Grand Master of the Templar Order: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Middle Ages=== | ===Middle Ages=== | ||
One of the first known Grand Masters was a Frenchman named [[Hugues de Payens]], who, along with his colleague [[Bernard de Clairvaux]], wrote the document known as the [[Latin Rule]], which dictated the behaviors of the Order's Knights, in the year 1128. It was applied the following year and soon spread throughout the Order. | One of the first known Grand Masters was a Frenchman named [[Hugues de Payens]], who, along with his colleague [[Bernard de Clairvaux]], wrote the document known as the [[Latin Rule]], which dictated the behaviors of the Order's Knights, in the year 1128. It was applied the following year and soon spread throughout the Order.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref> | ||
After two years without a Grand Master, [[Robert de Sablé]] entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their Grand Master during 1191. During his reign, he sought the [[Pieces of Eden]], particularly the [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]]. After having lost the Apple, he launched an attack to [[Masyaf]], the stronghold of the Assassins. Later on, during the [[Battle of Arsuf]], he was killed by his rival, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | After two years without a Grand Master, [[Robert de Sablé]] entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their Grand Master during 1191. During his reign, he sought the [[Pieces of Eden]], particularly the [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]]. After having lost the Apple, he launched an attack to [[Masyaf]], the stronghold of the Assassins. Later on, during the [[Battle of Arsuf]], he was killed by his rival, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | ||
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After the death of Robert, [[Armand Bouchart]] took on the mantle of Grand Master as he and the Templars retreated to [[Cyprus]]. However, Altaïr pursued him and the two fought in the [[Templar Archive]], after the Assassin foiled the Grand Master's plans, resulting in Altaïr's victory and the Templars losing another leader.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> | After the death of Robert, [[Armand Bouchart]] took on the mantle of Grand Master as he and the Templars retreated to [[Cyprus]]. However, Altaïr pursued him and the two fought in the [[Templar Archive]], after the Assassin foiled the Grand Master's plans, resulting in Altaïr's victory and the Templars losing another leader.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> | ||
During the early 14th century, the [[France|French]] King [[Philip IV of France|Philip le Bel]] was unknowingly influenced by the | During the early 14th century, the [[France|French]] King [[Philip IV of France|Philip le Bel]] was unknowingly influenced by the Assassins, and conspired against the Templars. As a result, they were branded heretics and hundreds of them were arrested, with the last official Grand Master, [[Jacques de Molay]], understanding that the Order would not survive as a public organization. With this, he allowed himself to be burned at the stake, saving the lives of his brethren and making his enemies believe that the Templars were finished, though in reality, the Order continued to exist – underground. This aside, before his death, Molay sent nine of his most trusted men out into the world to continue his work.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> | ||
===Renaissance=== | ===Renaissance=== | ||
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Rodrigo then secured the power of the Church for the Templars, and from [[Vaticano District|the Vatican]], he oversaw the progress of the other Templars in Europe, including [[United Kingdom|England]] and [[Spain]]. However, by 1500, Rodrigo's resolve had weakened, and control over the order fell to his son [[Cesare Borgia]], who acted as the ''de facto'' Grand Master.<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> | Rodrigo then secured the power of the Church for the Templars, and from [[Vaticano District|the Vatican]], he oversaw the progress of the other Templars in Europe, including [[United Kingdom|England]] and [[Spain]]. However, by 1500, Rodrigo's resolve had weakened, and control over the order fell to his son [[Cesare Borgia]], who acted as the ''de facto'' Grand Master.<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> | ||
After he killed his own father in August 1503, Cesare became the official Grand Master of the Order,<ref name="ACB novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> though without his father's power in the Church, he could not maintain the same influence in Europe that his father had. Cesare was soon imprisoned with the ascension of the next Pope, [[Julius II]], and upon escaping, he fled to his brother-in-law [[John III of Navarre]] in Navarre, Spain. The Grand Master was ultimately killed during the [[Siege of Viana]] in 1507 by Ezio Auditore,<ref name="ACB"/> destabilizing the Templars in Europe and causing them to temporarily withdraw.<ref | After he killed his own father in August 1503, Cesare became the official Grand Master of the Order,<ref name="ACB novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> though without his father's power in the Church, he could not maintain the same influence in Europe that his father had. Cesare was soon imprisoned with the ascension of the next Pope, [[Julius II]], and upon escaping, he fled to his brother-in-law [[John III of Navarre]] in Navarre, Spain. The Grand Master was ultimately killed during the [[Siege of Viana]] in 1507 by Ezio Auditore,<ref name="ACB"/> destabilizing the Templars in Europe and causing them to temporarily withdraw.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> | ||
