Overseer

Adéwalé fighting overseers

Overseers, also known as foremen, were guards or thugs who watched over locations, captives, or valuable items. They were employed by said properties' owners, which sometimes included members of the Templar Order.

History

Renaissance

Ezio assassinating an overseer

During the Renaissance in Rome, the House of Borgia had specialized agents take care of Leonardo da Vinci's war machine plans. These overseers were typically members of the Papal Guard and were always accompanied by several soldiers who protected them and the plans they carried. Between 1502 and 1503, the Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze killed four overseers throughout the Roman countryside, retrieving their plans and allowing him to find and destroy the war machines in an effort to weaken the Borgia's influence.

Golden Age of Piracy

In the early 18th century, plantation owners throughout the Caribbean employed overseers to protect and manage their plantations. Since most owners ruled in absentia, they delegated their authority to the overseers, who were responsible for the plantations' day-to-day production and administering discipline to the slaves working on them.

During the 1730s, overseers were most notably active in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, where the Maroon rebels constantly battled them to free their brothers from slavery. In 1735, the Maroon rebellion briefly came under threat as a group of overseers discovered and attacked their hideout, though fortunately the Assassin Adéwalé came to the rebels' aid and eliminated the militiamen.

An overseer attacking a Maroon

Groups of overseers also sailed around the coast of Port-au-Prince, sometimes protecting slave ships or just patrolling the area. Most of them were on the payroll of Governor Pierre, Marquis de Fayet, using them to strike the Maroons and protect the French plantations along the coast. Many of these militiamen were slain by Adéwalé during his efforts to liberate slaves and help the Maroon rebellion take down de Fayet's ruthless government.

Victorian era

During the 19th century in London, foremen were agents employed by Crawford Starrick and the British Templars to manage the various factories owned by Starrick Industries throughout the city. Alongside their Blighter guards, foremen were responsible for watching over and, if necessary, punishing the children who worked in the factories for minimum wages.

In 1868, the twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye, during their efforts to liberate London from Starrick's grip, attempted to take over the Blighters-run factories and free the child workers from their slave-like working conditions. In the process, the twins killed the factories' foremen, allowing them to liberate the children and take over the business.

Description

Since Borgia overseers were drawn from the ranks of the Papal Guard, they were dressed and fought identically to the various Papal Guards encountered by Ezio.

An overseer sniper firing at two Maroons

Overseers employed in Saint-Domingue wore clothing similar to pirate hunters, but with a few differences. Overseer regulars often wore simple brown shirts, rusty white pants, and orange caps. Overseer captains wore clothing very similar to hunter captains, but their outfits were slightly more tan. Overseer brutes wore long dark-brown coats, rusty white pants, and beige round hats. Overseer snipers wore brown jackets and boots.

Factory overseers wore white long coats, black pants, and black top hats. Their white colors distinguished them from regular Blighters, which inadvertently made them easier for Jacob and Evie to identify and assassinate.

Gallery

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  Ezio fighting a Borgia overseer
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  Ezio assassinating a Borgia overseer
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  Ezio about to shoot an overseer
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  An overseer presiding over a slave auction
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  An overseer abusing an escaped slave

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Freedom Cry
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion (mentioned in Database entry only)