Unveiling the Truth: The True Story Behind Assassin’s Creed
The “true story” of Assassin’s Creed is a fascinating blend of historical fact and fictional narrative, carefully woven together to create a compelling gaming experience. At its core, the series draws inspiration from the real-life Order of Assassins, a Nizari Isma’ili sect active in the Middle East from the late 11th to the 13th centuries. While the games take significant liberties with historical events and character portrayals, they are fundamentally rooted in this historical foundation, exploring themes of freedom, control, and the eternal struggle between opposing ideologies represented by the Assassins and the Templars. The true story, therefore, is a carefully constructed alternative history that invites players to question established narratives and consider the hidden forces shaping human events.
The Historical Seeds: The Order of Assassins
The inspiration for the Assassin’s Creed series comes from a real historical group, the Nizari Isma’ilis. Led by Hassan-i Sabbah, they established a network of mountain fortresses, most famously Alamut Castle in present-day Iran, and employed targeted assassinations as a means of political and religious influence. Their methods, shrouded in secrecy and often attributed to the use of hashish (hence the name “Assassins,” derived from “hashashin”), instilled fear in their enemies.
The games expand upon this historical seed, creating a global network of Assassins throughout history, each fighting for freedom against the Templars, a secretive organization seeking control and order. This fundamental conflict is the driving force behind the series’ narrative.
From Alamut to Animus: The Core Conflict
The game introduces a futuristic element: the Animus, a device that allows users to relive the memories of their ancestors. This narrative device enables players to experience historical periods through the eyes of various Assassin protagonists, each embroiled in the ongoing conflict with the Templars. The Templars, often depicted as powerful and influential figures, seek to control humanity through various means, from political manipulation to technological advancements. This creates an engaging conflict that transcends historical periods, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
Historical Accuracy vs. Creative License
While Assassin’s Creed is inspired by history, it’s crucial to recognize the creative liberties taken. The games often incorporate real historical figures and events, but their roles and motivations are frequently altered to fit the overarching narrative of the Assassin-Templar conflict. For example, characters like Cleopatra, Leonardo da Vinci, and George Washington appear in various installments, but their relationships with the Assassins and Templars are often fictionalized.
The Animus as a Narrative Tool
The Animus allows the writers to explore these historical periods through a specific lens, focusing on the Assassin-Templar struggle. This can lead to interpretations of history that are not necessarily accurate but serve the purpose of delivering a compelling narrative. It’s important for players to understand that Assassin’s Creed is not a historical documentary but a work of fiction inspired by historical events.
Exploring Themes of Power, Control, and Freedom
Beyond the historical setting and the action-packed gameplay, Assassin’s Creed explores profound themes of power, control, and freedom. The conflict between the Assassins and the Templars represents a fundamental philosophical debate: is order and control necessary for societal stability, or is freedom and individual liberty more important, even if it leads to chaos? This theme is constantly reinforced throughout the series, urging players to contemplate their own beliefs and values.
The Gray Areas of Morality
The series also delves into the gray areas of morality. Both the Assassins and the Templars are shown to have flaws and make questionable choices, blurring the lines between good and evil. This ambiguity adds depth to the characters and the narrative, preventing the story from becoming a simple black-and-white conflict.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: A Viking Saga
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, set during the Viking expansion into Britain, exemplifies the series’ blend of historical inspiration and fictional storytelling. While the game incorporates real historical figures and events, such as the Viking invasions and the reign of Alfred the Great, the narrative focuses on the fictional story of Eivor, a Viking warrior caught in the crossfire of the Assassin-Templar conflict. Like other installments, it may have some actual life history characters but its story mode may be fictional.
The Enduring Legacy: Why Assassin’s Creed Resonates
Assassin’s Creed’s enduring popularity stems from its ability to transport players to different historical periods, immersing them in rich and detailed worlds. The blend of historical fiction, action-adventure gameplay, and thought-provoking themes has captivated a vast audience.
Furthermore, the games offer a unique perspective on history, challenging established narratives and encouraging players to question the forces that shape our world. Whether exploring ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins or navigating the French Revolution in Assassin’s Creed Unity, the series provides an engaging and entertaining way to learn about history while pondering profound philosophical questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the Order of Assassins a real historical group? Yes, the Order of Assassins, also known as the Nizari Isma’ilis, was a real sect active in the Middle East from the 11th to the 13th centuries. They employed targeted assassinations as a political and religious tactic.
Q2: Who was the leader of the real Order of Assassins? Hassan-i Sabbah was the founder and leader of the Nizari Isma’ili state and the Order of Assassins.
Q3: Is Alamut Castle a real place? Yes, Alamut Castle was a real fortress located in the Elburz Mountains of Iran. It served as the primary stronghold for the Nizari Isma’ilis.
Q4: Are the Templars also a real historical group? Yes, the Knights Templar were a real military order of the Catholic faith during the Crusades. However, their portrayal in the games as villains seeking control is a fictional interpretation.
Q5: How accurate is the history presented in Assassin’s Creed? Assassin’s Creed takes significant creative liberties with history. While it incorporates real historical figures and events, their roles and motivations are often fictionalized to fit the overarching narrative.
Q6: Is the Animus a real device? No, the Animus is a fictional device used in the games to allow users to relive the memories of their ancestors.
Q7: What is the core conflict in Assassin’s Creed? The core conflict is the ongoing struggle between the Assassins, who fight for freedom and free will, and the Templars, who seek control and order.
Q8: What is the historical setting of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla? Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is set during the Viking expansion into Britain in the 9th century.
Q9: Is Eivor, the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, a real historical figure? Eivor is a fictional character created for the game, although inspired by Viking culture and historical events of the time.
Q10: Does the Order of Assassins still exist today? The Order of Assassins as a political entity no longer exists. However, Nizari Ismaili Islam continues to exist today. The current Imam of the sect is Aga Khan IV.
Q11: Who were the deadliest real assassins? One-time hitman Julio Santana stopped counting after he reached 492 kills.
Q12: Who was the first assassin to use the hidden blade? According to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the oldest chronological entry in the franchise, Darius was the first to use a hidden blade to assassinate King Xerxes around 500 BCE.
Q13: What is the Games Learning Society? The Games Learning Society is an organization dedicated to exploring the educational potential of video games. You can find more information on GamesLearningSociety.org.
Q14: Are there really trained assassins in real life? Although there are plenty of highly-trained individuals who may be qualified to kill or kidnap certain targets in a discrete fashion, there are few agents who resemble James Bond or Jason Bourne.
Q15: In the Assassin’s Creed games, are the assassins the good guys? It is also worth noting that the Assassins always end up as the good guys.
In conclusion, Assassin’s Creed is a captivating series that masterfully blends historical inspiration with fictional storytelling. While taking liberties with historical accuracy, the games explore profound themes of power, control, and freedom, encouraging players to question established narratives and consider the complexities of human history. Its enduring popularity stems from its ability to immerse players in rich and detailed worlds, offering a unique and engaging way to learn about history while pondering philosophical questions.