Majd Addin

One of the nine people Al Mualim orders Altaïr to publicly assassinate. He dwells in the poor district of the city of Jerusalem.

Description

Majd Addin is Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn's Regent of Jerusalem, and demands that his citizens follow the law - his law. He issues many edicts regarding how people should conduct themselves, and anyone perceived to be breaking these laws - or as a direct threat to either the city or Majd Addin himself - is dealt with in a public "trial", where they are either framed or their so-called "crimes" exaggerated to the point that the crowd demands their deaths - which Majd Addin is only too happy to deliver personally.

Majd Addin is more than happy to admit that he enjoys controlling and taking the lives of others. He arbitrates and controls the citizens of Jerusalem through acts of strong fear and intimidation. All the more reason why a feather was issued on his head.

Death

Majd Addin was publicly assassinated by the silent assassin Altaïr. The assassin claimed his life during one of his public executions (as Majd Addin proceeded with lecturing the crowd feeding his killer ego). Altaïr silently observed his movements from the cover of the attending crowd. Then as Majd Addin began to berate his captive prisoners, Altaïr joined a group of scholars, aided greatly by the white robe he wore. The group started towards the stage, safely transporting and masking the assassin, stealthily moving past the attentive guards searching for any sign of Altaïr in the crowd. Upon reaching the stage Altaïr broke away from the scholars and watched. As Majd Addin continued the execution he maked a vital mistake by turning his back on the idle assassin. As Majd Addin addressed the crowd for the last time Altaïr sprinted towards him, leaped into the air and sank his Hidden Blade deep into the regent's neck. In his dying moments, he gave Altaïr explanations and reasons for his evil deeds, commenting that while he joined the Templars to help them take control of Jerusalem, in reality, he simply wanted the power and fear such a position granted. Majd Addin also sneered that Altair would have done the same in that position: however, Altair responds he had learned what became of those who raised themselves above others. When Majd Addind asked what this was, Altaïr stabbed him again through the neck with the Hidden Blade, and answering Addin's question as to what become of those like him...they die. Majd Addin's public assassination was the sixth recorded major public figure assassination by Altaïr and marks the second in the streets of Jerusalem.

Final Words

Altaïr: Your work here is finished.

Majd: No!NO! It had only just begun!

Altaïr: Tell me, what's your part in all this? Do you intend to defend yourself as the others have, and explain away your evil deeds!?

Majd: The Brotherhood wanted the city: I wanted power. There was...an oppurtunity.

Altaïr: An oppurtunity to murder innocents!

Majd: Not so innocent! Dissident voices cut deep as steel! They disrupt order! In this, I do agree with the Brotherhood!

Altaïr: You'd kill people simply for believing differntly from you!?

Majd: OF COURSE NOT! I killed them because I could! Because it was fun! Do you know what it feels like to determine another man's fate!? And did you see the way the people cheered!? The way they feared me!? I was like a god! You'd have done the same if you could! SUCH POWER!

Altaïr: Once perhaps, but then I learned what becomes of those who lift themselves above others!

Majd: And what is that?

Altaïr: Here, let me show you! (stabs Majd in the neck with the Hidden Blade)

Possible Model

Majd Addin (Glory of the Faith) may be very loosely based on a man named Bahā' ad-Dīn ibn Shaddād (splendor of the faith), who was close to Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb (Saladin) and wrote a biography of the great Saracen military leader and sultan. Bahā' ad-Dīn was a jurist and a scholar. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn liked his writings so much that he befriended the man and made him the judge of his armies. Bahā' ad-Dīn did not ever proclaim himself the Regent of Jerusalem, however.

In one of Altaïr's investigations, it is revealed that Majd Addin was once the scribe of the emir. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn is the Emir or Sultan at this time. Malik tells Altaïr that Majd Addin has "declared himself Regent in Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn's absence". However, when listening to the men during one of his eavesdropping investigations (the one man is the father of one of those to be executed), it becomes clear that the people are under the impression that Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn has appointed Majd Addin as Regent.

This is purely speculation, but as a scholar, Bahā' ad-Dīn was also a scribe or writer and did chronicle the life and times of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn. The similar meaning of their names also adds to the possibility.