Citadel of Alep: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
One of the many castles held by the [[Levantine Assassins]] at the time of the [[Third Crusade]], the Citadel of Alep functioned as the main base of operations for the Assassins in 1190. Although the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid Sultanate]] controlled Alep during this period, the Assassins and [[Saracens]] cooperated with one another in the city, and the Assassins retained primary control of its fortress under the leadership of [[Al Mualim]]. | One of the many castles held by the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassins]] at the time of the [[Third Crusade]], the Citadel of Alep functioned as the main base of operations for the Assassins in 1190. Although the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid Sultanate]] controlled Alep during this period, the Assassins and [[Saracens]] cooperated with one another in the city, and the Assassins retained primary control of its fortress under the leadership of [[Al Mualim]].<ref name="Coming Home">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' – [[Coming Home]]</ref> | ||
===Hunt for the Chalice=== | ===Hunt for the Chalice=== | ||
In 1190, the [[Crusaders]] were conducting a furious search for the [[Adha|Chalice]], a mysterious artifact rumored to grant the power to unite the factions of the war. They hunted an Assassin who acquired vital information on the relic, pursuing him all the way to the outskirts of Alep, where they killed him after forcibly extracting the intel from him. Immediately afterwards, they assaulted a nearby village with the intention of massacring all of its inhabitants. In retaliation, the Assassins sent their forces from the citadel to rout the Crusaders, shortly after one of their agents [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] killed the commanding Crusader. | [[File:Al Mualim in Alep.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr and Al Mualim meeting in the latter's office]] | ||
In 1190, the [[Crusaders]] were conducting a furious search for the [[Adha|Chalice]], a mysterious artifact rumored to grant the power to unite the factions of the war. They hunted an Assassin who acquired vital information on the relic, pursuing him all the way to the outskirts of Alep, where they killed him after forcibly extracting the intel from him. Immediately afterwards, they assaulted a nearby village with the intention of massacring all of its inhabitants. In retaliation, the Assassins sent their forces from the citadel to rout the Crusaders, shortly after one of their agents [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] killed the commanding Crusader.<ref name="Coming Home"/> | |||
In the aftermath, Altaïr was briefed by Al Mualim on his new mission: to [[Quest for the Chalice|recover the Chalice]] to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Crusaders or Saracens. | In the aftermath, Altaïr was briefed by Al Mualim on his new mission: to [[Quest for the Chalice|recover the Chalice]] to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Crusaders or [[Saracens]].<ref name="Coming Home"/> | ||
===Betrayal of Harash=== | ===Betrayal of Harash=== | ||
While Altaïr was away, the Keeper of the Assassins, [[Harash]], | While Altaïr was away, the Keeper of the Assassins and Al Mualim's second-in-command, [[Harash]], was bribed by the [[Templars]] to serve as their spy. In the process, he corrupted his henchmen and allowed his Templar contacts to enter and leave the Alep citadel as they pleased, even receiving them in the castle's very courtyard.<ref name="Snake Heart">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' – [[Snake Heart]]</ref> | ||
By the end of his mission, Altaïr had been informed by the Chalice, actually a woman named [[Adha]], of Harash's treachery. He returned to Alep in the middle of the night, being sure to do so covertly lest he was no longer welcome thanks to Harash's influence. This, he accomplished by destroying the aqueduct before the gates with explosives, allowing him to slip inside while the guards rushed to extinguish the fires. Once inside, | [[File:Harash and Templar.jpg|thumb|250px|Harash meeting with a Templar]] | ||
By the end of his mission, Altaïr had been informed by the Chalice, actually a woman named [[Adha]], of Harash's treachery. He returned to Alep in the middle of the night, being sure to do so covertly lest he was no longer welcome thanks to Harash's influence. This, he accomplished by destroying the aqueduct before the citadel's gates with explosives, allowing him to slip inside while the guards rushed to extinguish the fires.<ref name="Snake Heart"/> | |||
Once inside, Altaïr disguised himself as a Saracen to make his way to the main courtyard unmolested. It was there that he found Harash conferring with a Templar knight, confirming Adha's report about his betrayal. Without further ado, Altaïr moved to assassinate him, sparking a duel that ended in the traitor's death.<ref name="Snake Heart"/> | |||
===Relocation=== | ===Relocation=== | ||
By 1191, Al Mualim had relocated the Assassins' main headquarters back to [[Masyaf]], leaving the status of their fortress in Alep uncertain.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | |||
==Layout== | ==Layout== | ||
The gates to the fortress was connected to a guard outpost via an [[ | The gates to the fortress was connected to a guard outpost via an [[aqueduct]].<ref name="ACAC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''</ref> | ||