===Colonial era=== | ===Colonial era=== | ||
By the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been slightly altered, becoming a rank that the leaders of the orders had depending on their region. | By the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been slightly altered, becoming a rank that the leaders of the orders had depending on their region. | ||
During the time of colonial expansion by Britain, France, Spain and Portugal, the Cuban governor [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] had assumed the role of Grand Master, operating out of Havana. He sought the fabled Observatory in order to spy upon and thus bend the leaders of the European colonial empires to Templar will, ensuring peace through order. Torres was ultimately assassinated by the pirate-turned-Assassin [[Edward Kenway]]. | During the time of colonial expansion by Britain, France, Spain and Portugal, the Cuban governor [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] had assumed the role of Grand Master, operating out of Havana. He sought the fabled Observatory in order to spy upon and thus bend the leaders of the European colonial empires to Templar will, ensuring peace through order. Torres was ultimately assassinated by the pirate-turned-Assassin [[Edward Kenway]].<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> | ||
In Britain, the Grand Master of the Templar Order was [[Reginald Birch]], an Englishman who worked as a businessman to cover his affiliations. He was responsible for the growth of Templar influence in the British colonies, sending over [[Haytham Kenway]] to lead them. Haytham, upon his arrival in the colonies, gathered his co-conspirators, which had been recruited and located by Birch, and became the Grand Master of Colonial America. | In Britain, the Grand Master of the Templar Order was [[Reginald Birch]], an Englishman who worked as a businessman to cover his affiliations. He was responsible for the growth of Templar influence in the British colonies, sending over [[Haytham Kenway]] to lead them. Haytham, upon his arrival in the colonies, gathered his co-conspirators, which had been recruited and located by Birch, and became the Grand Master of Colonial America.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> | ||
Near the end of the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been bestowed upon [[Charles Lee]], following the death of Haytham during the siege of [[Fort George]] by Haytham's son, the Assassin [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]]. Charles, being the only conspirator left from Haytham's rule, attempted to flee back to England via ship after his initial plan to kill Connor failed. He was unsuccessful though, and Connor assassinated him inside a tavern. | Near the end of the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been bestowed upon [[Charles Lee]], following the death of Haytham during the siege of [[Fort George]] by Haytham's son, the Assassin [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]]. Charles, being the only conspirator left from Haytham's rule, attempted to flee back to England via ship after his initial plan to kill Connor failed. He was unsuccessful though, and Connor assassinated him inside a tavern.<ref name="AC3"/> | ||
In Europe, [[François de la Serre]] had risen to the position of Grand Master of the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order]]. However, he was ultimately deposed in a coup d'etat orchestrated by [[François-Thomas Germain]], who usurped the position of Grand Master following de la Serre's death. | In Europe, [[François de la Serre]] had risen to the position of Grand Master of the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order]]. However, he was ultimately deposed in a coup d'etat orchestrated by [[François-Thomas Germain]], who usurped the position of Grand Master following de la Serre's death.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> | ||
By 1868, the British Rite was controlled by [[Crawford Starrick]], who expanded the Templars' reach to every major corner of industrialized society, from the highest official to the lowest criminal. He was opposed by the few remaining Assassins in London, namely Henry Green and the Frye twins. | By 1868, the British Rite was controlled by [[Crawford Starrick]], who expanded the Templars' reach to every major corner of industrialized society, from the highest official to the lowest criminal. He was opposed by the few remaining Assassins in London, namely Henry Green and the Frye twins.<ref name="ACS">[http://www.gamereactor.eu/previews/352023/Assassins+Creed+Syndicate/ Gamereactor: ''Assassin's Creed: Syndicate'']</ref> | ||
===Modern times=== | ===Modern times=== | ||
By the 20th century, the "Founders" created [[Abstergo Industries]] in 1937, which from that point on served as the front for the Templar Order. Though its [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|highest-ranking employees]] all held some form of leadership in the Templar Order,<ref | By the 20th century, the "Founders" created [[Abstergo Industries]] in 1937, which from that point on served as the front for the Templar Order. Though its [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|highest-ranking employees]] all held some form of leadership in the Templar Order,<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' - [[Abstergo Files]]</ref> there were multiple Grand Masters who still maintained control over their operations. As of 2014, there are three known Grand Masters operating respectively in [[Cuba]], [[Mexico]] and the [[United States]].<ref name="ACU database">''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' - [[Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo|Helix Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo]]</ref> | ||
During this period, the Grand Masters were answerable to the [[Guardians (Templars)|Guardians]], who in turn answered to the [[General of the Cross]].<ref name="ACU"/> | During this period, the Grand Masters were answerable to the [[Guardians (Templars)|Guardians]], who in turn answered to the [[General of the Cross]].<ref name="ACU database"/> | ||
==Known Grand Masters== | ==Known Grand Masters== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180"> | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180"> | ||
Hugh de Payns.jpg|[[Hugues de Payens]]<ref name="Encyclopedia" /><br>1118 – 1136 | Hugh de Payns.jpg|[[Hugues de Payens]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>1118 – 1136 | ||
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Gerard de Ridefort]]<ref name="Encyclopedia" /><br>1185 – 1189 | Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Gerard de Ridefort]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>1185 – 1189 | ||
AC1 Robert render.png|[[Robert de Sablé]]<ref name="AC" /><br>1191 | AC1 Robert render.png|[[Robert de Sablé]]<ref name="AC"/><br>1191 | ||
Bouchart1.png|[[Armand Bouchart]]<ref name="ACBL" /><br>1191 – 1193 | Bouchart1.png|[[Armand Bouchart]]<ref name="ACBL"/><br>1191 – 1193 | ||
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Philippe du Plessis]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref><br>1201 – 1208 | Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Philippe du Plessis]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref><br>1201 – 1208 | ||
ACU De Molay Render.png|[[Jacques de Molay]]<ref name="Encyclopedia" /><br>1292 – 1312 | ACU De Molay Render.png|[[Jacques de Molay]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><br>1292 – 1312 | ||
ACB Rodrigo render.png|[[Rodrigo Borgia]]<ref name="AC2" /><ref name="ACB" /><br>[[Italy]]<br>1476 – 1503 | ACB Rodrigo render.png|[[Rodrigo Borgia]]<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACB"/><br>[[Italy]]<br>1476 – 1503 | ||
ACB Cesare render.png|[[Cesare Borgia]]<ref name="ACB novel" /><br>Italy<br>1500 – 1503 {{C|de facto}}<br>1503 – 1507 {{C|de jure}} | ACB Cesare render.png|[[Cesare Borgia]]<ref name="ACB novel"/><br>Italy<br>1500 – 1503 {{C|de facto}}<br>1503 – 1507 {{C|de jure}} | ||
AC4 Laureano Torres render.png|[[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]]<ref name="AC4" | AC4 Laureano Torres render.png|[[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>[[Caribbean|West Indies]]<br>1693 – 1722 | ||
Reginald Birch ACIII.png|[[Reginald Birch]]<ref name=" | Reginald Birch ACIII.png|[[Reginald Birch]]<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref><br>Great Britain<br>c. 1735 – 1757 | ||
AC3 Haytham Kenway render.png|[[Haytham Kenway]]<ref name=" | AC3 Haytham Kenway render.png|[[Haytham Kenway]]<ref name="AC3"/><br>Thirteen Colonies<br>1754 – 1781 | ||
AC3 Charles Lee.png|[[Charles Lee]]<ref name=" | AC3 Charles Lee.png|[[Charles Lee]]<ref name="AC3"/><br>Thirteen Colonies<br>1781 – 1782 | ||
ACU De La Serre Render.png|[[François de la Serre]]<ref name="ACU" | ACU De La Serre Render.png|[[François de la Serre]]<ref name="ACU"/><br>France<br>c. 1774 – 1789 | ||
ACU Germain Render.png|[[François-Thomas Germain]]<ref name="ACU" /><br>France<br>1789 – 1794 | ACU Germain Render.png|[[François-Thomas Germain]]<ref name="ACU"/><br>France<br>1789 – 1794 | ||
Crawford Starrick.png|[[Crawford Starrick]]<ref name="ACS" | Crawford Starrick.png|[[Crawford Starrick]]<ref name="ACS"/><br>Great Britain<br>c. 1868 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*''Assassin's Creed'' material | *''Assassin's Creed'' material occasionally identifies Assassins, including Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, [[Mario Auditore]], [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau|Mirabeau]] and [[Mujir]] as Grand Masters of the Assassin Brotherhood. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Templar ranks]] | [[Category:Templar ranks]] | ||
Revision as of 07:01, 21 October 2015
| This article is about the highest rank of the Templar Order. You may be looking for the Assassin Order equivalent, the Mentor. |
The title of Grand Master was the highest rank attainable within the Templar Order and granted the bearer full control over its members and their operations.
Having previously borne a more public face, more Grand Masters of the Templar Order were better known than their Assassin counterparts. However, as the Templars slipped back into the shadows, the identities of their leaders eventually fell from the public consciousness.
While it was commonly assumed that all Templar leaders were drawn from the stock of Western nobility, due to the prominence of the front-organization that was the Knights Templar during the Middle Ages, the truth was that as the Order developed, diversified and relocated, many different people of various ethnic backgrounds and cultural heritages had assumed the mantle of Grand Master throughout the Templars' longevity.
History
Middle Ages
One of the first known Grand Masters was a Frenchman named Hugues de Payens, who, along with his colleague Bernard de Clairvaux, wrote the document known as the Latin Rule, which dictated the behaviors of the Order's Knights, in the year 1128. It was applied the following year and soon spread throughout the Order.[1]
After two years without a Grand Master, Robert de Sablé entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their Grand Master during 1191. During his reign, he sought the Pieces of Eden, particularly the Apple of Eden. After having lost the Apple, he launched an attack to Masyaf, the stronghold of the Assassins. Later on, during the Battle of Arsuf, he was killed by his rival, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.[2]
After the death of Robert, Armand Bouchart took on the mantle of Grand Master as he and the Templars retreated to Cyprus. However, Altaïr pursued him and the two fought in the Templar Archive, after the Assassin foiled the Grand Master's plans, resulting in Altaïr's victory and the Templars losing another leader.[3]
During the early 14th century, the French King Philip le Bel was unknowingly influenced by the Assassins, and conspired against the Templars. As a result, they were branded heretics and hundreds of them were arrested, with the last official Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, understanding that the Order would not survive as a public organization. With this, he allowed himself to be burned at the stake, saving the lives of his brethren and making his enemies believe that the Templars were finished, though in reality, the Order continued to exist – underground. This aside, before his death, Molay sent nine of his most trusted men out into the world to continue his work.[1]
Renaissance
In 1476, the Templars in Italy came under the leadership of Rodrigo Borgia, a cardinal under Pope Sixtus IV. Operating from Rome, Rodrigo's primary objective was to unite Italy under the Templar banner,[4] however, the Italian Templars strayed far from the main Templar ideology and used the Order as a way to achieve and sustain power for themselves.[1] Despite facing complications from the Assassins, mainly Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Rodrigo managed to bribe the other cardinals, and was named Pope in 1492, taking on the name Alexander VI.[4]
Rodrigo then secured the power of the Church for the Templars, and from the Vatican, he oversaw the progress of the other Templars in Europe, including England and Spain. However, by 1500, Rodrigo's resolve had weakened, and control over the order fell to his son Cesare Borgia, who acted as the de facto Grand Master.[5]
After he killed his own father in August 1503, Cesare became the official Grand Master of the Order,[6] though without his father's power in the Church, he could not maintain the same influence in Europe that his father had. Cesare was soon imprisoned with the ascension of the next Pope, Julius II, and upon escaping, he fled to his brother-in-law John III of Navarre in Navarre, Spain. The Grand Master was ultimately killed during the Siege of Viana in 1507 by Ezio Auditore,[5] destabilizing the Templars in Europe and causing them to temporarily withdraw.[7]
Colonial era
By the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been slightly altered, becoming a rank that the leaders of the orders had depending on their region.
During the time of colonial expansion by Britain, France, Spain and Portugal, the Cuban governor Laureano de Torres y Ayala had assumed the role of Grand Master, operating out of Havana. He sought the fabled Observatory in order to spy upon and thus bend the leaders of the European colonial empires to Templar will, ensuring peace through order. Torres was ultimately assassinated by the pirate-turned-Assassin Edward Kenway.[8]
In Britain, the Grand Master of the Templar Order was Reginald Birch, an Englishman who worked as a businessman to cover his affiliations. He was responsible for the growth of Templar influence in the British colonies, sending over Haytham Kenway to lead them. Haytham, upon his arrival in the colonies, gathered his co-conspirators, which had been recruited and located by Birch, and became the Grand Master of Colonial America.[9]
Near the end of the 18th century, the title of Grand Master had been bestowed upon Charles Lee, following the death of Haytham during the siege of Fort George by Haytham's son, the Assassin Connor. Charles, being the only conspirator left from Haytham's rule, attempted to flee back to England via ship after his initial plan to kill Connor failed. He was unsuccessful though, and Connor assassinated him inside a tavern.[9]
In Europe, François de la Serre had risen to the position of Grand Master of the Parisian Rite of the Templar Order. However, he was ultimately deposed in a coup d'etat orchestrated by François-Thomas Germain, who usurped the position of Grand Master following de la Serre's death.[10]
By 1868, the British Rite was controlled by Crawford Starrick, who expanded the Templars' reach to every major corner of industrialized society, from the highest official to the lowest criminal. He was opposed by the few remaining Assassins in London, namely Henry Green and the Frye twins.[11]
Modern times
By the 20th century, the "Founders" created Abstergo Industries in 1937, which from that point on served as the front for the Templar Order. Though its highest-ranking employees all held some form of leadership in the Templar Order,[12] there were multiple Grand Masters who still maintained control over their operations. As of 2014, there are three known Grand Masters operating respectively in Cuba, Mexico and the United States.[13]
During this period, the Grand Masters were answerable to the Guardians, who in turn answered to the General of the Cross.[13]
Known Grand Masters
![Hugues de Payens[1] 1118 – 1136](/wiki/File:Hugh_de_Payns.jpg)
![Gerard de Ridefort[1] 1185 – 1189](/wiki/File:Wiki_noimage.jpg)
![Robert de Sablé[2] 1191](/wiki/File:AC1_Robert_render.png)
![Armand Bouchart[3] 1191 – 1193](/wiki/File:Bouchart1.png)
![Jacques de Molay[1] 1292 – 1312](/wiki/File:ACU_De_Molay_Render.png)
![Rodrigo Borgia[4][5] Italy 1476 – 1503](/wiki/File:ACB_Rodrigo_render.png){kind=small}
![Cesare Borgia[6] Italy 1500 – 1503 (de facto) 1503 – 1507 (de jure)](/wiki/File:ACB_Cesare_render.png)
![Laureano de Torres y Ayala[8] West Indies 1693 – 1722](/wiki/File:AC4_Laureano_Torres_render.png){kind=small}
![Reginald Birch[9] Great Britain c. 1735 – 1757](/wiki/File:Reginald_Birch_ACIII.png){kind=small}
![Haytham Kenway[9] Thirteen Colonies 1754 – 1781](/wiki/File:AC3_Haytham_Kenway_render.png)
![Charles Lee[9] Thirteen Colonies 1781 – 1782](/wiki/File:AC3_Charles_Lee.png)
![François de la Serre[10] France c. 1774 – 1789](/wiki/File:ACU_De_La_Serre_Render.png){kind=small}
![François-Thomas Germain[10] France 1789 – 1794](/wiki/File:ACU_Germain_Render.png){kind=small}
![Crawford Starrick[11] Great Britain c. 1868](/index.php?title=Special:Upload&wpDestFile=Crawford_Starrick.png){kind=link}
Trivia
- Assassin's Creed material occasionally identifies Assassins, including Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Mario Auditore, Mirabeau and Mujir as Grand Masters of the Assassin Brotherhood.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed II
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Assassin's Creed: Unity
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gamereactor: Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations - Abstergo Files
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Assassin's Creed: Unity - Helix Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy