The History of the World According to Assassins Creed Since 2007, approximately 4,500 Assassins Creed games have launched on console and mobile. One of the most intriguing recurrences is the alternate history that is introduced to players within most games. Using people who really lived throughout history, and staying accurate (mostly) to the actual date of death, we’ve been introduced to villain and hero alike, all having met a tragic demise at the end of a pointed blade, a drop of poison, or some sinister plot. While our educators try to convince us of one truth, often that someone died of natural causes or some strange ailment, Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed teaches us that history was more violent than we realize. History is written by the victors, as they say, but if Ezio, Altair, and others would be believed, history is truly written by Assassins. History Says A known Freemason, like many during that period were, Putnam made a name for himself when he moved to Connecticut and, as legend says, killed the last wolf in the state, forever ensuring that the local farmer’s sheep would be safe. What a hero. The real mark he left on history was during the American Revolution. Unfortunately, because Putnam was such a terrible strategist and tactician, his superiors, particularly George Washington, were forced to keep important commands from him. A bumbling Major General who couldn’t dispatch orders without getting himself into hijinks sounds like a failed sitcom. After losing key battles and losing favor with Washington, Putnam had a stroke in 1779 that caused him to be paralyzed, ending his active service. Eleven years later, in 1790, Putnam died and was entombed in Connecticut, though was later moved to a different monument because people were stealing pieces of his tomb, rather than just paying for a souvenir keychain. Assassins Creed Says Putnam was introduced to Connor (AKA Ratonhnhaké:ton) in Assassin’s Creed III during the Battle of Bunker Hill and used him to remove the Templar and British Soldier, John Pitcairn. By having Connor infiltrate and disable Red Coat frigates providing naval support, Putnam rallied his troops for battle, but screwed it up. Though it wasn’t entirely his fault, as he was outnumbered, he was forced to retreat. Putnam later comes to Connor’s aid, speaking on his behalf and naming him a hero for the Patriots (though he doesn’t boast nearly the same playoff stats as Tom Brady, another Patriot’s hero). Ubisoft makes it a point to show Putnam asking Washington to reassign him to recruitment because of his failures at Fort Clinton and Montgomery, as well as his loss at the Battle of Long Island, making the man look dignified and self-aware. Unfortunately, he was probably more like Joey Tribbiani, except with a horse and musket. History Says Strangely, there are a lot more questions about Thatch’s life than there are answers. Heck, some say his real name is Edward Teach, though there are nearly ten different names that historians have used. We also don’t know his exact birthdate, though that’s insignificant in the shadow of the legacy Blackbeard the Pirate left behind. It’s assumed that he was born into a wealthy family in Bristol, England, and that Blackbeard was educated. After the treaty that ended Queen Anne’s War in the early 1700’s, Blackbeard found himself as a sailor without a cause. Instead of returning home, Blackbeard signed on with Captain Benjamin Hornigold and was placed in charge of his own sloop. In early 1717 we see the first noted mention of Blackbeard, after he had emerged from under Hornigold’s wing and commanded a crew of his own. Later that year Blackbeard met Stede Bonnet, an educated man from a wealthy family who had turned to piracy. Sound familiar? Bonnet’s crew was on the brink of mutiny, so Blackbeard took control of Bonnet’s ship to help avoid conflict. Only a year after first making his mark in the history books, Blackbeard was hunted by Robert Maynard and found anchored near Ocracoke Island. With only about 20 men on board, the others safely on shore or having been removed from service by Blackbeard himself, a battle begun and soon Maynard’s ship was boarded. He had prepared for this by having a large majority of his men hide below deck, giving the appearance of a small sailing crew. When Blackbeard boarded, the men burst out from below deck in a surprise attack. Blackbeard, in a sword fight with Maynard, broke the man’s sword during the melee, but the pirates were eventually surrounded. Blackbeard again tried to attack Maynard, only to be cut down by the men surrounding him. After the fight, Blackbeard’s body showed five bullet wounds and more than 20 cuts from swords. Assassins Creed Says Because of the lack of facts, Ubisoft had some room to elaborate on the legacy of the notorious pirate. What we know about Blackbeard is that the guy was six degrees north of “Badass,” and is portrayed that way throughout Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Aboard his prized Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard indeed meets up with Stede Bonnet, dubbing the Wannabe-Pirate “Nightshirt”. Blackbeard crosses paths with Edward Kenway and takes a liking to the man, introducing him to Benjamin Hornigold and others who plan to make Nassau a “pirate’s nirvana.” After admitting that he would be announcing his