Jariya al-Zakiyya

Jariya al-Zakiyya (born c. 1460s) was a member of the Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins during the Reconquista.

Biography

Early life

Jariya al-Zakiyya was a half-Moorish daughter of a concubine from Granada who was raised in the Sultan's court during the Renaissance.

A woman of great beauty, she was reputed to have been the secret child of the former Sultan Abu al-Hasan Ali and his Christian slave lover. As a result, Jariya was raised by the women of the sultan's harem.

Jariya also became the childhood friend of Muhammad XII, who would eventually become Sultan of Granada. Trusting Jariya as a loyal confidant, Muhammad asked his Assassin allies to train her as one of their own.

The Sultan's spy

After being trained by the Assassins, Jariya then served as his personal spy for many years, and her blades saw much usage in that time.

During her time as the Sultan's personal spy, she discovered Faris al-Saffar's illegal work with the black market. However, she saw Faris' skills could serve the Assassins. Then she convinced the Sultan to forgive Faris' innocuous crimes, on the condition that he would join the Brotherhood and provide his incredible tools and devices exclusively to them.

Joining the Assassins

When Granada fell and Muhammad XII had to surrender his kingdom to the Spanish Monarchs, he made Jariya swear on his life that she would flee Granada and join the Spanish Brotherhood to avenge him.

Personality and traits

Sly and cunning, Jariya was also described as a natural beauty. After serving the Sultan for many years, she gained his ultimate trust and felt the same. Her face was also adorned in tradition face tattoos common among her people.

Skills and equipment

Armed with her signature Hidden Blades, Jariya was a formidable Assassin. Expertly skilled in the art of assassinations, Jariya was also moderately skilled at freerunning and possessed Eagle Vision. When cornered into open combat, Jariya would act swiftly, gravely wounding her opponent precisely in a spot to make them hemorrhage and bleed out quicker. She had an aptitude for acrobatics and was naturally balanced and poised. Also known as a master scholar, Jariya studied and followed the doctrine of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

Behind the scenes

Jariya al-Zakiyya is a character featured in the mobile game Assassin's Creed: Rebellion. Part of the original line-up of Heroes, she was a legendary class Hero.

If Abu al-Hasan Ali was indeed Jariya's father, the Assassin was in fact the half-sister of Muhammad XII. Her backstory references Isabel de Solís, Hasan's Castilian concubine and later second wife after converting to Islam and taking the name Zoraya. While there is no evidence she had a daughter, she did have two sons by the sultan.

Etymology

"Jariya" is derived from the Arabic word jāriya (جَارِيَة‎), "slave-girl, a concubine". al-Zakiyya is an Arabic laqab derived from zakii (زكي) "pure, chaste", but also "intelligent".

Gallery

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  Jariya's avatar in Rebellion's character menu

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion