Rat

Rats in Egypt

The rat (Rattus) is a genus of long-tailed rodents which favors urban environments.

History

Throughout human history, rats have made their homes in the urban environment of major cities, especially those of less affluent districts, roaming the area scouring or food and shelter. They could be found in many places across the world, ranging from Alexandria, Egypt in the 1st century BCE; Norway and England during the 9th century Viking expansion; Damascus and Acre during the Third Crusade; throughout China in the Ming dynasty; Boston and New York City during the Seven Years' War and subsequent American Revolution; and London in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.

The rats that lived in Paris, France during the city's siege in 885 by the Viking leader Rollo were particularly and uncommonly aggressive, known to swarm over and completely devour in a matter of seconds any unlucky souls who tread too close. While aiding Rollo's siege efforts, the jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan learned of the rats' voracious nature and often utilized it to her advantage when infiltrating the city, coating select arrows with rat bait and then loosing them at targets to lure the rodents to specific locations or groups of enemies.

Because of their association by humans with squalor, they were generally thought of as vermin, and the word "rat" was occasionally used as a metaphor for ignominious, petty individuals. Such was the case with at least two Parisian individuals, the 9th century paranoiac smuggler Richo, who took on the alias of "The Rat King", and the 18th century former noble known only as Roi des Thunes, a crime boss who ruled one of the worst slums of Paris, the Cour des Miracles. When he offered his services to the Templar Order in 1789, he was coldly rebuffed by Grand Master François de la Serre, accused of having nothing to contribute other than the "intrigues of rats".

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles (first mentioned)
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Unity
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Origins
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  • The Fate of Atlantis: Judgment of Atlantis (mentioned only)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • The Siege of Paris
  • Dawn of Ragnarök
  • The Forgotten Saga
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage
• Assassin's Creed: Shadows (mentioned only)