The Hope Diamond, also called the French Blue (Le bleu de France), is a Piece of Eden in the form of a diamond. The diamond is said to carry a curse that leads its wearers to an early, violent death. The gem's first recorded owner was the French jeweler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who sold it to King Louis XIV in 1668. Thereafter, it became part of the French Crown Jewels.[1]
History[]
In September 1792, during the French Revolution, rioters looted the Royal Treasury[2] and made off with the French Crown Jewels and selection of other gems.[3] In the days following the theft, the diamond was included in an black market auction organized by "Jean le Chien" at the tavern La Limace Noir, where it attracted the attention of both the French Assassins and the French Templars. At the auction, the Assassins led by Arno Dorian managed to steal the jewel and keep the Templars led by Justine Delarue from taking it.[4]
Owners[]
- Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1666–1668)[1]
- Louis XIV of France (1668–1715)[1]
- Louis XV of France (1715–1774)[1]
- Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette (1774–1792)[1]
- "Jean le Chien" (1792)[4]
- French Assassins (1792)[4]
Behind the scenes[]
The Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game presents the Hope Diamond, using its anachronistic name rather than the French Blue, as a Piece of Eden with similar qualities to the Koh-i-Noor. In the campaign, the jewel is recovered by the Assassins; historically, however, the diamond disappears from records after its theft until reappearing in London, England about 20 years later having been recut. Since then, the diamond has changed hands more than ten times, with a few owners meeting with misfortune after it came into their possession, before being donated to the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, D.C.-based National Museum of Natural History, which conversely has since prospered.
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Unity (first mentioned) (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game – Legacy of the Brotherhood (first appearance)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Hope Diamond on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: Theft of the French Crown Jewels
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: Le Patriote 1791
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game – Legacy of the Brotherhood – The Lost Jewel