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"I made a promise to an old friend."
―Nergüi to Hülegü Khan, 1265.[src]

Nergüi (1212 – 1279) was a member of the Mongolian Brotherhood of Assassins and the apprentice of Qulan Gal.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Nergüi was born to a horse breeder named Elbegdorj in 1212. Elbegdorj was drafted into the army of Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire, and was killed during the Battle of the Kalka River in 1223. This led the young Nergüi to harbor a grudge against the empire and the Khans, causing him to join the Assassin Brotherhood.[1]

Assassination of Genghis Khan[]

In August 1227, the Brotherhood prepared to assassinate Genghis Khan in order to halt the advance of his empire. Nergüi took it upon himself to scout the Khan's camp, but was captured and subsequently tortured, leaving his face permanently scarred. Nergüi was eventually rescued by Qulan Gal and Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, when the pair infiltrated the Khan's camp to kill the conquerer. While trying to hide from Mongol soldiers who had spotted them, the two elder Assassins entered the tent Nergüi was being held in and freed him, before all three fled the camp together.[2]

Tortured

Nergüi bound and tortured

Joining Altaïr's wife Maria and son Darim on the hills above the camp, the Assassins decided to make a new attempt to assassinate the Khan. The group fired flaming arrows at the camp to prompt the conquerer to flee, whereupon he was chased and eventually killed by Darim and Qulan.[2]

Later, as the two Mongols bid farewell to Altaïr and his family before their departure, Qulan remarked that their assassination of Genghis Khan had made him consider that Assassins work better in groups. To this, Altaïr suggested that Qulan take an apprentice and the latter agreed, deciding to take the young Nergüi under his wing.[2]

Induction into the Brotherhood[]

Nergui meet

Nergüi with Qulan Gal

Several years later, Genghis Khan had been succeeded by his third son Ögedei. During this time, Qulan trained Nergüi so that he could be formally inducted into the Brotherhood. Before this could happen however, Qulan instructed his apprentice to travel to Samarkand. Ögedei had sent an entire tumen to reinforce the city, and Nergüi was to assassinate their captain without being detected by the large force.[1]

After discreetly killing the captain, Nergüi returned to Qulan and informed him of his success. They then met with the Mentor of the Mongolian Assassins, who inducted Nergüi into the Brotherhood and gave him his own Hidden Blade.[1]

Bane of the Khans[]

In 1241, Qulan told Nergüi of Batu Khan, the founder of the Golden Horde who was tearing through Russia. In order to slow his advance, Nergüi was tasked with assassinating Ögedei Khan, while Qulan assassinated the Khan's brother, Chagatai. With no ready successor to the throne, Batu would be forced to return to Mongolia. The two both proved successful in their endeavors.[1]

In 1263, Nergüi went after the Russian prince Alexander Nevsky, a liaison to Hülegü Khan and a suspected Templar. After Nergüi confronted Nevsky, the two discussed the Mongol Empire. Nevsky justified his alliance with them by claiming that it was the only way to protect Kievan Rus'. Nergüi accused him of being a collaborator, and told him how the Assassins had played the Mongols against each other in the Toluid Civil War and the Berke–Hülegü war. After Nevsky realized Nergüi's intent to kill him, the two fought, and Nergüi proved victorious. They discussed their reasons for wanting the Khans eliminated. Nergüi told of his father, and Nevsky said that he had poisoned Batu out of vengeance for the poisoning of his own father. As Nevsky died, Nergüi expressed his respect for him.[1]

In 1265, Nergüi targeted Hülegü Khan himself, intending to avenge Hülegü's sacking of Masyaf and the destruction of the Levantine Assassins. Confronted by Nergüi, the Khan belittled him for his humble upbringing. Nergüi noted that the Assassins continued to fight the Mongol Empire, but Hülegü claimed that they were little challenge to him, having taken Masyaf with his Sword of Eden. Nergüi reminded him that he was only the Ilkhan, with Kublai Khan laying claim to the throne. Hülegü disregarded this, claiming to prefer action over politics. After making his intentions clear, Nergüi battled with Hülegü, and proved successful in killing him.[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Nergüi is a Mongolian name meaning "no name"; it was traditionally given in order to mislead bad spirits.

Although Nergüi was only 15 years old at the time of Genghis Khan's assassination in 1227, in Assassin's Creed: Reflections he already has the appearance of an adult. This is most likely an oversight.

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

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