The Bellatores Dei (English: God's Warriors) was a secretive group of religious zealots which operated in Francia in the 9th century. Led by a scholar known only by the pseudonym of Isidore Mercator, the group followed his false decretals, believing that Francia had fallen into apostasy and sought to restore the state to order through Christian fanaticism.[2]
History[]
By 886, the Bellatores Dei was led by the mysterious figure Isidore Mercator and consisted of members of Francia's clergy and warriors, some even close to King Charles III. However, they viewed multiple incursions as obstacles for their control over the King, namely, the invading Vikings lead by the Elgring Clan jarls Sigfred and Sinric who lay siege to Paris, and Queen Richardis' influence over Charles.[3][4]
Engelwin's efforts[]
At one point, the Parisian priest and Bellatores Dei member Engelwin attacked and killed Sinric, which enraged Sigfred against the French soldiers. At Melun, Engelwin launched an attack against Sigfred and his newfound ally, jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan. However, he left unharmed before his soldiers were defeated by the Vikings.[4] Back in southern Paris, Engelwin collected ill-gotten levies as he performed acts of "deliverance" for a selected few within Sainte-Geneviève Church. Yet, his work was cut short once Eivor assassinated him underneath the church.[5]
The capture of Queen Richardis[]
The Bellatores Dei soon found an opportunity and captured Queen Richardis,[1] then delivered her to the nun Euphrasia in order to perform a sacrificial exorcism on her. In Aquila, Euphrasia took the queen underneath the town into its sewers, where she prepared the ceremony and condemned the queen as an evil force. However, Euphrasia was soon assassinated by Eivor, who rescued the queen for King Charles.[3]
The Siege of Paris[]
Unknown to most, the brothers Ebels and Gozlin were part of the Bellatores Dei and worked under the guises of a warrior and priest, respectively, to prepare for the siege. Once the Vikings broke down the Wooden Bridge to the Île de la Cité, Count Odo and the brothers awaited the Vikings. As Odo left the brothers, the Vikings met the warriors at the gate. Ebels told Gozlin to leave as he fought against Eivor and her allies. Ebels fought with his men but was killed by Eivor, which led to the start of the siege.[6]
After Paris was overrun, Gozlin hid himself with the people inside the church of Saint-Étienne. However, he was soon found by Eivor, who attacked and seemingly killed him within the church. Within moments, the siege ended with a truce between Charles and Sigfred.[7] By 887, however, it appeared that Gozlin had survived, as he aided in Charles' mad plan to put Richardis through a trial by fire. Although Eivor came to rescue Richardis again, Gozlin stopped and challenged her to a fight, declaring his intent to defeat her and avenge the deaths of his brother and their fellow members. While the queen was saved through "divine intervention" when a heavy rain storm extinguished the queen's pyre, Gozlin was swiftly defeated in the duel, and before he could boast about the zealots' plans, Eivor slit his throat with her axe.[8]
Excavating ruins[]
In the late 9th century, Isidore sent out commands to his soldiers to excavate and retrieve any treasure found at the Diodurum Ruins, Gisacum Ruins, and Champlieu Ruins, which were connected to the Hidden Ones' abandoned central base, the Lutetia bureau. However, the Bellatores Dei soldiers were noticed by one of the remaining Frankish Hidden Ones, Abbo Cernuus, who eliminated them before they could succeed in their objectives.[9]
Members[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris (first appearance)
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Majesty in the Dark
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Database: Bellatores Dei
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – The Queen's Gambit
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Warlord of Melun
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – The Rot in the Slums
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Dark Before Dawn
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – The Siege of Paris
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Fire and Faith
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Hidden