Darius
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Darius was a Persian Proto-Assassin during the Achaemenid dynasty whose assassination of the king of kings Xerxes I is renowned as the first recorded usage of the Hidden Blade.
Biography
During the 5th century BCE, the Proto-Templars supported the reign and conquests of the Achaemenid kings Darius I and his son Xerxes I.[1] Darius personally assassinated King Xerxes I with the Hidden Blade, in what would become the first recorded use of the Assassins' iconic weapon.[2][3]
By the Renaissance, Darius' remains had been transferred to Basilica di Santa Maria Novella in Florence, where his body lay with an Assassin Seal that provided access to the hidden armor of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. In 1478, his sarcophagus was opened by Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who took the Seal and later obtained the armor.[2]
A statue of Darius was also erected sometime before 1476 in the sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni.[2]
Trivia
- Darius was the first known user of the Hidden Blade.
- Darius was depicted with all ten fingers. Whether this is artistic license or an oversight is unknown.
- Unlike most other Assassins, Darius wore his Hidden Blade on the right arm.
- Historically, Xerxes was assassinated by Artabanus.
Gallery
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Darius' sarcophagus -
The Seal of Darius -
Darius' insignia
Appearance
- Assassin's Creed II (statue only)
