Pigeon coop
Pigeon coops were a means of communication used by the Assassins to trade messages and assignments.
During the Third Crusade, the coops were located within the Assassins' Bureau of each city. Messages and contracts were sent to the Rafiq from Masyaf.[1]
By the time of Late Middle Ages, the order had become more secretive. Members of the order had integrated themselves into society. Most of the contracts during 15th century were assigned by Lorenzo de' Medici, which were executed by Giovanni Auditore and later by his son, Ezio.[2]
When the Assassins' built their brotherhood in Rome. Niccolò Machiavelli managed to place a few of his men to spy on Cesare Borgia. Names of important Templar allies were delivered to Ezio Auditore using the pigeon coops around Rome.[3]
Few rooftops were restricted to the civilians as the Assassins' had built pigeon coops for their spies to deliver information about the Templars. Most of them were guarded by the city guards.[4]
Gallery
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Ezio at a pigeon coop.
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Ezio retrieves message from pigeon at Pigeon Coop