François-Thomas Germain

"In the wake of revolution, the Order will adapt. They will retreat to the shadows and we will, at last, be the secret masters that we were meant to be."

―Germain to Élise de la Serre, regarding the Templars' agenda, 1794.^[src]^-[m]

François-Thomas Germain (1726 – 1794) was a French silversmith, Sage, and Grand Master of the French Templars during the French Revolution.

Shortly after joining the Templars, he began experiencing visions of the Isu. Upon finding and reading Grand Master Jacques de Molay's Codex Pater Intellectus, Germain took it upon himself to reform the wider Order, which he believed had grown corrupt after aligning itself with the aristocracy for centuries. Inspired, Germain sought to carry out the "Great Work" and create a capitalist society in which the Templars could more easily control civilians.

The incumbent Grand Master François de la Serre considered Germain's ideas too radical and exiled him from the Order. Undeterred, he began turning de la Serre's advisors to his cause, forming a radical faction within the Order. In 1789, he had de la Serre assassinated in the Palace of Versailles, leaving most of the Order under his control.

As the French Revolution broke out, Germain and his followers exploited public discontent with the monarchy and sought to create as much chaos as possible. In this way, the aristocracy and clergy would be crushed and the populace would fear the idea of rising against the establishment again. The Templars hoarded food and framed the royal family, eventually leading to the execution of King Louis XVI in 1793. Under his subordinate Templar Maximilien de Robespierre, the Reign of Terror brought the revolution to a violent and chaotic climax.

Along the way, the deceased Grand Master's daughter Élise opposed Germain. She and her lover, the French Assassin Arno Dorian, eventually eliminated Germain's followers and tracked him down to the Parisian Temple in 1794. After the Grand Master killed Élise with a Sword of Eden, he himself was killed by Arno. In his final moments, Germain told the Assassin in a vision that his goals of reforming society and the Templars had already succeeded, even if he would not live to see the changes.

Biography[]

Early life[]

"I understood [that] I was connected to Grand Master de Molay. That I had been chosen to purge the Order of the decadence and corruption that had set in like rot. And to wash the world clean, and restore to the truth the Father of Understanding intended."

―Germain on his goals, 1794.^[src]^-[m]

Germain was born a Sage in 1726 to Thomas Germain and Anne-Denise Gauchelet. The Germains were a distinguished family of silversmiths, and Germain was raised and trained by his father to continue the family business. He became the royal silversmith and sculptor to the King of France, and employed dozens of workers in a workshop at the Louvre that produced thousands of pieces. After his recorded death in 1791, however, most of his works works were either stolen, lost, or melted down. Following a poorly-defined scandal in 1765, possibly involving violating guild regulations, Germain lost the position of royal silversmith and sculptor and was kicked out of his workshop.^[1]

Germain then became a member of the Parisian Rite of the Templar Order, rising to become Grand Master François de la Serre's right-hand man.^[2] He crafted silver pins for the Order's members,^[3] and was trained in swordsmanship by fellow Templar Frederick Weatherall.^[4] By 1756, Germain's actions as a high-ranking Templar had caught the attention of the Colonial Assassins' Mentor Achilles Davenport, who added the Frenchman on a notice board in the Davenport Homestead's manor.^[5]

Germain eventually began experiencing visions of the Isu. Initially, he believed that he was descending into insanity, but realized the truth of his visions after they led him to the Parisian Temple, where he uncovered Jacques de Molay's Codex Pater Intellectus in a vault. Through de Molay's writings, Germain learned that the two of them were connected somehow, and became determined to shape the destiny of humanity in the way de Molay had envisioned.^[6]

Germain believed that by stripping the aristocracy of power and giving it to the middle class, he would create a capitalist society which could be easily controlled by the Templars.^[6] As he shared these ideas with the rest of the Order, several Templars began to support them. However, de Molay was considered a controversial figure among the Templars, and voicing support for him was considered heresy. Wishing to end the dissension, de la Serre pleaded with Germain to renounce his radical notions, but as Germain refused to do so, the heavy-hearted Grand Master decided to expel him from the Order.^[2]^[7]

