East India Company
The East India Company, also known as Honourable East India Company[1] or British India Company[2], was a British trading enterprise that delivered goods and commodities to several ports throughout the British Empire, and a major naval force during the Age of Enlightenment and the Golden Age of Piracy.
History
The company, originally chartered as the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies, was founded in 1600, through a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I of England.[1] Throughout its history, the company held a tight monopoly on trade throughout most of the coastlines of the known world, and established a massive trading network that spanned from India and China in the east to the Caribbean Sea and the Thirteen Colonies in the west. The company owned over 1700 ships, creating the largest and most powerful merchant navy of all time.[3]
Secretly, however, the business was used on several occasions by members of the Templar Order, in their efforts to spread their influence throughout the ever-growing empire. As of 1713, Sir Aubrey Hague was an executive of the company, and Benjamin Pritchard was a captain sailing for the company until his death that year; both men had been Templars. [4] Additionally, Duncan Walpole had been in the employ of the company, before a fellow sailor approached and recruited him into the Assassin Order.[3] Later, Duncan Walpole was persuaded by Henry Spencer, a Templar and a member of the East India Company's Court of Directors, to betray the Assassins and join the Templar Order.[5]
Around 1748, the East India Company was in danger of facing resistance from the Kingdom of Mysore and the Assassins in the area. John Harrison, who was stationed in Calcutta, wrote a letter to William Johnson asking for aid in dealing with the Assassins stationed in the area and to help the company prosper.[6]
Several years after, in 1773, the company was being used by William Johnson to fund the sale of Kanien'kehá:ka territory in colonial America. The company was the only business able to import tea to the city of Boston, where it was taxed at alarming prices before the profits would go to Johnson. However, the intervention of the Sons of Liberty, as well as that of the Colonial Assassin Connor, sparked the Boston Tea Party and saw the remainder of the unsold tea dumped into Boston's harbor, foiling Johnson's plan.[7]
In 1839, after the Templar Francis Cotton successfully poisoned, Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, the resulting confusion following the ruler's death allowed the company to launch the Anglo-Sikh wars, which ultimately resulted in the annexation of India by the British.[8]
Beginning in 1842, the senior Templar William Sleeman of the same company, organized expeditions with the Koh-i-Noor and Precursor box, in which it was assumed that by bringing together the two Pieces of Eden would reveal the location of the following pieces, but the Assassin Arbaaz Mir stopped him, retrieving the Koh-i-Noor minus the box.[9]
The Crown eventually took control of the company's powers and assets in 1858.[1] In 1868, the company wanted to crush the independence of India, with the help of Templars led by Brinley Ellsworth, but the twins Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye with his ex-friend Duleep Singh thwarted his plan, leaving the Templar to leave.[10]
Types
Rifleman
Riflemen are the most common type of troops. They will use their rifles to kill you, but they are also skilled in close combat.
Sepoy
Sepoys are a common type. They will use melee as primary weapon, but they can throw you objects when hanging. They are weak.
Highlander
Highlanders will be common troops, but they are not easily to defeat. They have the same rank with riflemen, but their rifle easily wipes you out. You must stun a Highlander with smoke before assassination or takedown.
Corporal
Corporals are a common type in EIC infantry. They wield both swords and musket pistols. They will throw a melee-multi attack, and you will have to block them and then attack them.
Sniper
Snipers will appear at sometimes. At first, they are uncommon. Later, they will become common type. They fire their weapon fast, unlike the database mentions, and are almost like the rifleman.
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporals will be a rare type of infantry, but very weak. They can appear once in Amritsar, and sometimes in Katasraj Temple.
Sergeant
Sergeants are the most common ranking soldiers. They will appear leading and instructing lower-ranking soldiers. They have been equiped with swords and a firearm.
Lieutenant
Lieutenants have the most higher rank and can be a difficult foe. They may be the most difficult type of all. Must be stuned with smoke before attempt to assassinate or takedown.
Gallery
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East India Company Rifleman
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East India Company Sniper
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East India Company Corporal
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East India Company Highlander
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East India Company Lieutenant
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East India Company Sepoy
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East India Company Lance Corporal
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East India Company Sergeant
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East India Company Building
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Members of East India Company during Victorian era
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- Assassin's Creed: Brahman
- Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – The Last Maharaja
- Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India
- Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India – Database: East India Company
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Database: British India Company (BIC)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rogue – War Letters
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brahman
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – The Last Maharaja