American Rite of the Templar Order

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Ratonhnhaké:ton: "What is it the Templars truly seek?"

Haytham Kenway: "Order. Purpose. Direction. No more than that."

—Ratonhnhaké:ton and Haytham Kenway, discussing the Colonial Templars' goals, 1778.

The Colonial Rite of the Templar Order was one of a number of factional groups, originating from the greater Order, in operation during the mid 18th Century. Haytham Kenway founded, and became the first Grand Master of the Colonial Rite in 1754, in order to find a suspected Precursor storehouse.

History

Founding

Once Haytham arrived in Boston, he was greeted by Charles Lee, a hopeful wishing to join the Templar Order. With Charle's help, Haytham sought to gather four individuals that Reginald Birch - the Grand Master of the British Rite - had arranged for Haytham to recruit: William Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Benjamin Church, and John Pitcairn.

With the outbreak of the French and Indian War, the British Government had arranged for General Edward Braddock, another member of the Templar Order, to lead an expedition to the French-controlled Fort Duquesne. In order to enlist the aid of the Kanien'kehá:ka, whom it was believed knew the location of the Precursor site, Haytham willingly agreed to side with them in their ambush of Braddock's forces.

The combined assault by Haytham's Rite and the Kanien'kehá:ka, together with a timely assault by the French Army, led to the destruction of the Expedition, and the death of Edward Braddock and Haytham's hands. True to her word, Kaniehtí:io, the Kanien'kehá:ka whom Haytham had agreed their alliance, led the Grand Master to the Precursor site, though the latter was disappointed to find little more than a cave.

Destruction of the Assassins and rise to power

By 1763, the Colonial Rite was in full conflict with the Assassin Brotherhood in the region; the very year, the Templar's launched a concentrated assault on the Assassins and all but wiped them out. They forced the only surviving member of the Order - Achilles Davenport - into exile, on the condition that he retire from his life as an Assassin.

After a few more years, the Templars had allied with the British Army to focuse on more "practical pursuits". With the eventual outbreak the American Revolution and the war that followed, the Templars began to make involve themselves. Unknown to the Templars however, was that the Colonial Assassins had returned to the scene with the recruitment of Ratonhnhaké:ton, the illegitimate child of Haytham Kenway and Kaniehtí:io.

Over the course of the Revolution, Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated William Johnson, Nicholas Biddle, and Thomas Hickey, and during a brief familial alliance, watched as Haytham killed Benjamin Church, who had recently betrayed the Colonial Rite.

Collapse

In 1781, Ratonhnhaké:ton, seeking out Charles Lee, confronted his father in the Templar stronghold at Fort George, New York. After a brutal fight, the Templar Grand Master was killed, and Charles Lee rose to the position in his stead.

At least three months later, in 1782, a funeral for Haytham Kenway, and presided over by Charles Lee was interrupted by the arrival of Ratonhnaké:ton. Charles had the Assassin detained, before making preparations to travel to Boston. Eventually, the Assassin caught up with Lee once more, and after a rugged pursuit, tracked down and killed him.

Reference

• Assassin's Creed III