retirement, Blackbeard accepted a pardon in North Carolina, but soon decided that he needed more money to live out his days peacefully. The only logical way to obtain it was to come out of retirement and continue his violence and piracy. Despite Ubisoft’s reputation for altering history, they introduce Robert Maynard and see him commissioned hunt Blackbeard. Blackbeard’s final battle plays out nearly identically to firsthand accounts. It’s also said that Maynard took Blackbeard’s head to collect the reward (confirmed) and upon dumping the headless body into the ocean, it swam around the ship 20 times (unconfirmed). History Says Pope Alexander VI is perhaps the most controversial pope in history because he … “loved women”. He fathered a number of legitimate and illegitimate children, which is strictly prohibited due to the Church’s requirement of celibacy. Player’s gonna play. Originally Rodrigo Borgia, he studied law and, after his uncle became Pope Callixtus III in 1456, he was ordained as a deacon. By 1471, Alexander VI was promoted to Cardinal Bishop and, because of his tenure beneath five different Popes, had amassed wealth and power. Four years later, he had his first child and in subsequent years would have eight more with multiple women. In 1492, while still under the name Rodrigo Borgia, he “bought” the Papacy and future Pope Giovanni di Lorenzo de’Medici, then 16 years old, allegedly said, “Now we are in the power of a wolf, the most rapacious perhaps that this world has ever seen. And if we do not flee, he will inevitably devour us all,” though others simply claim that de’Medici wouldn’t say something like that at 16 years old. Haters gonna hate. History shows that there is no quantifiable evidence that Pope Alexander VI ever poisoned, murdered, or extorted people to fill his coffers or expand influence. Alexander VI did place trusted members of his family into positions of power within the Church and, after eating dinner with his son Cesare Borgia and Cardinal Adriano da Corneto (where they surely talked political strategy), both Cesare and Alexander VI mysteriously fell ill. Cesare recovered, Pope Alexander VI could not “shake it off.” Assassins Creed Says Pope Alexander VI, known most commonly as Rodrigo Borgia in Assassin’s Creed II and Brotherhood, was murderous scum. Being a member of the Templar Order, he reached the rank of Grand Master in 1476, well before his appointment as Pope, and around that time, as he was leaving Florence, Italy, his entourage was set upon by a group of Assassins led by Ezio’s father, Giovanni Auditore da Firenze. Rodrigo fled the battle, not surprisingly, but witnessed one of his escorts reveal the plan to assassinate Lorenzo de’Medici, which eventually succeeded. If you’re one to do the math, you know that in the unaltered reality de’Medici would have only just been born at this time. “Assassin of Babies,” doesn’t have the same ring as “Templar Grandmaster,” though. Giovanni Auditore de Firenze pursued Rodrigo Borgia, but ended up captured and killed for treason thanks to a plan hatched by Rodrigo and his allies. Using his money and influence to establish himself as Pope, Rodrigo had no true desire for the position. His motivation was charged only by the vault below the Vatican, which he claimed only he, as “The Prophet,” could open. Eventually, Ezio Auditore and Rodrigo had one last battle, where Rodrigo combined the Apple of Eden with the Papal Staff to open the Vault and it was proven that Rodrigo was, in fact, not “The Prophet,” as he believed. After defeating Rodrigo, Ezio let him live because what he now knew was far worse than anything Ezio could do to him. Rodrigo’s son, Cesare, eventually replaced him and, after growing too bold and not living up to expectations, Rodrigo poisoned Cesare’s apples. Upon learning of this plot, just in time for dramatic effect, Cesare spat out the apple he had been chewing and forced Rodrigo to eat the rest. Rodrigo died, Cesare did not. History Says Machiavelli was a true Renaissance Man, not only because he lived during the Renaissance, but because he was versed as a historian, philosopher, diplomat, writer, politician, and more. His most renowned work, The Prince, is thought to be based on Cesare Borgia’s life because Machiavelli served as an advisor and thought highly of the man. For a few years in the early 1500s, he was in charge of the Militia in Florence, Italy, and used citizens of the city, rather than mercenaries, which proved to be a bold, successful decision. In 1513, after the Medici family regained control of the Florentine city-state, Machiavelli was removed from his position, accused of conspiracy, and imprisoned. For three weeks he was tortured yet he refused to admit involvement. He was eventually released and retreated to his estate in a safe, “We won’t torture you,” area. It was here that he wrote many of his plays, took part in political discussions, and remained in contact with many of his friends who were still connected to the politics of the region. In 1527, Machiavelli died and a monument was erected in his memory. On it, in latin, are the words, “No eulogy would be appropriate to such a great name.” Which sounds like someone forgot to write one and took the easy way out. Read more »
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:25:20 +0000
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