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The '''Song Dynasty''' (960 – 1279) was one of the ruling dynasties of [[China|Imperial China]]. It suceeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period alongside the smaller Liao and Western Xia dynasties and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. The era was known for the invention and creation of many new technologies and advancements such as gunpowder, which was used by the Chinese armies.
{{Era|Organizations|Good}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Regime Infobox
|title1= Song
|image1=ACLD - Song China map.png
|capital= [[Chenliu|Kaifeng]]<br>[[Nanjing]]<br>{{wiki|Hangzhou|Lin'an}}
|government= [[Monarchy]]
|head_of_state= {{wiki|Emperor of China|Emperor}}
|head_of_government=
|legislature=
|military= [[Song military]]
|ruling_house= {{wiki|Zhao (surname)|Zhao}}
|affiliation= [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins]]
|nation= [[China]]
|languages= {{wiki|Middle Chinese}}
|religion={{wiki|Confucianism}}<br>{{wiki|Taoism}}<br>[[Buddhism]]<br>{{wiki|Chinese folk religion}}
|demonym= Song
|major_cities=
|population=
|currency=
|founder(s)= {{wiki|Emperor Taizu of Song|Taizu of Song}}
|date_founded= 960
|date_dissolved= 1279
|last_ruler= {{wiki|Zhao Bing|Bing of Song}}
}}
The '''Song dynasty''' (960 – 1279) was one of the ruling dynasties of [[China|Imperial China]]. Succeeding the {{wiki|Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period}} that followed the [[Tang dynasty]], the era was known for the invention and creation of many new technologies and advancements such as gunpowder, which was used by the Chinese armies.
 
With the rise of the [[Mongol Empire]] under [[Genghis Khan]], China under the Song regime became embroiled in a long conflict against the northern invaders. Despite the aid of the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Brotherhood]] of [[Assassins]], the government ultimately fell to the Mongols under [[Kublai Khan]] in 1279, inaugurating the [[Yuan dynasty]].


Song Dynasty was divided into two distinct periods, Northern Song (<span style="font-weight:normal;">960 – 1127) </span>and Southern Song <span style="font-weight:normal;">(1127</span><span style="font-weight:normal;"> – 1279). Northern Song was conquered by the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty, leading to the formation of the Southern Song. With the conquer of the Jin Dynasty by the Mongol Empire in 1234, the Southern Song fell to the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols ]] led by [[Kublai Khan]] in 1279 after two decades of sporadic invasions, leading to the reunification under the Yuan Dynasty.</span>
==History==
==History==
In 1259 during the Siege of Diaoyu Castle, a [[Zhang Zhi's father|member]] of the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins]] and commander was killed in a duel against [[Bayan]], a [[Mongols|Mongolian ]] officer. His daughter, [[Zhang Zhi]] attempted to seek revenge against [[Möngke Khan]] , the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire and a Mongolian Templar. While she succeeded, she became injured and became crippled in the process. Because of her injury, Kang, the Mentor of the Chinese Assassins refused to formally induct her into the brotherhood.
The Song dynasty was the ruling regime of China in the early 13th century when Genghis Khan unified the [[Mongolia|Mongols]] under his banner with the power of the [[Sword of Eden 2|Sword of Eden]]. In short order, he began an invasion of China and its neighbors, the [[Western Xia|Xia]] and the {{wiki|Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jin}}. His conquests drew the attention of the [[Assassins]], and in 1227, the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Brotherhood]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] traveled to China with his wife [[Maria Thorpe]] and son [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]] to eliminate him.<ref name="TSC">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]'' – Chapter 50</ref> On 18 August, with the help of [[Mongolian Brotherhood of Assassins|Mongolian Assassin]] [[Qulan Gal]],<ref name="Reflections #002">''[[Assassin's Creed: Reflections]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Reflections 2|Issue #2]]</ref> they assassinated the Great Khan as he was besieging the Xia capital of [[Xingqing]].<ref name="TSC" /> However, the Assassins failed to retrieve the [[Piece of Eden|Piece]] of [[Eden]] and it remained in the hands of the Mongols.<ref name="Reflections #002" />
 
The war with the Mongols therefore continued unabated under Genghis Khan's successors for the following decades, with the Song gradually losing more and more ground to the indomitable enemy. During this time, the Chinese Assassins cooperated closely with the Song government in the defense of the nation. In 1259, the Mongols under the [[Möngke Khan]] [[Siege of Diaoyu Castle|assailed]] [[Diaoyu Castle]]. There, an [[Zhang Zhi's father|agent]] of the Chinese Brotherhood simultaneously serving as a Song commander was killed in a duel against the Mongolian officer [[Bayan]], an act that nevertheless helped to forestall a Chinese defeat.<ref name="LastKhanCh6">''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan]]'' – Chapter 6</ref>
 
In the aftermath, the Assassin's vengeful daughter [[Zhang Zhi]] was recruited into the Brotherhood by the Mentor [[Kang]] despite his fears over her motivations. Defying her master's orders against revenge, on 11 August, Zhi infiltrated the camp of Möngke to assassinate him.<ref name="LastKhanCh9">''Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan'' – Chapter 9</ref> While she succeeded, she was grievously crippled in her escape. Using her injury as a pretext, Kang forever renounced her [[Assassin apprentice|apprenticeship]] in spite of her having killed the founder of the [[Mongolian Rite of the Templar Order|Mongolian Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].<ref name="LastKhanCh14">''Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan'' – Chapter 14</ref>
 
Möngke Khan's death did not save the Song dynasty as the Mongol invasions continued under his younger brother and successor [[Kublai Khan]]. In 1279, the last of the Song forces were destroyed and the whole of China fell under the Mongol Empire, who established the Yuan dynasty.<ref name="ACM">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''</ref>
 
==Behind the scenes==
In the novel ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]'', when Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad recounts his mission to assassinate Genghis Khan, he erroneously refers to the Western Xia Empire as a province—presumably of Song China.
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' {{Mdat}}


With Möngke's death, he was suceeded by his younger brother Kublai Khan as the Great Khan. His fourth son, Asutai recuited Bayan into the [[Mongolian Rite of the Templar Order|Templar Order]] in the same year.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Dynasties of China]]
[[Category:Chinese governments]]

Latest revision as of 18:40, 21 March 2025

The Song dynasty (960 – 1279) was one of the ruling dynasties of Imperial China. Succeeding the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period that followed the Tang dynasty, the era was known for the invention and creation of many new technologies and advancements such as gunpowder, which was used by the Chinese armies.

With the rise of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan, China under the Song regime became embroiled in a long conflict against the northern invaders. Despite the aid of the Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins, the government ultimately fell to the Mongols under Kublai Khan in 1279, inaugurating the Yuan dynasty.

History[edit | edit source]

The Song dynasty was the ruling regime of China in the early 13th century when Genghis Khan unified the Mongols under his banner with the power of the Sword of Eden. In short order, he began an invasion of China and its neighbors, the Xia and the Jin. His conquests drew the attention of the Assassins, and in 1227, the Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad traveled to China with his wife Maria Thorpe and son Darim to eliminate him.[1] On 18 August, with the help of Mongolian Assassin Qulan Gal,[2] they assassinated the Great Khan as he was besieging the Xia capital of Xingqing.[1] However, the Assassins failed to retrieve the Piece of Eden and it remained in the hands of the Mongols.[2]

The war with the Mongols therefore continued unabated under Genghis Khan's successors for the following decades, with the Song gradually losing more and more ground to the indomitable enemy. During this time, the Chinese Assassins cooperated closely with the Song government in the defense of the nation. In 1259, the Mongols under the Möngke Khan assailed Diaoyu Castle. There, an agent of the Chinese Brotherhood simultaneously serving as a Song commander was killed in a duel against the Mongolian officer Bayan, an act that nevertheless helped to forestall a Chinese defeat.[3]

In the aftermath, the Assassin's vengeful daughter Zhang Zhi was recruited into the Brotherhood by the Mentor Kang despite his fears over her motivations. Defying her master's orders against revenge, on 11 August, Zhi infiltrated the camp of Möngke to assassinate him.[4] While she succeeded, she was grievously crippled in her escape. Using her injury as a pretext, Kang forever renounced her apprenticeship in spite of her having killed the founder of the Mongolian Rite of the Templar Order.[5]

Möngke Khan's death did not save the Song dynasty as the Mongol invasions continued under his younger brother and successor Kublai Khan. In 1279, the last of the Song forces were destroyed and the whole of China fell under the Mongol Empire, who established the Yuan dynasty.[6]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

In the novel Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade, when Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad recounts his mission to assassinate Genghis Khan, he erroneously refers to the Western Xia Empire as a province—presumably of Song China.

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade – Chapter 50
  2. 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: ReflectionsIssue #2
  3. Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan – Chapter 6
  4. Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan – Chapter 9
  5. Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan – Chapter 14
  6. Assassin's Creed: Memories