Ford]] and [[Harvey Firestone]] being Templars themselves.<ref name="AC2" />

During the late 1880s, Edison, who had created a direct current (DC) for electric power distribution, became an adversary of [[Nikola Tesla]], his former employee who had created an alternating current (AC). Jealous of Tesla's more efficient invention, the Templars began to spread {{Wiki|War of Currents|propaganda slandering}} Tesla, like electrocuting {{Wiki|Topsy (elephant)|an elephant}} with AC electricity on public television. Additionally, Edison contacted his business associate and fellow Templar [[John Pierpont Morgan|J. P. Morgan]], who was financing Tesla, informing him of Tesla's intentions to make electricity free to all people and telling him to cut off Tesla's funds. Eventually, the Templars' efforts worked in their favor and DC electricity was distributed across the globe.<ref name="AC2" />

During the early 20th century, [[Ransom Eli Olds|Ranny Olds]] and [[Henry Ford]] developed and popularized the {{Wiki|assembly line}}, a manufacturing process, to control both capitalists and workers.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

=== Modern Times ===

====Russian Revolution====
During the late 19th century, the Templars started gaining strong influence over the [[Russia|Russian Empire]] and the ruling {{Wiki|House of Romanov}}. Both [[Alexander II of Russia|Tsar Alexander II]] and [[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]] became strong allies of the Templar Order, and supported their goals. As a result, the [[Russian Assassins]] and its left-wing terrorist offspring the [[Narodnaya Volya]] targeted the Romanovs, eventually managing to kill Tsar Alexander II in 1881. The Assassin [[Nikolai Orelov]] made an attempt on the life of Tsar Alexander III, in which he was unsuccessful due to the Tsar's surprising strength, stamina and his possession of a Staff of Eden, and the event eventually turned into the [[Borki train disaster]].<ref name="The Fall #1">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' - Issue #1</ref>

Tsar Alexander III died in 1894 of kidney failure. His son [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], who was not an ally to the Templars, gained control over the Empire, and the Templar agent [[Grigori Rasputin]] infiltrated Nicholas' close circle by "miraculously" healing his son. After being close enough, Rasputin replaced the Staff of Eden with a replica,<ref name="The Fall #3" /> taking the real artifact to a Templar research station in Tunguska.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:Tungaska Explod v.png|thumb|250px|The Tunguska explosion]]
In 1908, Orelov obtained the station's location and, together with a group of other Assassins, was sent to destroy the artifact. While the Assassins killed the Templars inside and secured the station, their ally Nikola Tesla sent a bolt of electricity from the USA, causing the station to explode and the Staff to be scattered into pieces; known commonly as the [[Tunguska explosion]].<ref name="The Fall #2">''Assassin's Creed: The Fall'' - Issue #2</ref> Rasputin somehow managed to obtain one of those pieces and used it to hypnotize and control the Imperial family.<ref name="The Fall #3">''Assassin's Creed: The Fall'' - Issue #3</ref> Rasputin himself was later killed by the Assassins, and the Templars lost control over Russia.<ref name="AC2" />

The Russian Imperial family was overthrown during the [[Russian Revolution]], and power shifted to [[Vladimir Lenin]], an ally of the Assassins and leader of the newly formed Soviet Union. Lenin's subordinate, [[Joseph Stalin]], was secretly affiliated with the Templars and took over control of the Soviet Union after Lenin's death.<ref name="AC2" />

====Founding Abstergo Industries====
[[File:Abstergo-FH.png|thumb|left|200px|Abstergo Industries logo]]
In 1937, the Templars founded [[Abstergo Industries]], a secret company aiming to control capitalists and workers and neutralize [[Communism|communism]]. The Templars, who had previously created the capitalistic economic system as a façade for their activities, hoped to control the people through owning corporations, as opposed to having people own the companies.<ref name="Brotherhood" /> The company would go on to control many corporations and organizations around the world, including the Ford Motor Company, [[NASA]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]<ref name="AC2" />, the US Federal Reserve, Kraft, Coca-Cola, and [[British Petroleum|BP]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />
{{-}}
====World War II====
In the late 1930s, [[Adolf Hitler]], an associate of the Templars, began to take over political control over [[Germany]]. After having assumed full control, Hitler used [[Apple of Eden 4|an Apple of Eden]] to form Nazi Germany and hypnotize the population to join his cause. With this new-found support, Hitler began to declare "war" on Germany's neighboring countries, quickly conquering them. A worldwide war - [[World War II]] - soon erupted, but the entire war was a Templar plot to keep the people under the Order's control.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:YaltaConference.jpg|thumb|250px|The Big Three at the Yalta Conference]]
While the entire war was overseen by the Templars, the world was split between two forces. On one side of the war stood the Axis, primarily led by Adolf Hitler, {{Wiki|Benito Mussolini}} and {{Wiki|Hideki Tojo}}. On the other side stood the Allied forces, led by the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[Winston Churchill]] and Joseph Stalin; the Big Three.<ref name="AC2" />

On 30 April 1945, Hitler shot his own double inside his {{Wiki|Führerbunker}} to make the people believe he had died, while the real Hitler planned to take the Apple of Eden and meet with Churchill. However, an Assassin had been biding his time outside the Führerbunker, and assassinated Hitler before the latter could make the meeting.<ref name="AC2" />

====Overthrowing governments====
During the 1950s and 1970s, Abstergo Industries heavily involved themselves with opening up the markets to capitalism.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

In 1953, the Templars orchestrated the overthrowing of Iranian prime minister [[Mohammad Mosaddegh]], to make the constitutional monarch [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] into an authoritarian one. The Shah, [[SAVAK]] and [[Sha'baan Ja'fari]] terrorized citizens and protected capitalist oil interests, which Mossadegh wanted to go to the people.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Abstergo planned the 1954 coup d’état against Guetemalan president {{Wiki|Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán}}.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

====JFK assassination and Apollo 11====
In the 1960s, the Templars sought to obtain [[Apple of Eden 5|an Apple of Eden]] that was located on the [[Moon]]. However, President [[John F. Kennedy]], who also had [[Apple of Eden 3|an Apple of Eden]] in his possession, did not share the Templars' motives for space exploration and thus the Templars planned to get rid of Kennedy.<ref name="AC2" />

[[File:JFKassassination.png|thumb|left|250px|JFK in his car, moments before his assassination]]
On [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|22 November 1963]], Kennedy was planned to visit {{Wiki|Dallas}}, [[Texas]], in a parade, and the Templars appointed [[William Greer]] as his driver, with [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] as the primary assassin whilst {{Wiki|Abraham Zapruder}}, who filmed the entire assassination, acted as his support. Oswald shot Kennedy several times, while Greer grabbed the Piece of Eden in the confusion. Moments afterwards, the Templars used [[Apple of Eden 1|another Apple]] to make a "phantom" appear on the hill near the street, causing more chaos. After Kennedy's death, Vice President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who was also a secret Templar, became President of the United States.<ref name="AC2" /> Greer and Zapruder evaded suspicion, but Oswald was arrested by Dallas police and was shot and killed three days later. 

On 20 July 1969, the Templar organization NASA sent the {{Wiki|Apollo 11}} [[Apollo 11 Moon landing|to the Moon]] and successfully obtained the Apple of Eden.<ref name="AC2" />

====Dissolving communism====
During the late 20th century, the Templar's support of the Communist system ended, and plans were made to bring about the end of the Communist system.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Abstergo manipulated the American Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]] into orchestrating the 1973 coup d’état against [[Chile]]an president [[Salvador Allende]], who had gained much popularity with the people and wanted the people to own Chile's corporations. Abstergo removed Allende and replaced him with general [[Augusto Pinochet]], who installed a military Junta. Abstergo promised the Chilean capitalists to ensure the Junta remained in power, they would transfer all corporate debt to [[Argentina]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

During the 1990s, Abstergo manipulated [[Margaret Thatcher]], a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to contact [[Boris Yeltsin]] and inform him that [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], the head of the Soviet Union, {{Wiki|Perestroika|did not bear the company's interest at heart}}. Yeltsin stood up against communism, causing Gorbachev to lose popularity. In December 1991, Yeltsin unseated Gorbachev and became President of the Russian Federation.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

====Animus Project====
[[File:ACF vidic surgery.png|thumb|250px|Vidic experimenting on Subject 4]]
In the late 20th century, Abstergo began abducting people of Assassin descent to use them as subjects for their [[Animus Project|Animus project]]. In 1983, they captured a young American boy of Assassin descent who was named [[Daniel Cross]]; codename Subject 4.<ref name="The Fall #3" /> Doctor [[Warren Vidic]] used a "working prototype" capable of mimicking a Piece of Eden<ref name="Brotherhood" /> to plant an impulse into Cross' brain that would make him subconsciously infiltrate the Assassin Order and, when given the opportunity, kill the Order's Mentor.<ref name="The Fall #3" /> After the operation was successful, Cross was sent into the outside world.<ref name="The Fall #2" />

In 2000, the Templars and Assassins both struggled for control over the United States due to the Presidential election.<ref name="The Fall #3" /> The candidate [[George W. Bush]] was used as a puppet by the Templars,<ref name="Brotherhood" /> while [[Al Gore]] was backed by the Assassins.<ref name="The Fall #3" /> However, before the eventual election took place, Daniel Cross had successfully infiltrated the Assassin Order and killed [[Mentor (2000)|the Mentor]], and Cross returned to Abstergo's Philadelphia facility. The Templars had obtained the locations of all the Assassin camps due to Cross' visits being in his memories, forcing several Assassin cells to relocate and the organisation as a whole to start operating in smaller teams,<ref name="The Fall #3" /> and the Templars had gained the upper hand in the election.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

By September 2012, sixteen [[Animus Project|test subjects]] had been "retired" before the company succeeded with the seventeenth – [[Desmond Miles]], a descendant of both Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze.<ref name="AC" /><ref name="AC2" />

[[File:AC1_Lucy_Desmond_Vidic.png|thumb|left|250px|Desmond being held captive in the Abstergo laboratory]]
For seven days after his capture, Desmond Miles was forced to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor Altaïr in order to reach one specific memory the Templars were seeking. The memory that was valuable to Abstergo registered the moment his ancestor found a holographic map containing the locations of all Pieces of Eden scattered across the world. With the information they had long sought in hand, the Templars set about gathering the remaining Pieces to ensure "absolute peace", although they soon found themselves in a race against the Assassin Order to obtain the Pieces first.<ref name="AC2" />

They planned to send a satellite with a Piece mounted on it into orbit, with the launch scheduled on [[Cryptic Messages|21 December 2012]].<ref name="AC" /> Ultimately, Abstergo cancelled the launch of the satellite as they were unable to obtain the required Piece of Eden in time. During this time, two of the Templar leaders, Daniel Cross and Warren Vidic, were assassinated by Desmond Miles, while a third one named [[Otto Schmidt]] died under mysterious circumstances.<ref name="AC3" />

In spite of these blows, the Templars were able to continue the Animus project, and began selling it to the public as a video gaming console via their multimedia division, [[Abstergo Entertainment]]. However, Abstergo's secrets were slowly being divulged to the public by two separate groups, [[Erudito]] and the [[Initiates]], the latter becoming allies with the Assassins.<ref name="AC4" />  
[[File:AC3 Vidic's Last Moments.png|thumb|220x220px|Desmond Kills Warren by using Ezio's Apple ]]

====Phoenix Project====
Towards the end of 2013, Abstergo Entertainment had the body of the Sage, [[John Standish]], in their possession. The Templars then decided to locate other Sages and study their DNA, so as to find the perfect way to master the use of the Pieces of Eden. They called this research the [[Phoenix Project]].<ref name="ACU" />

The Templars also became aware of the existence of a group called the [[Instruments of the First Will]]. This group believed that humanity should once again be enslaved to the First Civilization. Abstergo intends to use the Instruments as a way to locate potential Pieces of Eden, though [[Master Templar]] [[Juhani Otso Berg]] feared that it may be the other way around, that the Instruments may be exploiting Abstergo's resources to further their own gains.<ref name="ACRG" />

====Exploiting Shay Cormac====
In 2014, Otso Berg and Sigma Team member [[Violet da Costa]] travelled to Abstergo Entertainment to have [[Helix research analyst|a research analyst]] access Shay Cormac's memories. After accessing Shay's memories of his defection to the Templars, Juhani Otso Berg uploaded Shay's memories into the Assassin network, in an attempt to break the Assassins' conviction. Afterwards, the Templars extended an offer of membership to the analyst, otherwise Otso Berg would be forced to kill the analyst.<ref name="ACRG" />
[[File:ACS Stay With Me 5.png|thumb|220x220px|Shaun Kills Isabelle with his Shock Blade]]

