Eagle Clan

The Eagle Clan was a group of Vikings that became situated in the city of Constantinople in the 9th century.

History

In the 860s, the Eagle Clan and other Viking clans raided coastal settlements around Constantinople. In response, the imperial family offered wealthy jobs to the Vikings as their personal security, the Varangian guard. Their leader Thyra and other members accepted and subsequently became stationed in Constantinople as Varangian guards for Empress Eudocia Ingerina. However, both Thyra and Eudocia eventually realized that the empress' son Leo was the target of assassination by both his father Basil I and his secret allies, the Order of the Ancients.

In 867, Thyra and her warriors found two new allies at the city's market, the Hidden Ones Basim Ibn Ishaq and his Acolyte Hytham. Meeting inside the house of the Hidden Ones' ally Demetrios Hestiun, Thyra introduced the empress to the Hidden Ones and revealed their problem. Seeing a common goal, Hytham offered to join the Varangian guard to keep watch over Leo, and in return, the Eagle Clan promised an alliance with the Hidden Ones. Agreeing to the terms, Thyra detailed to Hytham the directions and information of being a Varangian guard inside the emperor's palace.

After an assassination attempt on Leo involving a viper, Thyra and her warriors watched over the imperial family for the next two weeks while Basim and Hytham investigated the Varangian guard Justin, Leo's nurse Anna, and Leo's tutor Theodore as their three suspects. The next day, Thyra took over Hytham's duties again as he and Basim tracked Justin outside the emperor's palace.

When night came, Thyra and her men stationed in the children's wing came under attack by the Order, with some guards being poisoned. Basim helped Thyra while Hytham went to find Leo. Fortunately, they all held their ground as Leo was saved and the remaining Order assailants fled. Meanwhile, a wounded Hytham traced an Order member back to an abandoned tavern but was ambushed and captured.

After saving Hytham, Thyra and Basim headed back to the palace. Thyra informed the empress of Theodore's betrayal while Eudocia thanked the Hidden Ones for saving her son. Realizing they all needed to stop the Order's schemes, Thyra reluctantly agreed to Basim's plan of using Basil's Hippodrome event with Leo as bait. After setting up the event, Thyra, her warriors, and Hytham arranged for Leo to be vulnerable in the imperial box.

On the day of the Hippodrome race, Thyra and her trusted warriors guarded the family while Justin patrolled the ring. During the emperor's race, an Order member loosed an arrow into the emperor's box and used the resulting chaos to abduct Leo. Fortunately, the Hidden Ones, Justin, and Thyra chased them into an alley outside the Hippodrome and cornered them and their leader, Isaac. After a lengthy fight, Isaac and his Order soldiers were killed while Justin saved Leo from the last Order member. Having rid the city of the Order's influence, Thyra, Justin, and her trusted guards maintained their positions while the empress and Leo gave their personal gratitude and good-byes to Hytham.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: The Golden City