The core of the citadel consisted of a vast, open courtyard with an arena in the center and platforms with training dummies to the side. Overlooking this courtyard was the main office of the [[Mentor]], with a balcony that jutted outwards over the yard. The office lacked windows and was entirely exposed to the air outside, and its roof was held up by colonnades to either side of the balcony. The route from the office down to the yard consisted of a flight of stairs followed by a large, wooden ramp that branched in two. | The core of the citadel consisted of a vast, open courtyard with an arena in the center and platforms with training dummies to the side. Overlooking this courtyard was the main office of the [[Mentor]], with a balcony that jutted outwards over the yard. The office lacked windows and was entirely exposed to the air outside, and its roof was held up by colonnades to either side of the balcony. The route from the office down to the yard consisted of a flight of stairs followed by a large, wooden ramp that branched in two.<ref name="ACAC"/> | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | ||
Headquarters.png|Al Mualim's office in the citadel | |||
Alep Training Yard.jpg|The training yard of the citadel. | Alep Training Yard.jpg|The training yard of the citadel | ||
Snake Heart.png|Altaïr sneaking into the citadel to kill Harash | Alep Training Yard 2.jpg|Training dummies in the citadel | ||
Snake Heart.png|Altaïr sneaking into the citadel to kill Harash | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
Historically the Assassins never controlled the Citadel of Aleppo. | Historically, the Assassins never controlled the Citadel of Aleppo. | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[it:Cittadella di Aleppo]] | [[it:Cittadella di Aleppo]] | ||
[[Category:Assassin headquarters]] | [[Category:Assassin headquarters]] | ||
[[Category:Forts]] | [[Category:Forts]] | ||
[[Category:Castles]] | [[Category:Castles]] | ||
Revision as of 23:04, 1 June 2025
The Citadel of Alep is a large fortress in the city of Alep which served as one of the headquarters of the Assassins during the Third Crusade.
History
One of the many castles held by the Levantine Assassins at the time of the Third Crusade, the Citadel of Alep functioned as the main base of operations for the Assassins in 1190. Although the Ayyubid Sultanate controlled Alep during this period, the Assassins and Saracens cooperated with one another in the city, and the Assassins retained primary control of its fortress under the leadership of Al Mualim.[1]
Hunt for the Chalice
In 1190, the Crusaders were conducting a furious search for the Chalice, a mysterious artifact rumored to grant the power to unite the factions of the war. They hunted an Assassin who acquired vital information on the relic, pursuing him all the way to the outskirts of Alep, where they killed him after forcibly extracting the intel from him. Immediately afterwards, they assaulted a nearby village with the intention of massacring all of its inhabitants. In retaliation, the Assassins sent their forces from the citadel to rout the Crusaders, shortly after one of their agents Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad killed the commanding Crusader.[1]
In the aftermath, Altaïr was briefed by Al Mualim on his new mission: to recover the Chalice to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Crusaders or Saracens.[1]
Betrayal of Harash
While Altaïr was away, the Keeper of the Assassins and Al Mualim's second-in-command, Harash, was bribed by the Templars to serve as their spy. In the process, he corrupted his henchmen and allowed his Templar contacts to enter and leave the Alep citadel as they pleased, even receiving them in the castle's very courtyard.[2]
By the end of his mission, Altaïr had been informed by the Chalice, actually a woman named Adha, of Harash's treachery. He returned to Alep in the middle of the night, being sure to do so covertly lest he was no longer welcome thanks to Harash's influence. This, he accomplished by destroying the aqueduct before the citadel's gates with explosives, allowing him to slip inside while the guards rushed to extinguish the fires.[2]
Once inside, Altaïr disguised himself as a Saracen to make his way to the main courtyard unmolested. It was there that he found Harash conferring with a Templar knight, confirming Adha's report about his betrayal. Without further ado, Altaïr moved to assassinate him, sparking a duel that ended in the traitor's death.[2]
Relocation
By 1191, Al Mualim had relocated the Assassins' main headquarters back to Masyaf, leaving the status of their fortress in Alep uncertain.[3]
Layout
The gates to the fortress was connected to a guard outpost via an aqueduct.[4]
The core of the citadel consisted of a vast, open courtyard with an arena in the center and platforms with training dummies to the side. Overlooking this courtyard was the main office of the Mentor, with a balcony that jutted outwards over the yard. The office lacked windows and was entirely exposed to the air outside, and its roof was held up by colonnades to either side of the balcony. The route from the office down to the yard consisted of a flight of stairs followed by a large, wooden ramp that branched in two.[4]
Gallery
-
Al Mualim's office in the citadel -
The training yard of the citadel -
Training dummies in the citadel -
Altaïr sneaking into the citadel to kill Harash
Behind the scenes
Historically, the Assassins never controlled the Citadel of Aleppo.