Nikolaos

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Nikolaos of Sparta, also known as the Wolf of Sparta, was a Spartan general who lived during the 5th century BCE. With Myrrine, the daughter of King Leonidas, he was the father of Alexios and step-father of Kassandra. He was also the adoptive father of Stentor.

Because his step-daughter was descended from Leonidas, Nikolaos had high hopes for her to live up to their grandfather's fame and valor. However, a catastrophe befell the family one fateful day when an Oracle prophesied the destruction of Sparta at the hands of Myrrine's children. Following the apparent death of Alexios as a result of Kassandra's actions, she was sentenced to death. Nikolaos reluctantly stood by this sentence and personally attempted to carry it out, only for Kassandra to survive, and, in exile, grew up to become a legendary mercenary.

Biography

Incident on Mount Taygetos

At some point, Nikolaos met and married Myrrine, the daughter of King Leonidas I of Sparta. Myrrine previously had a daughter Kassandra from her past relationship with the philosopher Pythagoras. Despite this, Nikolaos treated Kassandra as his own while keeping it a secret together with Myrrine. In 446 BCE, the two had a son named Alexios.

That year, tragedy struck when the Cult of Kosmos manipulated the Pythia Praxithea into giving a false prophecy, proclaiming that Alexios would lead to the fall of Sparta. As a result, the newborn was condemned to be killed in order to prevent the polis downfall, a decision which Myrrine opposed. Nikolaos and his family were brought to Mount Taygetos, where they await the sentencing surrounded by the Cult. Despite pleas from Myrrine, Nikolaos refused to budge, as he was strictly adherent to Spartan law. When Alexios was about to be thrown off the cliff by a priest, he was stopped by Kassandra, who unintentionally pushed both him off and seemingly killing both him and Alexios. As Kassandra's action was considered against Spartan law, Nikolaos was compelled by the Cultists to punish her accordingly. Myrrine plea for him to spare Kassandra, which he ignored and promptly held her by the hand before throwing her off the cliffs to her seemingly death.

Reunion with Kassandra

Kassandra preparing to throw Nikolaos off the cliffs

Years after the incident, Nikolaos rose up the ranks in the Spartan Army, eventually becoming a general, helping to contribute numerous victories to his polis. His victories made him a war hero and gave rise to his title as the Wolf. During this point, he also adopted a son named Stentor, who served and fought with him throughout the battles.

By 431 BCE, Nikolaos was posted in Megaris to conquer the city of Megara with Stentor. The army was later assisted by a mysterious Spartan misthios, who sabotaged Athenian supplies and eliminated the Athenian-hired mercenary Hyrkanos the Cunning. When the Spartans succeeded in conquering Megaris, Nikolaos requested to meet the misthios in person, waiting on the edge of a cliff. The misthios revealed herself as Kassandra, who had survived the fall years ago. Though desiring revenge, Kassandra ultimately spared Nikolaos' life. He went on to reveal that he was not her biological father and that her mother was still alive, before abandoning his post.

Nikolaos' abandoning of his post bred rumors, which spread fast in the Spartan army. Most believed him to have died, while others suspected he had deserted his post or simply disappeared.

Nikolaos fighting Aristaios

Two years later, Nikolaos returned to his post, secretly assisting his adopted son Stentor in his efforts to conquer Boeotia. To this end, Nikolaos went after Aristaios, one of the Champions of Boeotia who was stationed at the Military Fort of Gla in Lake Kopais. While finishing off Aristaios outside the fort near the Kopais Perch, Nikolaos met again Kassandra, who had been dispatched by King Archidamos of Sparta to assist Stentor.

Trivia

• Nikolaos (Νικολαος) means 'victory of the people', from which the English form, Nicholas, is derived.
• While Assassin's Creed: Odyssey allows the protagonist to choose between sparing Nikolaos or killing him, the official novelization confirms that Kassandra spared him during their reunion in Megaris, and later helped him reunite with Stentor after his 'official death.'

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Nikolaos
• 
  Head models of a younger Nikolaos
• 
  Head models of an older Nikolaos
• 
  Younger Nikolaos and Kassandra
• 
  Stentor and Nikolaos after the battle in Boeotia

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey novel

References

de:Nikolaos es:Nikolaos fr:Nikolaos it:Nikolaos zh:尼科拉欧斯