"Assassin's Creed: 10 Historical Shifts"

Ubisoft's latest dive into the Animus transports players to Japan's tumultuous Sengoku Period with Assassin's Creed Shadows. This installment features notable historical figures from 1579, including Fujibayashi Nagato, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Yasuke, the African samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga. As with previous entries in the series, these characters are intricately woven into a narrative that blends fact with fiction, delivering a compelling story of revenge, betrayal, and murder. While the tale might amusingly include scenarios like Yasuke needing to gather XP for a gold-tier weapon, it's a testament to the franchise's creative storytelling.

Assassin's Creed is firmly rooted in historical fiction, crafting its narrative around historical gaps to explore a science fiction conspiracy involving a secret society aiming to control the world through the mystical powers of a pre-human civilization. Ubisoft's dedication to creating immersive, open-world environments is commendable, drawing heavily on meticulous historical research. However, it's crucial to recognize that these games are not meant to serve as history lessons; rather, they are imaginative reinterpretations that often diverge from actual historical events to enhance the storytelling.

Below are ten notable instances where Assassin's Creed has creatively altered historical narratives:

The Assassins vs Templars War

The central conflict between the Assassins and the Templars in the Assassin's Creed series is a complete fabrication. Historically, there is no evidence of such a war between the Order of Assassins, founded in 1090 AD, and the Knights Templar, established in 1118 AD. Both groups existed for about 200 years and were disbanded by 1312, with their only shared historical involvement being the Crusades. The notion of a centuries-long ideological battle between them is a fictional creation, loosely inspired by conspiracy theories about the Templars.

The Borgias and their Superpowered Pope

In Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood, the Borgia family, particularly Rodrigo Borgia, who became Pope Alexander VI, is portrayed as central to the Templar Order's machinations. While the Borgias were indeed a powerful and controversial family during the Renaissance, the game's depiction of them, including their involvement with the Templars and a magical Apple of Eden, is entirely fictional. The dramatic confrontation between Ezio and Pope Alexander VI under the Vatican further deviates from historical accuracy. Moreover, the portrayal of Cesare Borgia as a villainous figure is based more on rumor than fact, contrasting with Machiavelli's more favorable view of him.

Machiavelli, Enemy of the Borgias

Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood depict Niccolò Machiavelli as an ally of Ezio and leader of the Italian Assassin's Bureau, fighting against the Borgias. However, historical evidence suggests Machiavelli's philosophy of strong authority would clash with the Assassin's Creed ideology. Additionally, Machiavelli had a more nuanced view of the Borgias, serving as a diplomat under Cesare Borgia and recognizing Rodrigo's cunning, which contradicts the game's narrative.

The Incredible Leonardo da Vinci and his Flying Machine

Assassin's Creed 2 showcases a close relationship between Ezio and Leonardo da Vinci, accurately capturing the latter's charisma and wit. However, the game alters da Vinci's timeline, moving him from Florence to Venice in 1481 to align with Ezio's story, which deviates from his actual travels to Milan in 1482. While the game brings to life many of da Vinci's inventive designs, such as a machine gun and a tank, the most fantastical element is the flying machine used by Ezio, which, despite resembling da Vinci's sketches, never actually flew.

The Bloody Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party, a pivotal moment in the American Revolution, is dramatically altered in Assassin's Creed 3. Historically a peaceful protest, the game transforms it into a violent confrontation where protagonist Connor, dressed as a Mohawk, kills numerous British guards. This portrayal starkly contrasts with the non-violent nature of the actual event. Additionally, the game suggests Samuel Adams masterminded the protest, a claim not supported by definitive historical evidence.

The Lone Mohawk

Assassin's Creed 3's protagonist, Connor, a Mohawk, fights alongside the Patriots against the British, despite the Mohawk people being historically allied with the British during the Revolutionary War. This narrative choice has been debated for its historical inaccuracy, though it draws inspiration from the rare example of Louis Cook, a Mohawk who fought with the Continental Army. Connor's story explores the "what if?" scenario of a Mohawk siding with the Patriots.

The Templar Revolution

Assassin's Creed Unity's depiction of the French Revolution as a Templar conspiracy is a significant departure from historical reality. The game suggests the Templars orchestrated a food crisis to spark the revolution, whereas the actual famine resulted from natural causes. Unity's focus on the Reign of Terror oversimplifies the complex, multi-year struggle that was the French Revolution.

The Controversial Killing of King Louis 16

In Assassin's Creed Unity, the execution of King Louis 16 is portrayed as a close vote swayed by a Templar. In reality, the vote was decisively in favor of execution, with a significant majority. The game downplays the widespread public anger towards the French aristocracy and barely addresses the King's attempt to flee France, which worsened his reputation and contributed to his execution.

Jack the Assassin

Assassin's Creed Syndicate reimagines Jack the Ripper as a rogue Assassin trying to take over the London Brotherhood. Historically, Jack the Ripper was a serial killer whose identity remains unknown. The game's narrative, while creatively engaging, significantly deviates from the unresolved mystery of the real Jack the Ripper.

The Assassination of the Tyrant Julius Caesar

Assassin's Creed Origins reinterprets the assassination of Julius Caesar as a plot to thwart a proto-Templar. The game's depiction of Caesar as a tyrant and the motives of his assassins as fighting for the common people contrast with historical accounts of Caesar's popularity and reforms. Caesar's assassination actually led to the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire, contradicting the game's portrayal of it as a victory against tyranny.

The Assassin's Creed series goes to great lengths to create historically immersive experiences, yet these often deviate from strict historical accuracy. This is perfectly acceptable, given that the series is historical fiction, not a documentary. What are your favorite instances of Assassin's Creed bending historical truth? Share your thoughts in the comments.