Robert de Sable
|
I will lead mankind into a new world! This article is currently being reworked by Nostalgia AC in order to achieve a better status. We ask that edits to this article are only minor or grammatical in nature until this warning is removed, in order to not disrupt the major revamp. Should you wish to participate in the revamp, please contact the editor at work. |
Robert de Sable (unknown - 1191) was the Grand Master of the Templar Order from 1190 to 1191, and a Lieutenant in King Richard I's Crusader army.
Serving most notably under Richard I during the Third Crusade, Robert was secretly making plans to take over the Holy Land, relying on obtaining an ancient artifact known as the "Apple of Eden." After the Assassins took the object for themselves, Robert led a siege on their fortress of Masyaf, though the Templars were routed. Simultaneously, Robert was able to recruit many lieutenants from both the Crusader and Saracen armies to the Templars' cause.
However, over the following weeks, all of these men were killed by the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the same individual who had routed the Templars from Masyaf. After Altaïr killed Robert's supporters, Robert realized that he was the next target and fooled Altaïr with a decoy, while Robert himself made a truce between Richard and Salah Al'din to unite against a common enemy; the Assassins. However, Robert was found by Altaïr at the Battle of Arsuf, where Richard allowed a battle between the two men to emerge. Robert was killed in the process.
Biography
Early life
Born into a powerful family, Robert was immersed in nobility from birth. Though many events throughout his life are difficult to pin down, at some point, he became lord and ruler of Briollay, France.
Grand Master of the Templar Order
- "All the men I've laid to rest have worked together, united by this man."
- ―Altaïr about Robert.[src]
Subsequently, Robert entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their Grand Master from 1190, until his death in 1192.
During the Third Crusade, Robert and the Knights Templar, alongside the rest of the Crusader army, 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 previously been lost.
Quest for the Apple of Eden
- "I want this through the gates before sunrise. The sooner we can possess it, the sooner we can turn our attention to those jackals at Masyaf."
- ―Robert telling his men to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant.[src]
In 1191, Robert and a group of his guards entered Solomon's Temple, attempting to retrieve the Piece of Eden that was hidden there. However, just as Robert sent his men to climb up to the artifact, a group of Assassins consisting of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Malik Al-Sayf and Kadar Al-Sayf ambushed them.
Altaïr approached Robert head-on and attempted to assassinate him, but Robert was able to stop the Assassin's attack. Robert threw Altaïr out of the room, causing a minor rockslide that blocked the entrance with rubble. Robert and his guards then engaged the remaining Assassins, killing Kadar, and severely wounding Malik's left arm.
However, Malik was able to steal the artifact from the Templars, flee Jerusalem, and return to his Mentor, Rashid ad-Din Sinan. Robert however, determined to regain the artifact, pursued the Assassin out of Jerusalem, and towards the Assassin fortress of Masyaf.
Two of the Assassins defected, opening the gates of the town for Robert and his Templar infantry, and allowing them to storm the village. Many of the town's civilians and Assassin guards were killed as a result.
Though the Assassins led a retaliation against the Templars, they were eventually driven back into the safety of their fortress. Arriving at the fortress gates, Robert demanded that they return the artifact to him, saying that it was his property.
Al Mualim refused to do so, stating that he had no claim to it. Robert rebuked him, claiming that he played a dangerous game and that the Templar forces could simply wait out the Assassins. Al Mualim ignored this threat, and signaled Altaïr to activate a trap that caused several logs to fall onto the Templar soldiers, killing many and scattering the rest.
Robert and the remaining Templars retreated from the town, having suffered too many casualties to continue.
Loss of power
- "You have laid waste our plans, first the treasure then our men. Control of the Holy Land slipped away. But then, he saw an opportunity; to reclaim what has been stolen, to turn your victories to our advantage."
- ―Maria Thorpe talking to Altaïr about Robert's plans.[src]
Robert managed to convince many Crusaders and Saracens to secretly defect to the Templars, promising them power in the "New World" they would create.
Altaïr, who had been demoted because of his failure at Solomon's Temple, was assigned to eliminate nine leading Templars (including Robert himself) in order to regain his lost rank.
Over the course of around a month, Altaïr was successful in killing eight of the Templars. He finally pursued Robert to Jerusalem, where he was scheduled to attend the funeral of one of his fellow Templars, Majd Addin.
However, Robert had foreseen that he would be the next target, and had thus assigned his Lieutenant, Maria Thorpe, to disguise herself as Robert and attend the funeral as a trap for Altaïr. Meanwhile, Robert left to join the battlefield at Arsuf, alongside King Richard.
Altaïr fell for the trap, but he was able to defeat Maria and learn of Robert's true whereabouts and intentions from her. He spared Maria, as she was not his target, and rode for Arsuf, determined to take Robert's life.
Battle of Arsuf and death
- "Robert de Sable is now all that stands between us and victory. It's his mouth that gives orders, his hand pays the gold. With him dies the knowledge of the Templar treasure."
- ―Al Mualim about Robert.[src]
Robert stood by King Richard's side for the course of the Battle of Arsuf. There, he was able to convince Richard to ally with Salah Al'din against a common enemy - the Assassins - as they had caused numerous deaths on both sides.
Altaïr fought his way through Arsuf against Crusaders and Saracens alike, eventually arriving at the Crusader camp, where he met Richard and Robert. Altaïr tried to convince Richard that the men he had killed were secretly Templars, and that Robert was going to rebel against Richard, though Robert defended himself by saying that the Assassins were master deceivers.
Richard, not sure who to believe, left God to decide who was speaking the truth, and had Altaïr fight against the Templars. Altaïr stood victorious against them, but was left to face Robert himself. Robert proved to be a match for Altaïr, but he was nonetheless defeated.
As he died, Robert enlightened Altaïr to the fact that Al Mualim was secretly a Templar as well. He told him that Al Mualim wanted to have the Apple of Eden for himself, and that he had sent Altaïr to kill the nine targets, in order to keep them from gaining possession of the Apple.
After saying that by taking his life, Altaïr had ended his own, Robert passed away.
Characteristics and personality
Robert was a very manipulative man, able to recruit various members to the Templar cause by offering them power in the New World. At the same time, Robert gained King Richard's trust, despite secretly plotting his downfall.
Robert was also an ingenious strategist, turning Al Mualim's plan to kill his supporters into a trap to destroy the Assassin Order. Robert was a supreme fighter as well, able to almost match Altaïr in battle. He was also able to easily stop Altaïr from assassinating him in Solomon's Temple.
However, due to his disregard for the Templars' rule to not consort with women, Robert was not held in high regard by all of his fellow Templars, among which was his own successor, Armand Bouchart.
Final words
- Altaïr: It's done, then. Your schemes, like you, are put to rest.
- Robert: (laughing coldly) You know nothing of schemes. You are 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 are 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 have 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.
- Altaïr: No.
- Robert: 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-game, Robert was in his mid-30s when he was killed by Altaïr. Historically, he was relatively old when he died of natural causes.
- Robert appears to have one of the largest physical builds in Assassin's Creed; being a head taller than Altaïr himself. Though it is likely that this appearance is due to the armor he constantly wears, he is known to be physically stronger than Altaïr.
- In the game it is said Robert died in 1191, where in real life he died in 1193. It is possible the Templars rewrote history on this.
Source
- Assassin's Creed
- Wikipedia
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||