Maria Thorpe

"Everything I worked for in the Holy Land, I no longer want. And everything I gave up to join the Templars... I wonder where all that went, and if I should try to find it again."

- Maria reflecting on her life after cutting her ties with Templars.

Maria Thorpe (died 1227) was an English noblewoman living during the High Middle Ages, who joined the Templar Order prior to the Third Crusade.

Developing a strong relationship with the Order's Grand Master, Robert de Sable, she was eventually given a high rank in the Order. In 1191, after the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad killed eight Templar agents spread throughout the Holy Land, she was assigned by Robert to disguise herself as the Grand Master and thus fool Altaïr, realizing that Robert was his next target. The plan was a success, and Altaïr spared Maria's life. However, Robert was ultimately killed shortly thereafter, and Armand Bouchart took over as Grand Master.

Bouchart did not favor Maria, however, and did not find transport for her when the Templars moved to Cyprus. Planning to find her own way there, she was defeated and captured by Altaïr before she could do so, as the Assassins had attacked the Templars' fortress in Acre. Blaming Altaïr for ruining her reputation in the Order, she was taken with him to Cyprus and forced to help him take down the Templars.

Unwillingly giving information to Altaïr and escaping her captors several times, Maria began to realize that the Templars' ambitions were not beneficial for humanity, and slowly got closer to Altaïr. Eventually, she and Altaïr infiltrated the Templar Archive in Limassol, where she went ahead of the Assassin and faced off against Bouchart alone. Though she was defeated, Altaïr was able to defeat the Grand Master and he helped Maria get out of the crumbling Archive.

Maria then followed Altaïr to the Assassins' fortress of the Masyaf, where she settled down with Altaïr and had two children with him. Several years later, Maria, Altaïr and their son Darim went on a journey to assassinate the Mongol leader Genghis Khan.

Early life
"I'm what they call the unusual one in my family. Growing up, I always preferred the boys' games. Dolls weren't for me, much to my parents' continued exasperation. I used to pull their heads off."

- Maria about her youth.

In her youth, Maria chose not to follow the norm for women of her age, and instead acted and dressed as a male would. Because of this, she was often pestered as a child, and punished by her parents.

Before the start of the Third Crusade, her parents forced her to marry, though it ended four years after. This disgrace, combined with Maria's own dreams of honor and glory, persuaded her to leave England behind, and join the Crusaders in the Holy Land.

Joining the Templars
"Fortunately the Bishop of Leicester was a close friend of the elderly Lord Hallaton and he was able to grant an annulment [of the marriage] rather than risking this silly impetuous girl cause the family ruther embarrassment. [...] Hallaton had demanded his bride price back but Father had already spent it. In the end I decided it was best for everyone if I left so I ran away to the Crusade."

- Maria, about her motives to join the Crusaders.

It was uncommon for women to participate in combat during the time, thus Maria disguised herself as a man. She showed much promise amongst the Crusaders, and attracted the attention of Robert de Sable; a Crusader Lieutenant, and the Grand Master of the Templar Order.

Despite later learning her true gender, Robert supported her and even appointed Maria to be his personal steward. Although she did not share her Master's beliefs, Maria respected Robert enough to do anything for him, even forfeit her life if necessary.

At one point, Robert gave her a ring as a gift, which Maria cherished and kept close. She would later treasure it as her only remaining link to the Templars.

Robert's decoy
"We knew you'd come. Robert needed to be sure he'd have time to get away."

- Maria talking about her act as a decoy.

Following the deaths of eight powerful Templars in 1191 at the hands of the Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad - a member of the Templars' sworn enemies, the Assassins - Robert correctly reasoned that he was next on the Assassin's list.

Not one to be defeated, Robert publicly announced his intention to attend the funeral of the late Regent of Jerusalem, Majd Addin, as a show of mutual cooperation and respect between Muslim and Crusader. Privately, the Templar Grand Master knew that this would be a chance too great for the Assassin to pass up.

Maria was left to take Robert's place at the funeral, as a decoy for Altaïr. As expected, the Assassin appeared during the funeral procession. Maria carefully examined the mass and managed to spot him. She signaled the funeral proctor of Altaïr's presence, and a great number of Templars were ordered to seize him.

Altaïr overpowered the soldiers, and in the end, grasped Maria to remove her helm. Altaïr was greatly shocked that it was a woman he had fought, and questioned it as sorcery. Maria corrected him that it was not, and revealed that she was in Robert's place as a distraction; saying that both his Brotherhood's success of taking the Templar treasure, and eradicating her comrades had not gone unnoticed.

Maria then continued, admitting that Robert had gone to Arsuf to propose a truce between the Saracen and Crusader armies, in order to besiege the Assassin fortress of Masyaf. As the eight Templars who had been killed by Altaïr had come from both sides, the Assassins had become their common enemy.

Though Maria thought she would also be one of the Templars to die at the Assassin's hand, Altaïr corrected her, sparing her life but warning her not to follow him. Out of her confusion, Maria replied haughtily that she did not need to, and that it was futile for him to try to stop Robert.

Journey to Cyprus
A month after Altaïr had killed both Robert and Al Mualim, Maria's Templar rank had dropped considerably, and she was not allowed to travel to Cyprus with her fellow Templars. She confronted Altaïr after the assault on the Acre harbor, where the two of them engaged in another sword fight.

Altaïr bested her, and interrogated her about the Templars' plans for Cyprus. Afterwards, Altaïr took Maria prisoner and brought her with him on the journey to Cyprus, hoping to use her as leverage to lure other Templars out into the open.

The two of them traveled to Limassol, where they met with the Assassin contact, Alexander. Maria was escorted and kept at the resistance safehouse, but escaped following an ambush by Templars, during which the building was set on fire.

Maria hurried to warn the new Grand Master of the Templars, Armand Bouchart, of Altaïr's presence in Limassol, but Armand only grew suspicious of Maria's two "miraculous" escapes from the Assassins. That, coupled with his general distrust of women, led him to sentencing her to be locked away in prison.

Maria was led away by two Templar guards, only to be saved by Altaïr. After his recovery of her, she vowed to kill him, but Altaïr reasoned with her, noting that the best way to buy back into the Templar's favor was not with his head, but through her recovery of the Apple of Eden.

Altaïr took Maria along with him on the ship to Kyrenia. Whilst on the ship, Altaïr spoke to her about the philosophy of Empedocles – saying that "only a mind free of impediments is capable of grasping the chaotic beauty of the world."

Although Maria resisted his ideology, she did take interest in it, asking curiously as to whether being able to see this "chaotic beauty" was truly something to be celebrated. In turn, Altaïr admitted to hardship imposed upon human beings as a result of freedom; though he maintained that "the order and peace the Templar seek requires servility and imprisonment," a statement with which the captive Maria found some irony.

As the two prepared to disembark, Altaïr cut the rope binding Maria's wrists so that she would be able climb the ladder to the upper deck. However, as she did, the two were recognized by the pirates who had ferried them there. Maria used the opportunity to kick Altaïr down the ladder, forcing him to face their attackers and allow her to escape.

However, Maria was also attacked by other members of the large crew, and was helped to safety by Markos. Because of his honesty and their common dislike of Templars, Altaïr entrusted him with Maria's care, and asked him to look after her.

During his investigations, Altaïr learned that "the Bull" – his target – had posted large bounties, not only for him, but for Maria as well. Fearing for her safety, he rushed back to the harbor, where he found her and Markos being attacked by Templars. After rescuing them, Altaïr brought them to the Kyrenia safehouse.

Maria, her wrists once again bound, mocked Altaïr's crude plan for killing "the Bull" – whom she knew as Moloch – and inadvertently ended up giving away his position in Kantara Castle. By the time Altaïr returned from killing him, Maria had already been taken away by Templar agents, who had raided the safe house in his absence.

Maria was given to Moloch's son Shalim; separated from the resistance members, and from Altaïr's attempts to rescue her.

Maria escaped from Shalim, and headed to Saint Hilarion Castle disguised as a consort, sneaking in via palanquin. On her arrival, she confronted Shahar in his private room, and demanded to know about the Templars' plan for the Apple of Eden. Shahar stated that the Templars would achieve order by any means necessary, even if that "order" became synonymous with enslavement.

Shahar grabbed her by her wrists, as if to subdue her, but was interrupted when Altaïr burst in upon them, on his search for Shalim. Maria killed his two pursuers as if by impulse, but refused to fight beside him further, and fled.

How Maria traveled from Kyrenia back to Limassol is unknown. Altaïr traveled back alone, and carried on without her for a short time. However, following his use of the Apple of Eden to quiet the rioting townspeople, it was Maria who killed the mysterious Templar agent intent on taking the Apple by stabbing him in the back.

Although she remained adamantly distrusting of the righteousness of his motives, Maria led Altaïr to the Templar Archive hidden under Limassol Castle. There, she engaged Armand Bouchart in combat. However, Armand was an extremely skilled fighter, and hurled Maria back, knocking her unconscious.

After Altaïr defeated Armand, he and Maria managed to flee the Archive. She then told him that she no longer wished to be part of the Templars, or return to England, and instead intended to go somewhere in the East. However, she ultimately decided to travel with him to Masyaf.

Settling down
"Some two years after the events I've described, they were wed at Limassol. The ceremony was held there as a measure of respect to the Cypriots who had offered their island as a base for the Assassins, making it a key stronghold for the Order."

- Niccolò Polo explaining Maria's marriage to Altaïr to his brother Maffeo.

Maria became romantically involved with Altaïr after returning to Masyaf, and in 1193, they were married in Limassol, with Markos as a guest of honor.

A few months after their marriage, their first son Darim was born. Two years later, Maria gave birth to their second son, Sef.

Journey to Mongolia
"Darim was in his early twenties and an accomplished bowman, and so it was that Altaïr took him and Maria and left Masyaf."

- Niccolò Polo explaining the journey to Mongolia to his brother Maffeo.

Around 1217, Maria, Altaïr and Darim started a journey to Mongolia to assassinate Genghis Khan, whose marching army was preventing the Assassin Order from expanding their influence; leaving Malik Al-Sayf to take care of the Order. Once there, the family joined with the Assassin Qulan Gal. While the men made plans to take Khan down, Maria stayed on the sidelines and tended to Altaïr after he had returned wounded from the Mongol camp.

After Darim, aided by Qulan Gal, successfully killed Genghis Khan in 1227, the family headed back home to Masyaf, only to find it completely different from when they had left.

Later life
Maria, Altaïr and Darim were greeted by Swami upon their return. He informed them that their son Sef had left for Alamut, that Malik was imprisoned, and that a council had been formed to take control over the Order; with Abbas Sofian at its head. At this, Darim left for Alamut to retrieve his brother. Opposed to what they had expected, Maria and Altaïr were pointed to a residence in the west side of the castle, instead of to the Master's tower.

The next day, the two went to meet the council, seeing that it was made up of the most weak-minded Assassins in the Order. Altaïr gave the council a summary of their journey, and Abbas revealed that Malik had been imprisoned for the murder of their son Sef. Doubting the story's credibility, Altaïr left to free Malik from the fortress' prison and bring him back to their residence.

Maria tended to Malik, and the latter informed them that it had been Abbas who had had Sef killed, and had planted the murder weapon in Malik's bed. Once Malik was asleep, Maria and Altaïr left to confront Abbas.

They ran into Abbas, who was soon joined by Swami carrying a burlap sack. Abbas handed the burlap sack to Altaïr, and they realized that it contained Malik's head. Altaïr became enraged, and Abbas used this to convince the other Assassins present that he was unable to lead the Order. Abbas ordered Altaïr to give him the Apple, to which Altaïr consented.

However, Altaïr's rage was transferred into the Apple, and when Swami touched it, his eyes started to pop out, and his mouth was forced open, with a golden glow emanating from it, causing Maria to scream at Altaïr that he had let his rage take control.

Swami proceeded to mutilate himself, taking out his dagger and cutting into his own flesh. In the process, Swami accidentally slit Maria's throat, and as she died, Altaïr took her in his arms. She muttered the words "Be strong" to her husband, before passing away.

Characteristics and personality
At an early age, Maria was a bit of a dreamer, thinking about leaving England to find honor and glory in the Holy Land. During this time, she showed a certain amount of stubbornness, refusing to act as a lady, and insisting on answering her wanderlust to leave her homeland.

She was a very determined person with a great passion to accomplish more within the Templar ranks. During her first encounter with him, Maria presented a straightforward, merciless style of command with Altaïr, and acted arrogant and confident of Robert's cause.

After the events in Cyprus, Maria's harsh and stubborn attitude around Altaïr instead became more open and civil. Over time, she soon chose to side with him and the Assassins.

She also presented a provocative side, as shown when she led Altaïr up a tower in Acre, where she beckoned him to kiss and eventually make love with her.

Equipment and skills
Maria was highly trained in swordsmanship, as she was able to counter and avoid many of Altaïr's attacks when she first confronted him.

Trivia

 * "Maria" is a Latin derivative of "Mary." The origin of the name "Mary" is a reference to the Latin phrase "stella maris" meaning "star of the sea," or from the prefix "mar" meaning "bitter." Other possible meanings are derived from "Miryam," meaning "wished for child, rebellious, or sea of bitterness" in Hebrew, or "Merry" meaning "cherished or beloved" in Egyptian.
 * Maria's maiden name "Thorpe" means "village" in Old Norse, and is the name of various English villages.
 * If the player connects the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed II with the PSP game Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, the weapons of the defeated bosses in Bloodlines will appear at the Villa Auditore. Maria's weapon is labeled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.
 * Maria is approximately 24 years old during Assassin's Creed.
 * Not only was Maria the first known female Templar to appear in the series, she was also the first Templar to be spared and assimilated into a rival faction (from Templars to Assassins).
 * In Assassin's Creed II, Desmond refers to Maria as the "woman from Acre." However, Maria is encountered only in Jerusalem during Assassin's Creed.
 * The only time Maria is previously seen in Acre is during the events of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines.