Shahkulu

Shahkulu (died 1512) was a Templar during the 16th century and the leader of the Shahkulu rebellion - a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia, directed against the Ottoman Empire in 1511.

Early life
As a child, Shahkulu was born into a Turkmen tribe in eastern Anatolia, which was oppressed by the Ottoman Empire as it was on the edge of its boundaries. Later on in his life, an Ottoman ambush on his tribe left him orphaned and alone, so Shahkulu joined the Templar Order partly out of his need for companionship and revenge. Over time, Shahkulu grew to hate the Ottoman Turks for what they had done, as well any who opposed the Templar ideology, and made it his mission to eliminate any that stood in his Order's way.

Partnership with Manuel
Shahkulu eventually became a feared Templar and circa 1511, formed a partnership with the heir to the fallen Byzantine Empire and fellow Templar, Manuel Palaiologos. Shahkulu aided Manuel in his attempt to restore the Byzantines remnants to their former strength, partly because he believed Manuel would reward him if the Empire was successfully restored. By mid 1511, Shahkulu, with Manuel, met with Janissary Tarik Barleti in Constantinople to gain access to the Arsenale to check a shipment of weapons. Inspecting the weapons, Shahkulu reminded Manuel that he helped him restore his army and he should not forget.

Cappadocia and death
After his part in the Shahkulu Rebellion and Constantinople, Shahkulu retreated to the Templar headquarters in Cappadocia. There, several of Tarik Barleti's spies were captured. Being Ottoman Turks, Shahkulu personal killed everyone of them, by beating each one to death. In 1512, after a meeting with who, Manuel consulted Shahkulu of his torture on the Ottoman spies, he demanded that his men bring several more spies to the chapel, where he intended to kill more by beating them to death. However, this received the attention of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. One of the spies captured was Dilara, who was posing as slave; she was eventually rescued by Ezio.

Shortly, a crowd gathered at the chapel where Shahkulu was to perform another one of his public killings. Shahkulu came onto the courtyard of the chapel, and immediately began beating the Ottoman prisoners to death. However, Ezio attempted to assassinate Shahkulu from above with his hidden blade. Ezio told Shahkulu that he deserved no pity for his sadism. However, Shahkulu's armor saved him from the killing blow, and he began to strangle Ezio. The Assassin stabbed his target's arm with his hookblade, and Shahkulu threw him aside, prompting a duel between the two. Despite several Byzantine troops attempting to aid him, Shahkulu was bested and killed.

Legacy
In 2012, his genetic memories were used by Abstergo Industries under the name of the Renegade for their Animus subjects.

Source

 * Assassin's Creed: Revelations