====Locating the Shroud====
In 2015, the Templars attempted to locate a [[Shrouds of Eden|Shroud of Eden]] in [[London]], England. The Assassins were on the same trail after stealing the memories of [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye]] from the [[Abstergo Cloud|cloud server]]. Sigma Team confronted Assassins [[Rebecca Crane]] and [[Shaun Hastings]] when the latter confronted [[Isabelle Ardant]], but the Assassins managed to escape.<ref name="ACS" />

The Templars later discovered the Shroud beneath [[Buckingham Palace]], but so did the Assassins, who were joined by [[Galina Voronina]]. During the resulting skirmish, Hastings snuck up behind Ardant and stabbed her with his shock blade. da Costa managed to escape with the Shroud as the Assassins were forced to retreat. She delivered the Shroud to [[Álvaro Gramática]], who planned on using the Shroud to recreate a living Precursor. Unbeknownst to the Templars, da Costa was secretly a member of the Instruments of the First Will, who was working to restore [[Juno]] to physical form.<ref name="ACS" />

===Quest for Aguilar's Apple===
In 2016, Abstergo began a search for another [[Aguilar's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]], one that had formerly been in the possession of the [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassin]] [[Aguilar de Nerha]]. To this end, the [[Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center]], headed lead by Alan Rikkin's daughter Dr. [[Sophia Rikkin]], staged the execution of criminal [[Callum Lynch]], a descendant of Aquilar, in order to abduct him to process his genetic memories. Prior to this, the Foundation had captured many other descendants of Assassins or similar purposes. These included [[Moussa]], descendant of the [[Saint-Dominigue Brotherhood of Assassins|Haitian Assassin]] [[Adéwalé]], [[Lin]], descendant of [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] [[Shao Jun]], [[Nathan]], descendant of the Assassin turncoat [[Duncan Walpole]], and [[Emir]], a descendant of the [[Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins|Ottoman Assassin]] [[Yusuf Tazim]] in addition to Callum's father [[Joseph Lynch]].<ref name="ACfilm" />

[[File:Assassin's Creed (film) 01.png|thumb|left||250px|Callum awakens after his faked death.]]
Callum was taken to the rehabilitation center in [[Madrid]], where he was forced into an [[Animus|Animus 4.3]] to relive the memories of Aguilar. Eventually after several sessions, Abstergo witnessed Aguilar transferring the Apple to the famed Genoese explorer [[Christopher Columbus]]. With this information in mind, Sophia and her father promptly fled the facility for Columbus's tomb at the [[Seville Cathedral]], just as their Assassin subjects launched a prison break. In the mean time, as a consequence of the Bleeding Effect, Callum was greeted by ghostly apparitions of his Assassin ancestors, resolving to align with the Assassins.<ref name="ACfilm" />


===Assassination of Alan Rikkin===
[[File:ACMovie Callum assassinates Alan.png|thumb|220x220px|Callum assassinates Alan]]
Their deduction correct, Alan and Sophia Rikkin successfully looted Aguilar's Apple from Columbus's tomb, an accomplishment Alan felt was paramount for securing the continued support of the Council of Elders for Abstergo Foundation. Not long after, the Council of Elders gathered at a Templar sanctuary in London for a ceremony where Alan was to present the Apple. Unbeknownst to them, the Assassins that had escaped from the rehabilitation center had infiltrated the gathering. Though Sophia met Callum at the hall outside the ceremony, she allowed him to pass through without raising the alarm in a moment of misgivings over the Templars' goals. Thus, just as Alan was activating the Apple before the assembly, he was assassinated from behind by Callum, his throat slit by a Hidden Blade. The rest of the Assassins initiated their assault, and in the ensuing skirmish, the Templars lost the Apple to their sworn enemies.<ref name="ACfilm" />

==Ideology and goals ==
===Belief system ===
{{Quote|We're cruel and desperate creatures, set in our conquering ways. The Saxons and the Franks. The Ottomans and Safavids... I could go on for hours. The whole of human history is but a series of conflicts and subjugation. A desire for more, and more, and more.|Haytham Kenway, regarding his view on humanity.|Assassin's Creed III}}
[[File:AC1-Templar-Knight.png|thumb|A Templar during the Third Crusade]]
The existence of the Templars became known to the public in 1129, when its military order was endorsed by the Holy See as a means of countering the ever-increasing threat against the Holy Land by the Saracens, and to protect the city of [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="HC">The History Channel, ''Decoding the Past: The Templar Code'', 7 November 2005, video documentary written by Marcy Marzuni</ref> Over time, the Templars began to believe it within their power to unite the world in peace.<ref name="AC" />

