Robert de Sable
Robert de Sable was the Grand Master of the Templar Order from 1190 to 1191 and a lieutenant in King Richard I's crusader army.
Biography
Early life
Born into a powerful family, Robert de Sable was immersed from birth into nobility. Though events during De Sable's life are difficult to pin down, at some point he became lord and ruler of Briollay, France.
Grand Master of the Templar Order
Subsequently, Robert de Sable entered into the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their "Grand Master" from 1190 to 1191. During the Third Crusade, Robert and the Knights Templar laid siege to the city of Acre, which soon fell. Throughout August 1191, they also recaptured many fortresses and cities along the Palestinian coast, which had been lost previously.
Quest for the Apple of Eden
In 1191, Robert and a group of guards entered Solomon's Temple, attempting to retrieve the Apple of Eden hidden there. However, right after Robert sent his guards to climb up to the artifact, a group of Assassins consisting of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Malik A-Sayf and Kadar A-Sayf ambushed them. Altaïr attempted to assassinate Robert while being in the open, thus Robert was able to stop Altaïr's attack. Altaïr was thrown out of the room, which as a result caused to be block by falling ruble. Robert and his guards then focused attention on the A-Sayf brothers, killing Kadar and severely wounding Malik's left arm.
However, Malik was able to steal the artifact from the Templars, and flee Jerusalem and return to his master, Al Mualim. Robert, however, determined to regain the artifact, pursued the Assassins out of Jerusalem and towards the Assassin fortress of Masyaf. Two of the Assassins defected to the Templars, opening the gates of the town for the Robert and his Templar infantry. The Templars stormed the village and killed many of the town's civilians and Assassins.
Though the Assassin led an assault against the Templar they were eventually able to drive the Assassins to the safety of the fortress. Arriving at the fortress, Robert demanded that they return the artifact to him, saying it was in his property. Al Mualim refused to do so, stating he had no claim to it. Robert rebuked this, claiming he played a dangerous game and they could out wait the Assassins. Al Mualim ignored this threat and Altaïr activated a trap that caused tree logs to fall on the Templar soldiers. Robert and the remaining Templars retreated from the town, having lost too many soldiers.
Loss of power
Robert had managed to have many crusaders and saracens to secrety defect to the Templars, promising them power in the "New World". The Assassin Altaïr was demoted because of his failure at Solomon's Temple, and was assigned by Al Mualim to eliminate each of these Templars in order to regain his lost rank. Over the course of about one month, Altaïr was succesfull in eliminating each of the eight Templars, until Al Mualim appointed him to Robert's assassination. Robert, having foreseen that he'd be the next target, had his lieutenant, and likely lover, Maria Thorpe, disguise herself as Robert and attend the late Templar Majd Addin's funeral - a trap for Altaïr - while Robert himself would be joing the battlefield at Arsuf alongside King Richard. Altaïr fell for the trap, but was able to defeat Maria and learned of Robert's true whereabouts and intentions. He rode off for Arsuf, determined to take Robert's life.
Battle of Arsuf and death
Robert stood by King Richard's side for the course of the Battle of Arsuf, but while doing so, was able to convince Richard to ally himself with Saladin against a common enemy - the Assassins - as they had caused numerous deaths on both sides. Altaïr, fighting his way through Arsuf against crusaders and saracens alike, arrived at the crusader camp, where he met Richard and Robert. Altaïr tried to convince Richard that the men he killed were secretly Templars and that Robert was going to rebel against Richard, though Robert defended himself by saying that the Assassins were master deceivers. Richard, not sure what side to choose, left God to decide who was saying the truth and had Altaïr fight against the Templars. Altaïr stood victorious against the Templars, but then faced Robert himself. Robert managed to be Altaïr's toughest enemy yet, but was nonetheless defeated. Before dying, Robert enlightened Altaïr that Al Mualim was in fact a Templar as well, but that he wanted to have the Apple of Eden for his own. After telling him that with his death, Altaïr ended his own, Robert passed away.
Final words
- Altaïr: It's done, then. Your schemes, like you, are put to rest.
- Robert: (laughing coldly) You know nothing of schemes. You are but a puppet. He betrayed you, boy, just as he betrayed me.
- Altaïr: Speak sense, Templar, or not at all!
- Robert: Nine men he sent you to kill, yes? The nine who guarded the treasure's secret?
- Altaïr: What of it?
- Robert: It wasn't nine who found the treasure, Assassin; not nine, but ten!
- Altaïr: A tenth? None may live who carry the secret. Give me his name!
- Robert: Oh, but you know him well, and I doubt very much you'd take his life as willingly as you've taken mine.
- Altaïr: Who?!
- Robert: It is your master, Al Mualim.
- Altaïr: But he is not a Templar!
- Robert: Did you never wonder how it is he knew so much? Where to find us, how many we numbered, what we aspire to attain?
- Altaïr: He is the master of the Assassins!
- Robert: Oui, master of lies. You and I are just two more pawns in his grand game. And now, with my death, only you remain. Do you think he'll let you live, knowing what you do?
- Altaïr: I have no interest in the treasure!
- Robert: Ah, but he does. The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share. Ironic, isn't it, that I, your greatest enemy, kept you safe from harm? But now you've taken my life... and in the process, ended your own!
Trivia
- In the game, Robert was in his mid 30s when he was killed by Altaïr. In real life, he was relatively old when he died of natural causes. Robert died in the Holy Land on 23 September 1193.
Source
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