The Secret Crusade
| This article is about Niccolò Polo's journal. You may be looking for the real-world novel of the same name. |
The Secret Crusade (Italian: La Crociata Segreta) was a detailed study on the life of the Levantine Assassins' Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, written by Niccolò Polo.
Owners[edit | edit source]
- Niccolò Polo (author; 1257)[1]
- Cem (until 25 February 1495)[2]
- Spanish Inquisition (1495)[3]
- Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order (1495 – c. 1509)[4]
- Leandros (c. 1509 – March 1511)[5]
- Ezio Auditore da Firenze (March 1511)[5]
History[edit | edit source]
Middle Ages[edit | edit source]
In 1257, Niccolò and his brother Maffeo were invited to stay at the Assassins' fortress of Masyaf in Syria. Having been visited by Altaïr's son Darim in their home in Constantinople, they journeyed to Masyaf, where Niccolò had various discussions with Altaïr about the latter's life. As a result, Niccolò wrote these stories down in a journal, which ended up covering all of the Assassin's key moments. Niccolò also wrote about Altaïr's library hidden beneath Masyaf.[1]
The journal also acted as a sort of diary, giving details of the Polo brothers' actions during their stay in the village and their journey to Constantinople, where they hid the keys to Altaïr's library. Niccolò intended to pass the journal to his son, Marco.[1]
Renaissance[edit | edit source]
During the late 15th century, the journal had come in the possession of the exiled Ottoman prince Cem, a Templar who was imprisoned in Europe. Shortly before being killed by the Italian Assassins in February 1495, Cem revealed the journal's existence to his nephew Ahmet, heir to the Ottoman throne and the Byzantine Templars' future Grand Master.[2]
In 1495, the journal fell into the hands of the Spanish Inquisition. Not understanding its true value, they were prepared to trade it to agents of the Byzantine Templars. Through the Templar turncoat Aleksei Zima, the Ottoman Assassins learned of these plans.[6] Aleksei, along with the Ottoman Mentor Ishak Pasha, Ishak's bodyguard Murat Bin Husn, and the young Assassin Yusuf Tazim, traveled to Spain and cooperated with their Spanish brethren to thwart the deal.[3] However the trade, which had already taken place, was a trap,[4] and the Assassins were forced to escape from an ambush.[7]
With the journal, Ahmet learned more about Altaïr's library and wanted to open it to find the Grand Temple in the belief that it would unify humanity by eliminating all division.[8] By 1509, after discovering one of the Masyaf Keys, Ahmet passed the journal to the Byzantine captain Leandros, who headed an expedition to Masyaf's fortress.[9] Leandros kept the journal until March 1511, when he was killed by the Italian Mentor Ezio Auditore, who was on a quest to enter the library as well.[5]
Learning that the keys to Altaïr's library were located in Constantinople after reading the journal, Ezio set out on a journey to the city, while continuing to read the journal along the way.[1] Arriving two months later, the Mentor met Yusuf, who had been promoted to the Ottoman Assassins' leader. During a conversation, Ezio showed the journal to Yusuf, who claimed to have never seen it before.[10]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Ezio showing the journal to Yusuf -
Yusuf holding the journal
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations
- Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ottoman Connection (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Recollection
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ottoman Connection – Uncovering Clues
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ottoman Connection – A Bad Deal
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Assassin's Creed: Revelations – The Wounded Eagle
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – Database: Aleksei Zima
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ottoman Connection – Expert Escape
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discovery
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – A Journal of Some Kind
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Bomb Crafting
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||