Yusuf Tazim

Yusuf Tazim (c. 1467 – 1512) was the leader of the Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins, operating primarily in the Empire's capital of Constantinople. Born as the son of an Assassin, Yusuf was raised on the streets, and joined the Order in his late teens after meeting Ishak Pasha.

He was involved in the fight against the Byzantine Templars during the early 1510s, and aided Ezio Auditore da Firenze – a Mentor in the Assassin Order and leader of the Italian Assassins – during his stay in Constantinople.

In the process, Yusuf and Ezio managed to form good relations with the Ottoman Prince Suleiman I, and thwarted the Templars' plans to overthrow the Ottoman Empire.

Early life
Yusuf was born in Bursa, but grew up in Constantinople from the age of eight. His father was an Assassin, later prompting Yusuf to follow in his footsteps; however, he was raised only by his mother, with the fate of his father unknown.

Sometime around 1484, at the age of seventeen, Yusuf had become well known in the city as a vigilante and petty thief, which later caught the attention of Vizier and Assassin Ishak Pasha. Taken in by the man's charisma, Yusuf joined the Order just before he turned twenty.

In 1502, Yusuf allied with a contingent of Venetian Assassins in Greece to bring an end to the Ottoman-Venetian war. Their efforts led to a halt in the battle, and a brief era of peace on their borders by 1503.

The Ottoman Assassins enjoyed this moment of peace until 1509, when the Templars banded together under the crest of the ancient Byzantine Empire. Yusuf led the Assassins in the struggle, and his efforts eventually allowed him to be appointed the leader of his guild by 1511.

Meeting Ezio Auditore
"Hoshgeldin, kardeshim! (Welcome, brother!) Unless the legend is a lie, you are the man I've longed to meet. Renowned Master and Mentor, Ezio Auditore de la la la!"

- Yusuf first meeting with Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

In 1511, the Ottoman guild heard of Ezio Auditore's encounter with the Templars occupying the ancient Assassin fortress of Masyaf, and Yusuf himself went to meet the Mentor at the Golden Horn.

While he showed Ezio around the city, he explained the current conflict between the Assassins and Templars in Constantinople, as well as that between the Ottomans and Byzantines. He also spoke briefly to him of the Assassins' more dire situation when they had been under the Byzantine Emperor, where they had been hunted down and killed on sight.

Upon acquainting Ezio with the local Assassin guild in the Galata District, Yusuf introduced him to the Hookblade, a common tool of the Ottoman Assassins, which Yusuf claimed to have grown up using. After a demonstration of its features, the two climbed Galata Tower and viewed the city from above, before both performing a Leap of Faith to the street.

Defending the Brotherhood
"When the Templars take control of a district, they flaunt their presence, hanging banners, extorting the merchants. It's a constant battle to keep them at bay, and they rub our noses in every victory."

- Yusuf, regarding the struggle against the Templars.

As they went to return to the guild, Yusuf and Ezio were met by one of the Ottoman Assassins, who claimed that two of their dens were under attack. Knowing he could not be in two places at once, Yusuf sent Ezio to protect the Galata den, while he traveled to the Grand Bazaar.

Though the Galata den was saved, Yusuf arrived too late, and the Bazaar became overrun by Templars. Ezio caught up with Yusuf in time to help him fend off several guards, and the two set off to retake the district.

Upon reclaiming the den and verifying that it had not been damaged, Yusuf taught Ezio how to craft bombs, and further recommended that he find Piri Reis should he wish to learn more.

At this point, Ezio also showed Yusuf the journal of Niccolò Polo, and told him of the Masyaf Keys. Though Yusuf did not know anything about the keys or the journal, he suggested that Ezio ask Piri for the directions to Niccolò and Maffeo Polo's old trading post as well.

Some time afterward, Yusuf traveled to visit the Assassin allies of Constantinople; the Mercenaries, Thieves, and Romanies. However, as they were each located in different districts, Ezio offered his help in coordinating with the Romanies, which Yusuf gratefully accepted.

Rescuing Suleiman
Later in 1511, Yusuf and his Assassins discovered a planned attempt on Prince Suleiman's life, soon after he had returned from a pilgrimage. In order to protect him, they prepared to infiltrate the Prince's cultural exhibition at Topkapı Palace dressed as Italian entertainers.

Ezio met with them as they discussed their plan atop the Hippodrome, and offered his help. However, Yusuf insisted that this was an Ottoman affair, and that he need not be involved.

As Ezio explained that he wanted to learn more about the Masyaf Key that had been found under Topkapı, Yusuf reminded him that their mission was to protect Suleiman, not question him. However, Yusuf finally consented to Ezio's request to trust him, and so the Ottoman Assassins and the two departed to secure disguises.

After knocking out and stealing the clothing of several minstrels, they managed to enter the party. As Ezio distracted the crowd and identified the concealed Byzantines with his gift, Yusuf and his men silently eliminated the targets and hid the bodies.

However, the Byzantines eventually realized the danger, and killed one of the palace guards, triggering the alarm. As the Janissaries quickly told Suleiman to escape the area, the Templars desperately tried an open attempt on Suleiman's life.

Yusuf broke his cover and killed several of the enemies with his blade, with Ezio intercepting the last hidden Templar, and killing him with the snapped off neck of his lute.

Spying upon Palaiologos
After one of his Assassins had discovered the delivery of several firearms to the Harbor of Theodosius, Yusuf left to investigate. There, he encountered Ezio, who had been tailing Tarik Barleti at Suleiman's request.

As Ezio thought of a means of entering the well-guarded area, the two witnessed a couple of Janissaries terrorizing a nearby merchant and stealing his goods. Yusuf remarked on this oppression, and so Ezio concluded that using nearby heralds to provoke a riot would give enough cover for him to enter.

However, Yusuf frowned upon this idea, saying that Ezio would manipulate the people for his own purposes. Seeing the necessity though, he merely insisted that Ezio at least protect the rioters from the attacking guards during the distraction.

Upon doing so and successfully entering the port, Ezio soon discovered Manuel Palaiologos speaking with Shahkulu and Tarik, and overheard that the weapons would be bound for an unknown Templar base.

Death
In 1512, when Ezio decided to set sail for the Templar province of Cappadocia to pursue Manuel, Yusuf came to inform him that the Great Chain had been raised to block any ships from leaving. He then gave the Mentor a powerful explosive to destroy the structure, and aided him in attacking the ships that were stationed to intercept his escape.

Before departing, Ezio requested Yusuf to protect his love interest, Sofia Sartor, from harm. Yusuf agreed, and he and the other Assassins guarded Sofia's residence at the former Polo trading post.

Sofia's shop was soon raided by Byzantine Templars, who had secretly been working for Prince Ahmet. Yusuf faced off against the Templars inside the store and managed to eliminate many of them, however, he was eventually dealt a fatal blow to the back, and Sofia was taken captive by the remaining attackers.

Upon Ezio's return from Cappadocia, he discovered Yusuf's body on a bench in Sofia's shop, with the dagger still pierced into him. He removed the blade and closed Yusuf's eyes, offering him his final rites and saying quietly that he had earned his rest.

Enraged by both Yusuf's death and the endangerment of Sofia's life, Ezio led a large-scale assault on Ahmet's forces in the Arsenal. Though the Assassins managed to kill many of the soldiers, Ezio was forced to allow Ahmet to escape, as he still held Sofia hostage.

Soon after Yusuf had been buried in a small cemetery near Galata Tower, Ezio spoke with the Ottoman Assassins who had gathered in his memory and appointed one among them as the new leader of the guild.

Personality and characteristics
Yusuf was a light-hearted and cheerful man, whom Ezio once described as an "affable fighter." Even when engaged in battle or facing several enemies, he would often joke about the situation.

Nevertheless, Yusuf was a capable warrior and a respected leader, showing open attachment to his fellow Assassins and receiving their obedience in return. Though fighting for the Order's interests, he also acknowledged Constantinople as a whole; putting importance in the protection of their Prince, regardless of whether or not he aided the Assassins.

Yusuf wore tan Assassin robes and a headband, both with teal sashes, an attire matching that of other Ottoman Master Assassins. He wielded a personal kijil, a Hidden Blade, a Hookblade and throwing knives.

Trivia

 * In the memory "The Prince's Banquet", Yusuf made use of a parachute. Previously, Ezio was the only person seen using them.
 * Yusuf jokingly referred to himself as "Yusuf Tazim da Istanbul" during his first time meeting Ezio, when told that "da Firenze" indicated the city where Ezio was born. This is puzzling, as Yusuf was born in Bursa.
 * Yusuf's surname was also the first name of Malik Al-Sayf's son, Tazim.
 * Yusuf and Suleiman were the names of two central characters in 's, on which Assassin's Creed is partially based. They were the two who performed "leaps of faith" and died for the sake of the paradise promised to them by their Master.
 * Yusuf is the ancestor of the great Ahnaf.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed: Revelations