Alhambra

This article is about the fortress in Granada. You may be looking for the music hall in London.

Calat Alhambra, more commonly known as Alhambra, is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia. It was used by the Moors of Spain as the royal palace of the Emirate of Granada from the 14th to 15th century.

History

Renaissance

In 1492, the Spanish laid siege to the fortress in an effort to drive out the Moorish King Muhammad XII of Granada. However, the Templars had secretly captured Muhammad to prevent him from formally surrendering, in an attempt to prolong the war and keep Queen Isabella I occupied and her funds low. This would enable the Templars to prevent Christopher Columbus from traveling and discovering the New World, as he would not be able to make the journey without a benefactor.

While in Spain, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, under the guidance of Raphael Sánchez, infiltrated the castle and freed Muhammad. He then managed to facilitate his surrender, effectively ending the war and freeing the way for the funds to Columbus' expedition.

Modern times

In 2012, Alhambra was used as a simulated training location by Abstergo Industries for the training of their Animus recruits, as part of the first stage of the Animi Training Program. It only became available after a system update had been installed.

The simulation depicted a luxurious, almost maze-like complex, with a great many rooms interconnected by staircases and hallways. Column arcades, fountains with running water, and reflecting pools were a common sight in and around the palace's large courtyards, designed to reflect the beauty of Paradise itself. One of the more well-known courtyards is the Court of the Lions, which featured an alabaster basin supported by the figures of twelve lions, fittingly called the Fountain of the Lions. The entire complex was encased by an imposing fortress wall, flanked by thirteen massive towers.

Alhambra, like most of the simulated locations in the first stage, had two aesthetic variations. As such, it could be utilized during the day or the night.

Trivia

• Calat Alhambra is a corruption of its original Arabic name, Qal'at Al-Hamra, from words qal'a ("fort") and al-hamra ("the red").
• The Dama Rossa, an Animi Avatar based on an unknown woman from the Renaissance, described the location as a "pearl among diamonds", possibly alluding to the Moorish poets, who referred to Alhambra as a "pearl set in emeralds."

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Alhambra
• 
  Concept art of Alhambra
• 
  Concept art of Alhambra
• 
  Ezio infiltrating the palace
• 
  Alhambra at night
• 
  A group of Knights escorting a Doctor as Pariahs attempt to kill him
• 
  Dama Rossas protecting their escort from several Marquises
• 
  The Pariah shooting a Marquis, with more carnage happening in the background
• 
  A pair of Knights assassinating Marquises, with a Pariah stuck in the middle
• 
  An aerial view of Alhambra

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II: Discovery (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

References

ru:Альгамбра