Battle of Arsuf

The Battle of Arsuf was a confrontation between the military forces of Saladin and King Richard I of England in September of 1191. Earlier that year, in July, the Crusaders had gained control of the port city of Acre. As a result, their morale was enhanced to no end, as it allowed for reinforcements and supplies to be received via sea.

King Richard led an attack on the Saracens at Arsuf, leaving the city of Acre in the hands of three of his most trusted men. Meanwhile, he led a march to the south, with the aim of flanking the Saracen combatants. The battle was the first major defeat of the Saracens during the Crusades, and greatly increased the morale of the European army.

Ride for the King

"The man is clever. He goes to plead his case to Richard and Saladin, to unite them against the common enemy. Against us."

―Altaïr on Robert de Sablé and his journey to Arsuf.

Following the events that transpired at Majd Addin's funeral, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad returned to the Assassin bureau in Jerusalem, where he informed Malik Al-Sayf of the trap set for him by Robert de Sablé. When Altaïr arrived, Malik claimed he had heard reports of the funeral turning to chaos and asked for further information. Altaïr explained to Malik that Robert had never attended the ceremony, having sent Maria Thorpe in his stead. This decoy revealed that Robert rode for Arsuf to plead his case to King Richard and Saladin, hoping to unite the Crusaders and Saracens against the Assassins, as Altaïr had already eliminated eight of the nine Templar targets from both sides of the conflict.

Though Malik was of the opinion that they should report to Al Mualim first, Altaïr disagreed, stating that by the time they reached Masyaf, Robert would already have succeeded. Malik, though reluctant, eventually conceded and wished Altaïr safety and peace on his mission, urging him to be careful. Altaïr promised to remain vigilant and made his departure, on good terms with the Rafiq.

Leaving Jerusalem, the Assassin rode through the Kingdom on horseback. He traveled through both Saracen and Crusader camps and eventually arrived at Arsuf, where the battle between the two armies had already begun. Proceeding onwards, the Assassin prepared to face the Grand Master of the Templars, Robert de Sablé.

The clash

"Hold a moment. It's words I bring, not steel."

―Altaïr to King Richard's soldiers.

Altaïr fighting the Crusaders

Upon Altaïr's arrival in Arsuf, he rode along a ledge, from which he had a point of view over the road along which King Richard's army was marching. Altaïr surveyed the infantry passing by and then continued down the path he was on, until he came across a Saracen ambush, consisting of a number of archers firing upon the marching English soldiers. The foot soldiers were lying in wait for their enemies, perhaps not expecting the advancing Assassin.

Nevertheless, they attacked Altaïr, using the tactic of occupying him while their archers shot at him from above. Fighting through line upon line of Saracen men, Altaïr sought King Richard's lieutenant, Robert de Sablé. Escaping the archers and foot soldiers, Altaïr successfully reached the camp, where he fought off Crusaders in order to reach Robert, who was conversing with Richard.

Face to face

The ninth Templar

"I must leave it in the hands of one wiser than I..."

―King Richard upon the dilemma of Robert de Sablé's true allegiances.

Altaïr explains the truth about Robert to Richard

Altaïr finally reached King Richard, who had Robert de Sablé standing by his side. After being halted by the guards and permitted to pass, Altaïr was surrounded by the King's knights and the Templars as he was questioned. Richard initially assumed that Saladin had sent the Assassin to either offer terms of surrender or to attempt an assassination. Altaïr explained that he had not come to kill Richard, and that Robert was his true target. Richard replied that he supported de Sablé in his campaign of revenge against the Assassins, as they had been responsible for the deaths of some of his best men.

Altaïr claimed personal responsibility for their deaths but argued that his actions were for good reason. He revealed that William of Montferrat had intended to seize Acre by force, Garnier de Naplouse sought to control the populace through indoctrination, and Sibrand planned to blockade the kingdom's ports. He argued that Richard, having known these men well, should not have been surprised by their ill intentions.

Richard questioned the truth of these claims and turned to his lieutenant for input. Robert dismissed Altaïr's words, saying that they should not trust him, as his reasoning was only a means of protecting Masyaf from the combined might of the Saracen and Crusader armies. Altaïr maintained that he had no reason to deceive and that if his sacrifice was necessary for peace in the Holy Land, he would accept it. Finding it difficult to discern the truth, Richard mandated that the matter be decided through trial by combat, believing that God would side with the one whose cause was righteous.

Secrets

Altaïr: "He is the Master of the Assassins!"

Robert: "Oui, the Master of lies..."

—Altaïr and Robert, regarding Al Mualim.

Altaïr assassinating Robert

Altaïr first faced Robert's knights, thinning their ranks until none remained to protect their leader. Robert then engaged the Assassin in a final duel, but despite the Templar's prowess, Altaïr eventually struck the Grand Master down.

In his final moments, Robert revealed the truth about Al Mualim's hidden allegiance, accusing the Master of the Assassins of intending to keep the Apple of Eden for himself. He observed the irony that he, as Altaïr's greatest enemy, had kept him safe from the Master's true designs, but with his death, the Assassin alone remained to confront the final stages of Al Mualim's scheme.

Following the duel, King Richard approached the Assassin, musing that God appeared to favor his cause. Altaïr dismissed the notion of divine intervention, asserting that he was simply the better fighter and that he fought for justice to ensure peace. Though Richard argued that conflict was the inherent nature of mankind, Altaïr maintained that people are what they choose to be. Altaïr then took his leave from the king to confront Al Mualim, at Masyaf.

Aftermath

Assassins

Through the Apple of Eden he possessed, Al Mualim began to control the minds of his subjects in Masyaf, manipulating them to believe that he alone held the "truth" and could lead them toward the "light". Altaïr returned to the fortress to confront his master, foil his plans for a forced peace, and retake Masyaf. Ultimately, Al Mualim was defeated by his student, who recovered the Apple of Eden and subsequently ascended as the new Mentor of the Levantine Assassins.

Crusader army

The battle of Arsuf was a ferocious conflict between two armies. In the end, however, the Crusaders were able to secure victory, losing less than seven hundred men while inflicting up to seven thousand casualties on the Saracen forces.

Gallery

• 
  The Crusader army before the battle
• 
  Altaïr overlooking the Crusader army on their way to Arsuf
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  Altaïr surrounded by Templars in King Richard's camp

Appearances

This list is incomplete. You can help the Assassin's Creed Wiki by expanding it.

• Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned only)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)