Fall of Masyaf: Difference between revisions
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The''' fall of Masyaf '''was an event during the late 13th century where the grandson of [[Genghis Khan]], [[Hülegü Khan]], led an assault on the fortress of [[Masyaf]] in an attempt to annihilate the | The''' fall of Masyaf '''was an event during the late 13th century where the grandson of [[Genghis Khan]], [[Hülegü Khan]], led an assault on the [[Assassins|Assassin]] fortress of [[Masyaf]] in an attempt to annihilate the Order for their part in his grandfather's death, in 1227. | ||
The event caused the ultimate disbandment of the Assassins | The event caused the ultimate disbandment of the Assassins residing in Masyaf, which was completely deserted before the Mongols could claim their victory. Alongside Masyaf, the majority of Assassin fortresses in the Levant were already destroyed by the Mongols in 1256. | ||
==Cause== | ==Cause== | ||
To stop the major threat of the [[Mongols]], who were unstoppably | To stop the major threat of the [[Mongols]], who were unstoppably marching from the East, [[Altaïr|Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], his wife [[Maria Ibn-La'Ahad|Maria]], son [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]] and [[Qulan Gal]] traveled to the Xia province in Mongolia, in order to infiltrate a camp set up by Mongolians, in which Genghis Khan supposedly was. There, Altaïr and Darim, together with Qulan, snuck into the camp with the aim of assassinating Khan, but instead accidentally raised the alarm, resulting in Khan fleeing the camp on [[horse]]back. Khan was then hit by an arrow from Qulan's crossbow, causing him to fall from his horse. Moments later, Darim finished Khan with an arrow from his own crossbow. | ||
==Disbandment== | ==Disbandment== | ||
===Attack=== | ===Attack=== | ||
{{quote|The main force is not far away. In the meantime the skirmishing party seems to want to make a name for itself and has been launching small but fierce attacks.|Niccolò Polo on the Mongol attack in his journal, [[The Secret Crusade]].|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}During 1257, the Mongol army travelled across the Levant, destroying all | {{quote|The main force is not far away. In the meantime the skirmishing party seems to want to make a name for itself and has been launching small but fierce attacks.|Niccolò Polo on the Mongol attack in his journal, [[The Secret Crusade]].|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}During 1257, the Mongol army travelled across the Levant, destroying all Assassin fortresses situated there. As the army travelled towards Masyaf, the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]], Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, was interviewed by [[Niccolò Polo]] and his brother [[Maffeo Polo]] in order to document the stories of his life and the Order. Eventually in August of 1257, the Mongols neared Masyaf and sent a small skirmishing party to attack the Assassins, with the main force not far away. | ||
Though most of the Assassins left the fortress to increase their numbers throughout the world, enough remained to hold off the Mongolians temporarily. During the assault the Mongols attacked the walls of village and fought on the ramparts before retreating. During the battle Altaïr had the two Polo brothers meet him in the main courtyard of the fortress. Once there Altaïr passed on his life's work to the Polos; his [[Codex]]. | Though most of the Assassins left the fortress to increase their numbers throughout the world, enough remained to hold off the Mongolians temporarily. During the assault the Mongols attacked the walls of village and fought on the ramparts before retreating. During the battle Altaïr had the two Polo brothers meet him in the main courtyard of the fortress. Once there, Altaïr passed on his life's work to the Polos; his [[Codex]]. | ||
Altaïr then escorted brothers out of Masyaf using | Altaïr then escorted the two brothers out of Masyaf, using the[[Second Apple| Apple of Eden]] to fend off the Mongols before giving the Polos his [[Memory Seals|memory seals]], which also acted as the [[Masyaf Keys|keys]] to his underground library, instructing them to hide each of them if necessary. As the Polo brothers left Masyaf, Altaïr led the remaining Assassins to fight the Mongolians. | ||
===The library=== | ===The library=== | ||
[[File:Lost legacy 3.png|thumb|left|250px|Altaïr seals away the Apple.]]With the Polo brothers able to escape successfully, Altaïr had the remaining Assassins and villagers of Masyaf evacuated, before the main Mongol army arrived to destroy the citadel. However, Altaïr stayed behind in Masyaf, intending to seal himself inside the [[Altaïr's library|library]]. Before entering | [[File:Lost legacy 3.png|thumb|left|250px|Altaïr seals away the Apple.]]With the Polo brothers able to escape successfully, Altaïr had the remaining Assassins and villagers of Masyaf evacuated, before the main Mongol army arrived to destroy the citadel. However, Altaïr stayed behind in Masyaf, intending to seal himself inside the [[Altaïr's library|library]]. Before entering the library, Altaïr told Darim that the library must stay hidden at all costs, and that he should leave before the Mongols returned. After embracing his son and bidding him goodbye, Altaïr then entered his library and sealed away the Apple. | ||
Altaïr subsequently imprinted this final memory on his sixth and last | Altaïr subsequently imprinted this final memory on his sixth and last seal, before finally passing away at the age of 92. | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
===Masyaf=== | ===Masyaf=== | ||
After the Mongolian attack, Masyaf was completely abadoned by the Assassins. | After the Mongolian attack, Masyaf was completely abadoned by the Assassins. Instead, the Assassins began to operate universally, as [[Assassin Guilds|Guilds]]. | ||
===Polo brothers=== | ===Polo brothers=== | ||
Having fled from Masyaf, the Polos | Having fled from Masyaf, the Polos made their way back to [[Italy]], first stopping in Constantinople to accomplish their task in concealing the memory seals. Two days in on their journey, a Mongol attacking party had stolen the Codex from the Polo brothers, leaving them only with the seals. | ||
Guided by their knowledge and the importance of their task, Maffeo and Niccolò Polo arrived in Constantinople, hiding the | Guided by their knowledge and the importance of their task, Maffeo and Niccolò Polo finally arrived in Constantinople, hiding the seals throughout the city as to make sure of their secrecy. The two brothers had also set up a trading post, somewhere northwest of [[Hagia Sophia]], and an [[Assassins Guild (Constantinople)|Assassin Guild]], writing the end of their journal on the day they hid away the last seal. | ||
==Source== | ==Source== | ||
Revision as of 02:52, 28 December 2011
The fall of Masyaf was an event during the late 13th century where the grandson of Genghis Khan, Hülegü Khan, led an assault on the Assassin fortress of Masyaf in an attempt to annihilate the Order for their part in his grandfather's death, in 1227.
The event caused the ultimate disbandment of the Assassins residing in Masyaf, which was completely deserted before the Mongols could claim their victory. Alongside Masyaf, the majority of Assassin fortresses in the Levant were already destroyed by the Mongols in 1256.
Cause
To stop the major threat of the Mongols, who were unstoppably marching from the East, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, his wife Maria, son Darim and Qulan Gal traveled to the Xia province in Mongolia, in order to infiltrate a camp set up by Mongolians, in which Genghis Khan supposedly was. There, Altaïr and Darim, together with Qulan, snuck into the camp with the aim of assassinating Khan, but instead accidentally raised the alarm, resulting in Khan fleeing the camp on horseback. Khan was then hit by an arrow from Qulan's crossbow, causing him to fall from his horse. Moments later, Darim finished Khan with an arrow from his own crossbow.
Disbandment
Attack
- "The main force is not far away. In the meantime the skirmishing party seems to want to make a name for itself and has been launching small but fierce attacks."
- ―Niccolò Polo on the Mongol attack in his journal, The Secret Crusade.[src]
During 1257, the Mongol army travelled across the Levant, destroying all Assassin fortresses situated there. As the army travelled towards Masyaf, the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, was interviewed by Niccolò Polo and his brother Maffeo Polo in order to document the stories of his life and the Order. Eventually in August of 1257, the Mongols neared Masyaf and sent a small skirmishing party to attack the Assassins, with the main force not far away.
Though most of the Assassins left the fortress to increase their numbers throughout the world, enough remained to hold off the Mongolians temporarily. During the assault the Mongols attacked the walls of village and fought on the ramparts before retreating. During the battle Altaïr had the two Polo brothers meet him in the main courtyard of the fortress. Once there, Altaïr passed on his life's work to the Polos; his Codex.
Altaïr then escorted the two brothers out of Masyaf, using the Apple of Eden to fend off the Mongols before giving the Polos his memory seals, which also acted as the keys to his underground library, instructing them to hide each of them if necessary. As the Polo brothers left Masyaf, Altaïr led the remaining Assassins to fight the Mongolians.
The library
With the Polo brothers able to escape successfully, Altaïr had the remaining Assassins and villagers of Masyaf evacuated, before the main Mongol army arrived to destroy the citadel. However, Altaïr stayed behind in Masyaf, intending to seal himself inside the library. Before entering the library, Altaïr told Darim that the library must stay hidden at all costs, and that he should leave before the Mongols returned. After embracing his son and bidding him goodbye, Altaïr then entered his library and sealed away the Apple.
Altaïr subsequently imprinted this final memory on his sixth and last seal, before finally passing away at the age of 92.
Aftermath
Masyaf
After the Mongolian attack, Masyaf was completely abadoned by the Assassins. Instead, the Assassins began to operate universally, as Guilds.
Polo brothers
Having fled from Masyaf, the Polos made their way back to Italy, first stopping in Constantinople to accomplish their task in concealing the memory seals. Two days in on their journey, a Mongol attacking party had stolen the Codex from the Polo brothers, leaving them only with the seals.
Guided by their knowledge and the importance of their task, Maffeo and Niccolò Polo finally arrived in Constantinople, hiding the seals throughout the city as to make sure of their secrecy. The two brothers had also set up a trading post, somewhere northwest of Hagia Sophia, and an Assassin Guild, writing the end of their journal on the day they hid away the last seal.
Source