Assassin's Creed DNA

Assassin's Creed DNA was a promotional website tie-in to the 2016 film Assassin's Creed, part of a collaboration between Ubisoft and Family Tree DNA, which detailed information on the historical timeline of the Spanish Inquisition, as well as some information on the characters and some videos on the film.

Family trees

Sultan *

Unknown woman

King Ferdinand

Queen Isabella

Prince Ahmed of Granada

Aguilar

Unknown woman

Maria

Benedicto

Almirante *

Tomas de Torquemada

Ojeda

General Ramires

Unknown generations

Joseph

Mary Lynch

Alan Rikkin

Unknown woman

Callum Lynch

Moussa

Lin

Emir

Nathan

Sophia Rikkin

Chairwoman

McGowen

* indicates associate

Character profiles

Callum LynchSophia RikkinAlan RikkinAguilarMariaTomas de TorquemadaOjeda

Callum has been running his whole life, ever since he was force to witness his mother's murder as a child. But living on society’s fringes has also kept him shrouded from the secrets of his ancestry. Awaiting execution on death row, Callum is captured and brought to the Abstergo facility, where he may soon come to understand his place in the world, and control the power burning inside of him.

Sophia Rikkin is a brilliant scientist who works at the Abstergo facility for her father. Determined to use science to eradicate humanity’s violent impulses and create a harmonious world, Sophia may not see the bigger picture of the modern-day Templar's causes, and her allegiance will be tested.

One of the leaders of the modern-day Knights Templar, Alan Rikkin is determined to achieve his orders’ centuries-long goal to gain control over humanity. Through Callum, and the ancestral memories he holds, Rikkin may finally have found the key to achieving ultimate power for the betterment of humanity

Aguilar is a deeply committed member of the Assassin Brotherhood, fighting for free will against the power-hungry Knights Templar. A master assassin with deep understanding of the bigger political picture in 15th century Spain, Aguilar knows that mankind’s future depends on him defeating Torquemada and the Inquisition.

Maria is Aguilar’s closest ally, and a highly-skilled Assassin in her own right. More measured than her partner-in-arms, Maria is light on her feet and exceedingly quick, and together they are an unstoppable force. Like Aguilar, she understands the damage the Templar influence is doing to her country.

Tomas De Torquemada ruled over the Spanish inquisition for 15 years, directing his Inquisitors to root out and murder those he deemed to be manipulating the faith in their own pursuit of power. The must potent tool in his arsenal was the auto-de-fe: theatrical acts of public penance in which all those who crossed the Inquisition were burned alive.

While Torquemada pulls the strings, Ojeda does the real work: exacting brutal punishment on any who dare to challenge the inquisition. He thinks nothing of razing entire towns, and commands a grand army. But his lack of subtlety is his weakness, because it allows the Assassins, who operate in the shadows, to keep their eyes on him at all times.

Timeline

1st-4th century12151231139114781481148314921517154215581559

Roman law establishes the principle of inquisition

A judicial procedure is created to combat heresy.

Dominican Order is founded

St. Dominic of Caleruega establishes the order of Preachers, an organization to address the spiritual needs of the growing cities. He is granted authority by the new Pope, Honorius III.

Pope Gregory IX initiates the Medieval Inquisition

The Pope appoints a number of Papal Inquisitors, mostly Dominicans and Franciscans, to bring order to the process of dealing with heresy and prevent mob justice.

Nation-wide persecution of the Jews in Spain

Ferrand Martinez, Archdeacon of Ecija, incites mobs in Seville to attack the Jewish quarter during holy week. Riots rapidly spread, with massacres and forced conversions occurring in most of Spain.

Pope Sixtus IV authorizes the Spanish Inquisition

Seeking further religious unity, Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella request permission from the Pope to establish an inquisition. Pope Sixtus IV permits them to appoint priests as inquisitors.

The first auto-da-fé (act of faith)

Six people are burned alive in Seville and the Inquisition grows rapidly in the Kingdom of Castile. By 1492, tribunals exist in eight Castilian cities.

Suprema Council of Spanish Inquisition established to supervise all tribunals

All Jews are expelled from Andalusia and a new court is formed with a 30-day grace period for Jews to renounce their religion. Torture is used to extract confessions and relapsed Jews are burned.

Expulsion of Jews from Spain

The Alhambra Decree formally expels all Jews from Spain. Tens of thousands are baptized in the three months before the deadline for expulsion. Around 40,000 leave the country.

Martin Luther begins his protests; birth of Protestant Reformation

German monk, Martin Luther, disputes the claim that absolution from sin can be paid for. He is excommunicated by the Pope and condemned as an outlaw.

The Roman Inquisition begins

Pope Paul III establishes a system of tribunals for prosecuting anyone with alternate religious beliefs.

The Lutherans are put on trial

Trials against Lutheran groups take place and autos-da-fé are held, some presided over by members of the royal family. Over 100 executions take place, virtually putting an end to Spanish Protestantism.

Paul IV's Pauline Index

A list of publications deemed heretical, anti-clerical or lascivious, is published. All listed works are banned by the Roman Catholic Church.

156215631570-1613160016331720's1789180818141820-18231834

More Acts Classified as Heresy in Spain

Disrespect to church images and eating meat on forbidden days are deemed as heresy. It is estimated that a dozen Spaniards were burned alive for violating these acts.

Last session of the Council of Trent ends

The Council of Trent is one of the Roman Catholic Church's most important ecumenical councils. It issues more condemnations of what it defines to be heresies punishable by death and publishes the Tridentine Index, a list of forbidden books that is published the following year.

Peak activity for Spanish and Roman Inquisition

Following an uprising of Moorish Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity, the Inquisition turns its attention to Islam. In 1609, King Philip III orders the expulsion of the Moriscos and an estimated 300,000 (roughly 4% of the total Spanish population) are forced to leave the country. During this period, the Inquisition begins burning people for offenses including witchcraft, blasphemy, bigamy and freemasonry.

Giordano Bruno Put on Trial

Dominican friar, philosopher, mathematician, poet and astronomer, Giordano Bruno, is denounced to the Venetian Inquisition in 1593. Accused of dealing in magic and divination, Bruno is declared a heretic and burned at the stake.

Galileo is put on trial

Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher and mathematician Galileo Galilei is found suspect of heresy. Ordered to renounce his scientific theories, he refuses and spends the rest of his life under house arrest.

The enlightenment

Increasing numbers of licenses to possess and read prohibited texts are granted as new ideas pour into Spain and inquisitorial activity begins winding down. Leading figures of the Spanish Enlightenment push for the abolition of the Inquisition and foreign Enlightenment texts prove popular among members of the nobility and government.

The French Revolution

Fearing that revolutionary ideas will penetrate Spain's borders, the Council of Castile reactivates the Holy Office responsible for the persecution of French works. A new Inquisition edict is passed banning seditious French papers, but it does little to stem the material crossing the border.

Napoleon Invades Spain

Napoleon's older brother, Joseph, is made king of Spain. He is welcomed by Spanish Francophiles, who believe collaboration with France will bring modernization, liberty and the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition.

Inquisition is reintroduced

After British, Spanish and Portuguese forces push the French out of Spain, Ferdinand VII is restored to the throne and reconstitutes the Inquisition.

Trienio liberal

A military uprising ousts King Ferdinand and a liberal government rules Spain until 1823 when a French army invades Spain and reinstates the King's absolute power.

Spanish Inquisition officially ends

The Spanish Inquisition is definitively abolished on 15 July 1834 by a Royal Decree signed by Regent Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand VII's liberal widow.