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==History==
==History==
The exact date of formation of the Inner Sanctum is unknown, but it has been active since at least the latter half of the 16th century. The [[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Templar]] [[Nuno Caro]], who oversaw the Order's expansion to [[Japan]] during the [[Sengoku period]], answered directly to the Sanctum and told them about the three [[Imperial Regalia of Japan|Imperial Regalia]] safeguarded by the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Assassins]], which he intended to retrieve for the Templars. Although Caro led the Sanctum to believe the Regalia were Pieces of Eden due to their importance to the Japanese people, in reality the artifacts possessed no known abilities and were mere symbolic trinkets. Caro lied about the Regalia's significance so that the Sanctum would increase his funding, and intended to maintain the lie once he delivered the artifacts to them,<ref name="Shadows Without Light>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Rift 3 - Shadows Without Light]]</ref> though he never had the chance to do so due to his death in 1582.<ref name="End of the Line">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[End of the Line (Shadows)|End of the Line]]</ref>


Under the Inner Sanctum's leadership during the [[Age of Enlightenment]], the Templars became supportive of the {{Wiki|classical liberalism}} that emerged, in which intellectuals such as [[Isaac Newton]], [[Baruch Spinoza]], [[John Locke]], and [[Francis Bacon]] represented a new emerging society of science and technology.<ref name="Encyclopedia Ch2">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]'' – Chapter 2</ref>  
=== Sengoku period ===
The exact date of formation of the Inner Sanctum is unknown, but it has been active since at least the latter half of the 16th century. The [[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Templar]] [[Nuno Caro]], who oversaw the Order's expansion to [[Japan]] during the [[Sengoku period]], answered directly to the Sanctum and told them about the three [[Imperial Regalia of Japan|Imperial Regalia]] safeguarded by the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Assassins]], which he intended to retrieve for the Templars. Although Caro led the Sanctum to believe the Regalia were Pieces of Eden due to their importance to the Japanese people, in reality the artifacts possessed no known abilities and were mere symbolic trinkets. Caro lied about the Regalia's significance so that the Sanctum would increase his funding, and intended to maintain the lie once he delivered the artifacts to them,<ref name="Shadows Without Light">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Rift 3 - Shadows Without Light]]</ref> though he never had the chance to do so due to his death in 1582.<ref name="End of the Line">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[End of the Line (Shadows)|End of the Line]]</ref>


In the late 18th century, [[François-Thomas Germain]] successfully petitioned the [[American Rite of the Templar Order|American]], [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Roman]], and [[Spanish Rite of the Templar Order|Spanish Rites]] for support in overthrowing Grand Master [[François de la Serre]] of the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]].<ref name="ACUN">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref> He recruited followers for his coup<ref name="Le Roi Est Mort">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Le Roi Est Mort]]</ref><ref name="Rise of the Assassin">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Rise of the Assassin]]</ref> and began purging all Templars opposing him, including [[Chrétien Lafrenière]] and François' daughter [[Élise de la Serre|Élise]].<ref name="ACUN" /> The reformed Rite brought about [[Jacques de Molay]]'s reforms proposed in his ''[[Codex Pater Intellectus]]'', such as abolishing the [[monarchy]] to create a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] society,<ref name="The Temple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref> and had critical support from the Outer Temple.<ref name="ACEG" /> This gradually redirected the entire Templar Order to adopt this policy,<ref name="ACUN" /> under the leadership of the Inner Sanctum.<ref name="ACEG" />
=== Age of Enlightenment ===
Under the Inner Sanctum's leadership during the [[Age of Enlightenment]], the Templars embraced the rise of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism classical liberalism]. Intellectuals such as [[Isaac Newton]], [[Baruch Spinoza]], [[John Locke]], and [[Francis Bacon]] came to represent a new society grounded in science and rational thought.<ref name="Encyclopedia Ch2">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]'' – Chapter 2</ref>


By the early 19th century, the Inner Sanctum had created the position of Black Cross to act as their secret enforcer and keep the various Rites' Grand Masters in line.<ref name="ACT Vol2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]'' – ''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars – Volume 2: Cross of War|Volume 2: Cross of War]]''</ref> Following the latest Black Cross, [[Albert Bolden]]'s, disappearance and presumed death in 1927,<ref name="ACT Vol1" /> the position remained vacant for nearly a century, until the [[Master Templar]] and Inner Sanctum member [[Juhani Otso Berg]] took up the mantle in 2016.<ref name="ACT Vol2" /> This marked the first time a member of the Inner Sanctum became the Black Cross, though because of his investigation of a [[Instruments of the First Will|fifth column]] that had infiltrated the Order, Berg chose to keep his double role secret. He went so far as to have [[André Bolden]] pose as the Black Cross during an Inner Sanctum meeting in March 2017, in order to draw suspicion away from himself.<ref name="ACUp 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Uprising 2|Issue #02]]</ref>
By the 18th century, the Inner Sanctum had created the rank of [[Black Cross]] an enigmatic enforcer role designed to root out internal corruption and recover [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]]. The Black Cross operated in secret and reported directly to the Sanctum, tasked with keeping the various Rites' Grand Masters in check.<ref name="ACT Vol2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]'' – ''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars – Volume 2: Cross of War|Volume 2: Cross of War]]''</ref>  
 
In the late 18th century, [[François-Thomas Germain]] successfully petitioned the [[American Rite of the Templar Order|American]], [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Roman]], and [[Spanish Rite of the Templar Order|Spanish Rites]] to support his efforts to depose Grand Master [[François de la Serre]] of the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]].<ref name="ACUN">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref> He recruited loyal followers for his coup<ref name="Le Roi Est Mort">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Le Roi Est Mort]]</ref><ref name="Rise of the Assassin">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Rise of the Assassin]]</ref> eliminating those who stood in his way, including [[Chrétien Lafrenière]] and François' daughter [[Élise de la Serre|Élise]].<ref name="ACUN" /> Under Germain’s leadership, the reformed Rite implemented [[Jacques de Molay]]’s long-standing proposals from the ''[[Codex Pater Intellectus]]'', such as abolishing monarchy in favor of creating a capitalist society.<ref name="The Temple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref>  With the backing of the Outer Temple,<ref name="ACEG" /> these ideas gradually reshaped the Order’s global ideology under Inner Sanctum direction.<ref name="ACUN" /><ref name="ACEG" />
 
=== Modern Times ===
Following the disappearance and presumed death of [[Albert Bolden]] in 1927,<ref name="ACT Vol1" /> the Inner Sanctum did not appoint a new Black Cross for nearly a century, and the position gradually fell into obscurity. It was not until 2016 that Master Templar and Inner Sanctum member [[Juhani Otso Berg]], recognizing the growing threat of a fifth column infiltrating the Order, saw the necessity to revive the rank and assumed the mantle.<ref name="ACT Vol2" /> This marked the first time a member of the Inner Sanctum became the Black Cross, though because of his investigation of a [[Instruments of the First Will|fifth column]] that had infiltrated the Order, Berg chose to keep his double role secret. He went so far as to have [[André Bolden]] pose as the Black Cross during an Inner Sanctum meeting in March 2017, in order to draw suspicion away from himself.<ref name="ACUp 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Uprising 2|Issue #02]]</ref>


==Known members==
==Known members==

Revision as of 10:28, 13 July 2025

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"The human body has its heart. The Earth has its core. All things have a center, whence comes their deepest strength. The Templar Order, too, has its Inner Sanctum. Nine there must be, three times three."
―Alan Rikkin during Simon Hathaway's induction, 2016.[src]

The Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order, also known as The Nine,[1] is a council consisting of nine of the best and brightest members of the modern day Templar Order. Alongside the Council of Elders, the Guardians and the General of the Cross, it forms the central governing body of the entire Templar Order, holding authority over the Outer Temple. During the modern era, its members typically hold key positions in Abstergo Industries, the Templars' front company, heading different branches of the organization.[2]

Structure

Authority

The Inner Sanctum is one of the highest-ranking authorities in the hierarchy of the Templar Order, being answerable only to the Guardians, who review all decisions made by the Inner Sanctum and subsequently pass them on to the General of the Cross for approval.[3] The General is the supreme head of the Order and their identity is kept secret from the members of the Inner Sanctum.[2]

At some point before the 19th century, the Inner Sanctum created the position of Black Cross for the purposes of combating corruption within the Order and locating Pieces of Eden. The Black Cross is answerable only to the Inner Sanctum, essentially acting as its enforcer, and holds the authority to execute any Templar who betrayed the Order's principles, even Grand Masters.[1]

The Ritual Garbs

During Simon Hathaway's initiation into the Inner Sanctum, he noted that the ritual garb had been made by hand and not machines, ranging from the sheep being hand-sheared and the wool carded, spun and dyed by human labor. This showed the Templars' ritual garbs were much like those worn by their forebearers over the centuries, which Simon, as a historian, valued and admired due to the Templars putting in effort towards genuine authenticity.[4]

History

Sengoku period

The exact date of formation of the Inner Sanctum is unknown, but it has been active since at least the latter half of the 16th century. The Portuguese Templar Nuno Caro, who oversaw the Order's expansion to Japan during the Sengoku period, answered directly to the Sanctum and told them about the three Imperial Regalia safeguarded by the Japanese Assassins, which he intended to retrieve for the Templars. Although Caro led the Sanctum to believe the Regalia were Pieces of Eden due to their importance to the Japanese people, in reality the artifacts possessed no known abilities and were mere symbolic trinkets. Caro lied about the Regalia's significance so that the Sanctum would increase his funding, and intended to maintain the lie once he delivered the artifacts to them,[5] though he never had the chance to do so due to his death in 1582.[6]

Age of Enlightenment

Under the Inner Sanctum's leadership during the Age of Enlightenment, the Templars embraced the rise of classical liberalism. Intellectuals such as Isaac Newton, Baruch Spinoza, John Locke, and Francis Bacon came to represent a new society grounded in science and rational thought.[7]

By the 18th century, the Inner Sanctum had created the rank of Black Cross an enigmatic enforcer role designed to root out internal corruption and recover Pieces of Eden. The Black Cross operated in secret and reported directly to the Sanctum, tasked with keeping the various Rites' Grand Masters in check.[8]

In the late 18th century, François-Thomas Germain successfully petitioned the American, Roman, and Spanish Rites to support his efforts to depose Grand Master François de la Serre of the Parisian Rite.[9] He recruited loyal followers for his coup[10][11] eliminating those who stood in his way, including Chrétien Lafrenière and François' daughter Élise.[9] Under Germain’s leadership, the reformed Rite implemented Jacques de Molay’s long-standing proposals from the Codex Pater Intellectus, such as abolishing monarchy in favor of creating a capitalist society.[12] With the backing of the Outer Temple,[2] these ideas gradually reshaped the Order’s global ideology under Inner Sanctum direction.[9][2]

Modern Times

Following the disappearance and presumed death of Albert Bolden in 1927,[1] the Inner Sanctum did not appoint a new Black Cross for nearly a century, and the position gradually fell into obscurity. It was not until 2016 that Master Templar and Inner Sanctum member Juhani Otso Berg, recognizing the growing threat of a fifth column infiltrating the Order, saw the necessity to revive the rank and assumed the mantle.[8] This marked the first time a member of the Inner Sanctum became the Black Cross, though because of his investigation of a fifth column that had infiltrated the Order, Berg chose to keep his double role secret. He went so far as to have André Bolden pose as the Black Cross during an Inner Sanctum meeting in March 2017, in order to draw suspicion away from himself.[13]

Known members

Current members

Former members

Behind the scenes

While the Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order has only been used in explicitly in certain instances, the number nine occurs multiple times throughout Templar history: the number of men that Bernard de Clairvaux sent to Solomon's Temple,[15] the number of Levantine Templars that Al Mualim tasked Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to kill in his Hunt for the Nine,[16] and the number of agents that Jacques de Molay sent out to the world during the persecution of the Templars.[17] It is unknown if these other groups constituted as previous iterations of the Inner Sanctum.

Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple contains multiple references to Abstergo's "executive committee", which appears to comprise several high-ranking Templars, including Mitsuko Nakamura.[18][19][20] However, it has yet to be confirmed whether this executive committee coincides with the Inner Sanctum.

Gallery

  • Juhani Otso Berg accessing the Inner Sanctum office
    Juhani Otso Berg accessing the Inner Sanctum office
  • Laetitia England meeting with Berg
    Laetitia England meeting with Berg
  • Warren Vidic and Laetitia meeting with Berg
    Warren Vidic and Laetitia meeting with Berg
  • A list of the Inner Sanctum members in 2011
    A list of the Inner Sanctum members in 2011

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Templars – Volume 1: Black Cross
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide – Chapter 5
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Helix Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Assassin's Creed: Heresy – Chapter 1
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Rift 3 - Shadows Without Light
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – End of the Line
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia – Chapter 2
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Assassin's Creed: Templars – Volume 2: Cross of War
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Assassin's Creed: Unity novel
  10. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Le Roi Est Mort
  11. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Rise of the Assassin
  12. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – The Temple
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Assassin's Creed: Uprising – Issue #02
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Abstergo Files: "File.0.17\Ins_InnerSanctum"
  15. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Abstergo Files: "File.0.02\Hst_Beginning"
  16. ↑ Assassin's Creed – Knowledge (Masun)
  17. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Abstergo Files: File.0.06\Hst_VoxInExcelso
  18. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 74
  19. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 76
  20. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 99

Templars
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