Robert de Sable

"But now you've taken my life...and in the process, ended your own!"

―De Sable to Altaïr after revealing the great plan

Robert de Sable is one of the nine targets of assassination assigned by Al Mualim to Altaïr and is also the last of these nine. A great adversary, Robert de Sable is very good in defending himself from Altaïr's quick and deadly attacks. He is the most highly trained and dangerous foe Altaïr faces of his nine targets.

History

Born into a powerful family, Robert De Sable was immersed from birth into nobility, though events during De Sable's life are difficult to pin down; at some point he became lord and ruler of Briollay, France. Subsequently, Robert De Sable entered into the order of Knights Templar and reigned as their "Grand Master" from 1191 to 1193. According to De Sable's entry on Wikipedia, "During the 3rd Crusade, de Sable and the Knights Templar laid siege to the city of Acre, which soon fell. Throughout August 1191, they also recaptured many fortresses and cities along the Palestinian coast, which had been lost previously."

Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Robert follows a goal similar to the Assassins in that he is attempting to end the war in the Holy Land. Al Mualim has no objections against him ending the Crusade but more against the way Robert De Sable attempts to do so - the Assassins would have people find peace themselves, but the Templar would force their "peace" onto others and attempt to control them. Altaïr first encounters Robert De Sable at the beginning of the game in Solomon's Temple, where he has apparently discovered the Ark of the Covenant. However, this is later revealed to be another artifact known as the Piece of Eden, which the Templar wish to use to control the minds of the people, effectively controlling those who opposed the one who held the piece. Believing that God didn't exist, he planned to bring peace and make the Holy Land a utopia by using the Piece of Eden. However, since the Assassins had it, he used brutal tactics to control the people as he planned to overthrow King Richard and destroy the Assassins. When his lieutenants were assassinated by Altaïr, he convinced King Richard to ally with Saladin in order to destroy the Assassins. Later Altaïr tried to convince the King of Robert's evil plot, however he didn't know who to trust and let God decide. Altaïr and Robert had to fight to the death, but it was Altaïr who proved to Richard that God was on the side of the Assassins as he finally killed Robert.

Final Words

Altaïr: It's done, then! Your schemes, like you, are put to rest!

Robert (laughing coldly): You know nothing of schemes. You're but a puppet: he betrayed you, boy, just as he betrayed me!

Altaïr: Speak sense, Templar, or not at all!

Robert: Nine men he sent you to kill, yes? The nine who guarded the treasure's secret?

Altaïr: What of it?

Robert: It wasn't nine who found the treasure, Assassin: not nine, but ten!

Altaïr: A tenth? None may live who carry the secret. Give me his name!

Robert: Oh, but you know him well, and I doubt very much you'd take his life as willingly as you've taken mine!

Altaïr: Who!?

Robert: It is your master, Al Mualim!

Altaïr: But he is not a Templar!

Robert: Did you never wonder how it is he knew so much? Where to find us, how many we numbered, what we aspire to attain?

Altaïr: He is the master of the Assassins!

Robert: Oui, master of lies, you and I just two more pawns in his grand game. And now, with my death, only you remain. Do you think he'll let you live, knowing what you do?

Altaïr: I've no interest in the treasure!

Robert: Ah, but he does! The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share! Ironic, isn't it, that I, your greatest enemy, kept you safe from harm. But now you've taken my life...and in the process, ended your own!

Trivia

• In the game Robert is portrayed as being much younger, possibly late 20's early 30's when he died by Altaïr's blade. In real life he was relatively old when he died of natural causes. His exact date of death is unknown, but it is safe to assume that he died close to the events of Assassin's Creed.