Their system of belief changed greatly upon the discovery of the [[Pieces of Eden]]; they began to speculate that God was a myth and this led the Order to become somewhat agnostic, though they publicly maintained the pretense of following the Christian ways so as to not lose the support of the Church.<ref name="AC2" />

However, select Templars such as [[David Brewster]] were deeply religious, believing the powerful artifacts had come from God himself.<ref name="ACS" /> Even [[Maximilien de Robespierre]] tried to establish a deist religion, the [[Cult of the Supreme Being]], based on the Templar Doctrine.<ref name="ACU" /> During the persecution of the Templars, the last publicly known Templar Grandmaster, Jacques de Molay, cursed King Phillip and Pope Clement V that they will answer for their crimes before God almighty.<ref name="ACU" /> When the Spanish Templars were cleansing their nation of "heretics", they state that God will punish their souls. Even [[Tomas de Torquemada]] believed that the Templar's work was God's command alone.

===Goal===
The Templar's true goal is to lead and enlighten humanity so as to [[New World Order|transform]] the world into a self-sustaining progressive utopia, cleansed of the chaotic elements of their natural free will. The Templars view this step as necessary for the world, given he fact that [[Humans|humanity]] was created to serve and be led by their [[Isu|Gods]] in the first place.

===Obsession with the Pieces of Eden===
Realizing the power that the Pieces of Eden held over human beings, the Templars began to seek out the artifacts. In 1191, [[Robert de Sable]], then Grand Master of the Order, personally sought the fabled [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]], buried in the catacombs of Solomon's Temple, beneath the Temple Mount.<ref name="AC" /> The theft of this Piece of Eden by the Order of Assassins renewed the sustained conflict between the two powers, ending with the deaths of De Sable at Arsuf, and Armand Bouchart in Limassol.<ref name="Bloodlines" /> Despite this setback, the Order continued its mission of creating a world of peace, through manipulation of the Pieces of Eden.

As time progressed, the Templars became more focused on the Pieces of Eden, rather than operating to transform and influence society through non-supernatural means. Their goals changed as they sought to control and unify the entire world using the Pieces of Eden to create a "New World Order".<ref name="AC" /><ref name="AC2" />

=== Views on humanity ===
The Templar Doctrine was based upon an inherently pessimistic view of humanity. As opposed to the Assassins, who believed that ''free will'' was an inherent quality and right for all humankind, the Templars insisted that "freedom" caused chaos and upheaval, and ultimately threatens the fabric of civilization itself. Templars hence believe that order, purpose and direction are key in the construction of a perfect world. More moderate Templars would try to influence humanity to have discipline and restraint, as well as opting for tighter and more centralized governmental control. The most fanatical Templars, however, would aim at nothing less than the total destruction of free will, and absolute control over humanity.

=== Compromising for peace ===
It is easy to mistake the Templar pursuit for control as a pursuit for power. Whilst many Templars were indeed after power, the Order's base ideology itself is about attaining control in order to enable humanity to transcend beyond their animal roots, and become a species perfectly in harmony and in peace. That is why Templars tend to agree with Assassins when it comes to pursuing ''peace'', but detest their pursuit of ''freedom''. On rare occasions when there is peace between the Assassins and the Templars, such as during [[François de la Serre]]'s reign as Grand Master, radical elements on both sides may attempt to resume the conflict. Francois de la Serre and his Assassin counterpart, [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau|Honoré Mirabeau]], both agreed to unite the Two Orders in the sole pursuit of peace using both control and freedom. However, before they could enact this partnership, they were both murdered by their more radical and fanatical subordinates for prioritizing peace over their ideology.

=== Ethical and unethical practices ===
Despite the noble ideals of the Order, the Templars were often consequentialists when it came to their methods, which included subterfuge, manipulation of individuals as well as events, murder and even warfare. The Templars' treatment of individuals such as [[Desmond Miles]], [[Daniel Cross]], and [[Clay Kaczmarek]] may be perceived as unethical from an isolated standpoint, though the Templars would argue that their many atrocities throughout history have been committed in the name of the ''greater good''. The Templars are liberal in their methods used in the name of the greater good, and is perceived by many to be 'evil' or 'corrupted', or at least bent on domination in many instances.<ref name="AC" /> However, while some Templars commit those atrocities fully aware of the magnitude of their actions, others are simply unaware of the atrocities committed in the name of the greater good. Some, such as Maria Thorpe, choose to leave the Templar Order in disagreement with the Order's methods. However, for those that were steeped in the Order's plans and secrets, leaving the Order was nearly an impossible task, as they would usually have been killed to stop them from revealing any information they were party to. The Templars also had no problem with suppressing knowledge, such as when they tried to eliminate [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] and murdered [[Alan Turing]], if it suited their purposes, despite their claims that they sought to uplift mankind.

