Shahkulu

Manuel Palaiologos: "Ah! What the hell is that smell?"

Shahkulu: "Apologies, Manuel. Some of these Ottoman prisoners are so... fragile."

—Shahkulu, revealing his cruelty, 1512.

Shahkulu (died 1512) was a Turkmen renegade, who became an orphan after an Ottoman attack on his tribe. Homeless, Shahkulu joined the Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order, and dedicated his life to his new cause.

By 1511, he had become the leader of the Shahkulu rebellion – a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid Qizilbash uprising in Anatolia, directed against the Ottoman Empire.

In 2012, his genetic memories were used as an Animi Avatar by the Templar company Abstergo Industries, in the second stage of training for their Animus recruits, under the title of the Renegade.

Biography

Early life

Shahkulu was born into a Turkmen tribe in eastern Anatolia, which was oppressed by the Ottoman Empire, as it was located on the edge of its boundaries. In his youth, an Ottoman ambush on his tribe left him orphaned and alone. Seeking revenge and a sense of belonging, Shahkulu was taken in by a group of Safavid sympathizers, before joining the Templar Order later in his life.

In time, Shahkulu grew to hate the Ottoman Turks for what they had done to his people, as well as any who opposed the Templar ideology, and made it his personal mission to eliminate all that stood in his Order's way.

Partnership with Manuel

"When the Palaiologos line is restored, Manuel, do not forget who helped you bring it back."

―Shahkulu to Manuel Palaiologos, 1511.

Shahkulu and Manuel meeting with Tarik at the Arsenal

Shahkulu eventually became a feared Templar, and circa 1511, he formed a partnership with a fellow Templar, and heir to the fallen Byzantine Empire, Manuel Palaiologos. Shahkulu aided Manuel in his efforts to restore the Byzantine remnants to their former strength, partly because he believed Manuel would reward him if the Empire was successfully restored. Their partnership, however, was an uneasy one, as the Byzantines had been enemies of Shahkulu's people much like the Ottomans.

In mid-1511, Shahkulu and Manuel met with the Janissary captain Tarik Barleti in Constantinople, in order to gain access to the Arsenal and check on a shipment of weapons Tarik had promised their forces. While inspecting the firearms, Shahkulu reminded Manuel that he had helped him restore his army and that he should not be forgotten. Nodding, Manuel assured him that he would remember the debt he owed Shahkulu.

Death

"Shahkulu, try to moderate your anger. I know the Sultan humiliated your people. But there is no need to spit on men who are beneath us."

―Manuel, regarding Shahkulu's brutal actions, 1512.

Ezio eavesdropping on Manuel and Shahkulu

In 1512, Shahkulu retreated to the Templar headquarters in Derinkuyu, Cappadocia. There, several of Tarik Barleti's spies were captured and, as they were Ottoman Turks, Shahkulu personally executed many of them by savagely beating them to death. After a meeting with Manuel, who reprimanded the renegade on his treatment of the Ottoman spies, Shahkulu demanded that his men bring the remaining ones to the chapel, where he intended to publicly torture and execute them.

As one of the guards replied that he did not have the key, Shahkulu angrily ordered him to find it. However, unknown to him, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze had been spying on the meeting and, after learning the location of the key, set off to retrieve it before the Templars.

Shortly afterwards, a crowd gathered at the chapel where Shahkulu was to perform his public killings. The Templar took his place in the open courtyard and began beating a spy named Janos to death. However, having been led to the chapel by Janos' fellow spy, Dilara, Ezio climbed onto a cross above Shahkulu, and attempted to assassinate the renegade with his Hidden Blade.

Ezio assassinating Shahkulu

Believing him to be dead, Ezio told Shahkulu that he deserved no pity for the pleasure he derived from sadism. However, Shahkulu's armor had saved him from the killing blow, and he reached up suddenly to strangle Ezio. To stop him, the Assassin stabbed Shahkulu in the chest with his Hookblade, yet he threw Ezio aside, prompting a duel between the two. Despite the presence of several Byzantine troops aiding him, Shahkulu was eventually defeated and killed.

Behind the scenes

Shahkulu, or Şahkulu (Ottoman Turkish: شاه قولی; lit. 'servant of shah'), is a historical figure and character introduced in the 2011 video game Assassin's Creed: Revelations, where he was voiced by Tony Calabretta. Historically, Shahkulu was killed by the Ottomans in 1511 at the end of his failed rebellion, though the exact circumstances of his death are unknown.

Gallery

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  Shahkulu reminding Manuel of his service
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  Shahkulu speaking to Manuel
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  Shahkulu at an execution
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  Shahkulu strangling Ezio
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  Shahkulu's body

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel
• Assassin's Creed: Recollection