Hoarders 10 — Germain being taken away after his expulsion

At a ceremony, de la Serre announced Germain's expulsion and claimed that anyone offering relief to him would be expelled as well. Embittered, Germain deemed the Order corrupt and having forgotten its original purpose, and requested aid from Marie Lévesque, one of the Grand Master's advisors who had protested the expulsion.^[7] He also recruited other individuals who were dissatisfied with the state of living in France, and the French monarchy itself.^[8]^[9]

By 1788, Germain was believed to be dead by many members of French Rite.^[2] In reality, he plotted his return from the shadows and contacted the Spanish, Roman, and American Rites, convincing them that overthrowing the de la Serre family was necessary.^[4]

The new Grand Master[]

Germain: "I tried to make him see. But the Order had become corrupt, clutching at power and privilege for their own sake."

Arno: "But you could set it right, is that it? All by killing the man in charge."

Germain: "No, de la Serre's death was only the first stage."

—Germain speaking with Arno Dorian about François' death, 1793.^[src]^-[m]

To take control of the Rite from de la Serre, Germain orchestrated his assassination in May 1789. Crafting a silver pin laced with poison to serve as the murder weapon, Germain entrusted two of his followers, Charles Gabriel Sivert and the Roi des Thunes, with killing the Grand Master.^[10]^[8]

The Estates General 5 — Germain exiting the carriage

On the planned day of the assassination, Germain briefly encountered de la Serre's adoptive son, Arno Dorian, who had mistaken Germain's carriage for de la Serre's when he attempted to deliver a message from the Templar loyalist Chrétien Lafrenière to the Grand Master. However, both were unaware of each other's identities and thought nothing more of the chance encounter.^[11]

Both Sivert and the Roi des Thunes succeeded in assassinating de la Serre^[12] and reported to Germain.^[8] With the Grand Master dead, Germain gained control of a majority of the Rite. However, he was still opposed by Lafrenière and de la Serre's daughter, Élise.^[4]

Meeting Arno[]

Arno: "(Mister) Germain? The silversmith?"

Germain: "Thank God! They've been holding me for months! Please, get me out of here!"

—Arno and Germain's first proper meeting, 1791.^[src]^-[m]

The Silversmith 5 — Germain in his workshop

In March 1791, Arno, now an Assassin, snuck into Germain's workshop to ask him questions behind de la Serre's murder. Since the Assassin did not recognize him, Germain omitted the fact that he was once a Templar himself, and pretended to be a simple silversmith who had unintentionally discovered Chrétien Lafrenière's secrets while working for him, and had become a prisoner in his own shop as a result. Germain catered to Arno's desire for revenge, and falsely accused Lafrenière of ordering the creation of the poisoned pin, as well as plotting something ominous in Les Halles.^[3]

At the Hôtel de Beauvais, Germain met with several of his Templar subordinates. Lévesque informed him of the success of inflating the price of grain, to further stir the populace to revolt, but noted that the process would take too long. However, Germain said that it would be a small price to pay for successfully discrediting King Louis XVI, as he desired to see the King condemned before his death rather than hailed as a martyr, despite Frédéric Rouille's suggestions of simply assassinating the monarch.^[13]

A Dinner Engagement 12 — Germain explaining the importance of Louis XVI's execution

Aloys la Touche informed Germain of Sivert and the Roi des Thunes' deaths, though the Grand Master remained confident that their demise would not hinder his plans for long. Rouille also expressed concern that Élise may have rallied the Rite's moderate members against them, but Germain revealed that he had already lured her into a trap and that Lafrenière was no longer a factor in their plans.^[13]

Unbeknownst to the Templars, Arno had overheard their plot and managed to save Élise from the ambush.^[14] By the time Arno had discovered Germain's deception from Élise herself, the Grand Master had already abandoned his residence, knowing that his act would not hold up for long.^[2]

Execution of the King[]

"This was the truth de Molay died for: the Divine Right of Kings is nothing but the reflection of sunlight upon gold. When the Crown and Church are ground to dust, we who control the gold will decide the future."

―Germain to Arno during King Louis XVI's execution, 1793.^[src]^-[m]

On 21 January 1793, Germain was present at the Place de la Concorde, where Louis XVI was about to be executed. The Grand Master confronted Arno once again, proclaiming the rebirth of the Templars. Germain mentioned to Arno that the reason for de la Serre's murder was to rid the Templars of corruption. He also stated that the Grand Master's murder was only the first phase of the Order's reconstruction, and that it would truly be reborn with the death of King Louis.^[15]

ACU The Execution 2 — Germain confronting Arno at the execution

Germain then revealed his plans as Louis XVI was placed on the guillotine. By stripping France's upper class and aristocracy of power and giving it to the rising middle class, it would be far easier for the Templars to gain control of the populace. Once the King was beheaded, Germain proclaimed that Jacques de Molay had been avenged, then made his escape, leaving Arno to deal with his subordinates.^[15]

With Louis XVI's death, Germain entrusted the control of the newly founded French Republic to his follower Maximilien de Robespierre. Robespierre would enforce Templar subjugation over the people in France through the Reign of Terror, carrying out mass executions of those accused of treason and moderatism.^[9]

Last stand[]

Élise: "Did you think this day would never come? That because François de la Serre had no sons to avenge him, that your crime would go unanswered?"

Germain: "Revenge, is it? Your vision is as narrow as your father's."

—Élise and Germain's confrontation in the Temple, 1794.^[src]^-[m]

During the Reign of Terror, Germain secluded himself within the Parisian Temple, which was heavily guarded with no weak points. While there, Germain attempted to commune with de Molay and made use of a Sword of Eden.^[6]

After the fall of Robespierre's regime, knowledge of Germain's base of operations at the Temple was exposed to Arno and Élise, as each infiltrated the structure on their own and attempted to assassinate the Grand Master. It was during this endeavor that Arno tracked Germain to the Temple's rooftop. As the Assassin attempted to kill him, he soon discovered that the Templar wielded the Sword of Eden.^[6]

ACU The Temple 3 — Germain using the Sword of Eden

When Germain retreated to the vault beneath the Temple in preparation for the final confrontation, Arno requested that Élise distract Germain. Confronting the Grand Master over the Templars' nature, the distraction allowed Arno to land three successive strikes. Prompted to use the Sword, Germain blasted Arno away with the artifact's power, pinning the Assassin under a large chunk of debris.^[6]

Faced with the choice of helping Arno free himself or preventing Germain's escape, Élise initially went to aid Arno, but soon changed her mind, engaging in a duel with the Templar. In the exchange of blows, Élise managed to damage the Sword of Eden enough for it to destabilize, with the resulting explosion injuring Germain and killing Élise. Just prior to the blast, Arno succeeded in breaking free, but arrived too late to save Élise.^[6]

Death[]

"Think on this: the march of progress is slow, but it is inevitable as a glacier. All you have accomplished is to delay the inevitable. One death cannot stop the tide. Perhaps it will not be my hand that shepherds mankind back to its proper place—but it will be someone's."

―Germain's final words, 1794.^[src]^-[m]

ACU The Temple 9 — Germain's last moments

Mournfully, Arno looked over to the body of his dead love before turning to assassinate Germain with his Hidden Blade. As Germain bled out, he spoke to Arno through a vision, telling the Assassin of his memories of the Isu, the motive behind his purge of the French Rite, and his reasons for influencing the revolution to become chaotic and violent. Before succumbing to his wounds, Germain told Arno that his death would do little to stop his plans, with Élise's death an example of this, as someone else would pick up from where he had left off.^[6]

In 1808, Arno entered the Temple once more, accompanied by Napoleon Bonaparte. They discovered Germain's corpse, which had long since decayed, and buried his skeletal remains in the catacombs of Paris.^[6]

Legacy[]

"You found him. François-Thomas Germain. Grand Master of the Templars, and a Sage to boot. By our reckoning, that's the second Sage to rise to the Templars' highest rank. A troubling trend. Until we know more about this Germain, stick with Arno. He might have outlived this Grand Master, and that could lead us to his body."

―Bishop to the Helix initiate, 2014.^[src]^-[m]

Even with Germain's death, his long-term goal of restoring order amongst the violent anarchy in France eventually succeeded, as the revolution he had orchestrated enabled Napoleon to establish himself as France's new leader in 1799, imposing law back across the nation.^[16]

Being a Sage, Germain was important to both the Templars and Assassins of the 21st century. Finding information regarding the whereabouts of his body through Arno's memories was an important goal for the Assassins, but no recovery effort was made after they had learned that his remains were poorly buried in a Parisian catacomb and would have been badly decomposed by modern times.^[17]

Personality and traits[]

"New order never comes without destruction of the old. And if men are made to fear untrammeled liberty, so much the better. A brief taste of chaos will remind them why they crave obedience."

―Germain explaining his actions to Arno Dorian, 1794.^[src]^-[m]

As a reincarnation of the Isu Aita, Germain displayed contempt towards humanity, believing that it should revert back to being the subjugated race they had been millennia before. His beliefs were also influenced by the ideologies of Jacques de Molay, a fellow Sage and also a Templar Grand Master like him.^[18]

ACU The Silversmith 1 — Germain deceiving Arno into assassinating Lafrenière

Germain was extremely ruthless, willing to go to great lengths to see his ambitions fulfilled, and humanity returned to the role of slaves. This was seen through the turmoil of the French Revolution, where his machinations caused millions of civilians across France to starve, and thousands more to die under the Reign of Terror. He also expressed little remorse for the deaths of his Templar followers, even forsaking them if they were ever to outlive their usefulness, as seen with Robespierre. Germain believed these sacrifices to be for the greater good.^[18]

He also cared little for his own well-being, calmly embracing death in his final conversation with Arno. This was due to his confidence that others would carry on his ideals in the future, and the knowledge that, as a Sage, he would be born again.^[18]

Skills and equipment[]

ACU Templar Pin Render — One of Germain's Templar pins

As a Sage, Germain was capable of using Isu artifacts without suffering from any detrimental effects. He was able to wield the Sword of Eden with great proficiency, accessing its abilities of physical displacement, creating illusions and projecting energy with relative ease. Germain could use the sword as a melee weapon as well, being able to hold his own in a sword fight against Élise, as he was trained in the art of swordsmanship by Frederick Weatherall, making him a highly skilled swordsman.^[18]

As a silversmith, Germain was a skilled craftsman, and was able to manufacture silver pins used as symbols of recognition within the French Rite. These pins could be used for offensive purposes, and laced with poisons if needed.^[18]

Germain was a master of manipulation, able to recruit certain individuals by exploiting their dissatisfaction with the corruption in France, such as Aloys la Touche and Frédéric Rouille. Likewise, Germain was able to take advantage of Arno's desire for redemption for de la Serre's death to eliminate Chrétien Lafrenière.^[18]

Behind the scenes[]

François-Thomas Germain is a historical figure introduced in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed: Unity, where he was voiced by the Canadian actor Julian Casey.

Historically, Germain died in Paris on 23 January 1791.^[19] This is referenced in the game itself, where Bishop states in Germain's database entry that all historical records describe his death as occurring in 1791 rather than 1794. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown.^[1]

Trivia[]

During King Louis XVI's execution, Germain exclaimed "Jacques de Molay, you are avenged." A recurring real life Templar legend states that during the execution, a French Freemason either dipped his hand in the king's blood or held the king's head and yelled "Jacques de Molay, thou art avenged!"^[20]
Germain's character is only partly based on the historical French silversmith. His nature as a Sage derives from the Count of St. Germain, an anonymous courtier whose urban legends and alleged prophesies of the French Revolution made him popular in 19th century occult circles as a supposed immortal believed by some to have once been the Wandering Jew.
Germain's plot to manipulate the public into violent hatred against the church and state, ushering in the French Revolution to enact belated vengeance on the royal family for purging the Templars, derives from the French Jesuit and conspiracy theorist Augustin Barruel's 1798 book Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism.