Armand Bouchart

Armand Bouchart
Biographical information
Died	1193 Limassol, Kingdom of Cyprus
Political information
Affiliations	Knights Templar Crusaders

Armand Bouchart (unknown – 1193) was the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, successor to Robert de Sable following the latter's death in 1191. During his tenure, Armand relocated the Templar Archive from the island of Cyprus to an unknown location, so as to protect it from encroaching Assassin forces.

Biography

The Templars purchased Cyprus shortly after King Richard the Lionheart captured it from Isaac Comnenus. Upon arriving in Cyprus, Armand established his own rule, maintained by his subordinates Moloch, Shalim, Shahar, and Frederick the Red. While their original intent was to protect and maintain the Templar Archive, interference by Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad forced them to begin evacuating all the artifacts hidden within.

After the death of Frederick, Armand made a public announcement, threatening to tighten security on the island until the killer was found. When questioned by Osman in the middle of his speech, Bouchart murdered the man to send a warning to the Cypriot Resistance. Shortly afterwards, Maria Thorpe attempted to warn Armand that Altaïr was in the city and searching for him, but the Grand Master only accused her of conspiring against their Order and had her taken away. Armand then left for Kyrenia, where he would meet with more of his allies.

Altaïr followed soon after and was intercepted by an agent of Armand's disguised as Barnabas, who revealed that the Grand Master could be found in Buffavento Castle. However, he first asked that Altaïr perform a series of tasks secretly meant to smear the Assassins' reputation among the populace, and keep Altaïr off Armand's trail. Growing suspicious, Altaïr distanced himself from the false Barnabas and infiltrated the castle. There he overheard Armand and Shalim discussing their plan to send a parcel to Alexander of Limassol, prompting the Assassin to suspect Alexander of treachery. The package, however, was the head of the real Barnabas, and meant to create mistrust between the Assassins and the Resistance.

While Altaïr liberated Kyrenia from Templar control, Armand returned to Limassol to see to the evacuation of the Archive. He was present when the structure was infiltrated by Maria and Altaïr, and he engaged the two in combat. Although he was able to defeat Maria, he was ultimately killed by Altaïr, and left within the building as it collapsed.

Trivia

• Historically, Armand Bouchart was never the Grand Master of the Templar Order; he merely served Robert de Sable as commander of the meagre Templar garrison on Cyprus until the island was sold and the Kingdom of Cyprus was established in 1193.

Gallery

Armand Bouchart

Bouchart battling Maria

Altaïr assassinating Armand

Reference

• Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines