The Secret Crusade

This article is about Niccolò Polo's journal. You may be looking for the real world novel.

Yusuf Tazim holding the journal.

The Secret Crusade (Italian: La Crociata Segreta) was the personal journal of Niccolò Polo; a detailed study on the life of the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

History

High Middle Ages

In 1257, Niccolò and his brother Maffeo Polo were invited to stay at the Assassin Order's fortress of Masyaf in Syria. Having been visited by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's son Darim in their home in Constantinople, they journeyed to Masyaf, were Niccolò had various discussions with Altaïr about the latter's life. As a result, Niccolò wrote these stories down in a journal, which ended up covering all key moments of Altaïr's life. The journal also acted as a sort of diary, giving details of the Polo brothers' actions during their stay in the village.

Renaissance

Niccolò intended to pass the journal to his son, Marco. By 1511, the journal had come in the possession of Leandros, a Byzantine Templar captain who was preoccupied with trying to open Altaïr's library hidden beneath Masyaf's fortress.

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Ezio explaining about the journal to Yusuf Tazim.

The Mentor of the Italian Assassins, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, arrived in Masyaf in 1511, on a quest to enter the library as well. Learning from a common worker forced into serving the Templars that Leandros had the journal in his possession, Ezio sought Leandros out, and, after a long chase through Masyaf and a nearby village, Ezio was able to kill Leandros and obtain the journal.

Learning that the keys needed to open Altaïr's library were located in Constantinople after reading the journal, Ezio set out on a journey to Constantinople, while continuing to read the journal along the way.