Brass

Brass head of an Oba

Brass is a metal alloy made of copper and zinc. It has been used by humans in the construction of weapons, tools and engineering components.

History

Ptolemaic Egypt

By the 1st century BCE, brass was already used in making tools. The Medjay Bayek of Siwa owned a heavy brass staff that he used for combat, though its original purpose was ceremonial.

Middle Ages

The Royal Crypt of Saint-Denis once housed the body of all but three of the kings of France. Louis IX of France was buried in a lavish brass-decorated tomb. During the French Wars of Religion from 1562–1598, however, his tomb was melted for its brass.

During the Renaissance, Italian Assassins made brass using two parts copper and one part zinc. They would then fashion jewelry out of the brass to make fancy gifts for allies.

Golden Age of Piracy

The Welsh pirate and Master Assassin Edward Kenway collected several furniture and art pieces during his time in the Caribbean, including items made of brass, such as an armoire, a commode, and the head of an Oba, a large sculpture representing the head of a Nigerian king.

Sikh Empire

Around 1841, many weapons used in India featured brass, such as Chakrams and Talwars. Use of brass was limited to the hilt of the sword, while for Chakrams it was used for the entire weapon or for its engravings.

Victorian England

The Monument to the Great Fire of London's brass orb

The Monument to the Great Fire of London, built between 1671 and 1677, houses a brass orb atop it. This orb was altered between construction and Victorian times. In 1868, the Assassin Evie Frye ascended the Monument, following a trail of clues left behind by Edward Kenway. Upon inserting a disk at the very top, an image was revealed that led Evie to conclude Edward had hidden something at St. Paul's Cathedral.

During this time, the Assassins made ample use of brass knuckles, a melee weapon shaped to fit over the user's knuckles. Despite their name, however, materials other than brass could be used in the construction of the weapons.

Cultural significance

In addition to its wide use in crafting, brass has also influenced other aspects of human culture. In the English language, the expression 'bold as brass' denotes a person or act that is very bold or impudent, while "top-brass" can be used to refer to high-ranking individuals within an organization or company.

Gallery

• 
  The Ceremonial Staff made of brass
• 
  A brass-decorated cabinet
• 
  A brass-decorated commode
• 
  A Chakram made of brass

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (first mentioned)
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game (mentioned only)