At various points in history, such as during the 18th century, the Templars opposed the unethical treatment and unnecessary killing of innocents, though their definition of an 'innocent' was less broad than that of the Assassin brotherhood.<ref name="AC3" /> By the early 18th century the Templars had come to view [[slavery]] as an unnecessary and questionable practice; [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] for one believed that "a body enslaved inspires the mind to revolt. But enslave a man's mind and his body will follow on naturally."<ref name="AC4" /> So strong was the Templars' distaste for the practice that at least one member, [[Woodes Rogers]], was forced out of the Order for continuing to trade in slaves.<ref name="ACBF">''[[Assassin's Creed: Black Flag]]''</ref> Many Templars throughout history have shown extremely little issue with harming innocent people for the supposed greater good; [[Edward Braddock]] notably slaughtered countless innocent people simply because they either got in the way or because of his belief that random killing would result in people becoming too fearful to disobey. Even children have been shown to not be immune to Templar cruelty; the British Rite extensively used (and promoted) child labour without regard for the dangers such workers faced, the modern purge of the Assassin Order had children mercilessly gunned down in an attempt to eradicate the Assassins and several Inner Sanctum members showed little qualms if children were caught in the crossfire (or in the case of one, dissected for research) of their operations.

[[File:Gallery7.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cesare Borgia exemplified the idea of using the Order's might for personal gain]]

=== Vulnerability to corruption ===
The nature of the Order, which involves the acquisition and the exercise of power, makes the Templars highly susceptible to arrogance and corruption. Many have used the Templar cause as a shield or stepping-stone to further their own selfish and cruel desires, attaining power not for the benefit of mankind as was the decree of the order, but for power's own sake. Others like [[Thomas Hickey]] or [[Juan Borgia]], likewise, used the Order's considerable connections, wealth and power to attain wealth and luxury of their own.

Dedicated Templar visionaries, who are fully convinced of the Order's righteousness of cause and who lived in service to such an ideal, such as [[Haytham Kenway]] and prince [[Ahmet]], are few and far between. The [[Colonial Rite of the Templar Order|Colonial Rite]] is most well known for being one of the truly benevolent Templar Rites to have ever existed. Some Templars such as Colonel [[George Monro]] saw themselves and their fellow Templars as benevolent protectors and providers of humanity, an act which caused the assassin turncoat [[Shay Cormac]] to defect to the Templar Order. The modern-day Templar [[Juhani Otso Berg]] took these benevolent Templars as his influential and inspirational examples as to what a Templar should really be.

During the Italian Renaissance, Templar goals were corrupted by [[Rodrigo Borgia|Rodrigo]] and Cesare Borgia into seeking power and domination at all costs, which is far removed from their original noble motive. Modern Templars view the Borgias as debauched tyrants and consider their reign to be a Dark Age of the Order.
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==Trivia==
*Rebecca Crane noted that both the Assassin and Templar Orders had existed since before the formation of the Hashshashin and Order of the Knights Templar respectively, and queried what the two organizations called themselves beforehand.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Syndicate'' - [[Database: The Assassin Brotherhood]]</ref>
*In real history, the demonym "Templar" was derived from the order's official name '''Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon''', with the Temple of Solomon referring to their base, the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]].
*Historically, after the fall of Acre at 1291, the Templars became bankers rather than actual knights. In fact, it was their banking business that led King Philip IV of France to force Clement V to disband the order and take its wealth for the failing economy of Philip's Kingdom.

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[[fr:Ordre des Templiers]]
[[hu:Templomosok]]
[[it:Templari]]
[[nl:Tempeliers]]
[[pl:Templariusze]]
[[pt-br:Templários]]
[[ru:Тамплиеры]]
[[zh:圣殿骑士]]
[[Category:Templar Order]]
[[Category:Military orders]]
[[Category:Articles revamp]]
[[Category:Organizations]]