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(→‎History: Correction: Altaïr did not depart for Cyprus knowing the Archive was there.)
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{{Era|ACBL|ACRE|TSC}}
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{{Era|Locations}}
 
{{Quote|The Templar Archive. That's where we keep our undergarments.|Maria Thorpe joking with Altaïr, 1191.|Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines}}
 
{{Quote|The Templar Archive. That's where we keep our undergarments.|Maria Thorpe joking with Altaïr, 1191.|Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines}}
 
[[File:ACBL Templar Archive Chamber.png|thumb|250px|The Archive's main chamber]]
 
[[File:ACBL Templar Archive Chamber.png|thumb|250px|The Archive's main chamber]]
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==History==
 
==History==
  +
===Middle Ages===
Until 1191, the Templar Archive was a well-kept secret, guarded by the Templar Emperor of Cyprus, [[Isaac Comnenus]]. However, in 1191, Comnenus went to war with King [[Richard I of England]], who swiftly defeated him and conquered the island.
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Until 1191, the Templar Archive was a well-kept secret, guarded by the Templar Emperor of Cyprus, [[Isaac Comnenus]]. However, in 1191, Comnenus went to war with King [[Richard I of England]], who swiftly defeated him and conquered the island.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>
   
Alarmed at this threat to the Archive's secrecy, [[Armand Bouchart]], the newly appointed [[Grand Master]] of the Templar Order, bought Cyprus from King Richard, and promptly imprisoned and executed Isaac Comnenus. After learning of the purchase of the island, the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]], [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], journeyed to Cyprus in order to get rid of the Templar threat.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>
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Alarmed at this threat to the Archive's secrecy, [[Armand Bouchart]], ''de facto'' [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the Templars, bought Cyprus from King Richard and promptly imprisoned and executed Isaac Comnenus. After learning of the purchase of the island, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassins]], journeyed to Cyprus to thwart the Templars' plans and influence on it, though his main purpose was to obtain the information of the Archive's location in order to put a stop to Templars' access to knowledge and artifacts of the [[Isu|First Civilization]].<ref name="ACBL" />
   
Quickly learning of Altaïr's presence, Bouchart sought to save the Archive's secrets by removing its contents from Cyprus. Forced to use the lives of his subordinates to buy time, he ultimately succeeded, and the Templars managed to relocate the Archive's contents shortly before it was discovered by Altaïr. Bouchart remained in the Archive after it was emptied, and battled Altaïr and a disaffected [[United Kingdom|English]] Templar, [[Maria Thorpe]], when they arrived, but was slain in battle with Altaïr. Shortly after Altaïr's triumph over Bouchart, the Templars began to destroy the empty Archive with artillery fire. The complex soon began to collapse, although Altaïr and Maria were able to escape in time.<ref name="ACBL"/>
+
Quickly learning of Altaïr's presence in Limassol, a Cypriot city where the Archive was located, Bouchart sought to save the Archive's secrets by removing its contents from Cyprus. To do so, he planned a trip to another city, Kyrenia, as he knew Altaïr would trail him. Furthermore, the content of the Archive was put into [[ships]] at the Limassol harbor, with two objectives: removing the content from the Archive, and misleading Altaïr who would think the cargo would go into the Archive. Bouchart deceived Altaïr in Kyrenia to buy time, indirectly serving his subordinates located in Kyrenia up to the Assassin. He ultimately succeeded, and the Templars managed to relocate the Archive's contents shortly before it was discovered by Altaïr. Bouchart remained in the Archive after it was emptied, and battled Altaïr and a disaffected [[United Kingdom|English]] Templar, [[Maria Thorpe]], when they arrived, but was slain in battle with Altaïr. Shortly after Altaïr's triumph over Bouchart, the Templars began to destroy the empty Archive with artillery fire. The complex soon began to collapse, although Altaïr and Maria were able to escape in time.<ref name="ACBL"/>
   
In 1228, Altaïr received word that the Templars had retaken the Archive, as [[Abbas Sofian]], who usurped power over the Levantine Assassins, had refused to send reinforcements to defend it. Altaïr described the takeover as a massacre.<ref name="ACRV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
+
In 1228, Altaïr received word that the Templars had retaken the Archive, as [[Abbas Sofian]], who usurped power over the Levantine Assassins, had refused to send reinforcements to defend it. Altaïr described the takeover as a massacre.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
   
  +
===Renaissance===
The Archive was utilized again by the Templars in 1481, when [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Prince [[Cem]] used it to house an [[Ezio's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]], after having concluded that the artifact refused to help him in achieving his goals.<ref name="ACRC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''</ref>
+
The Archive was utilized again by the Templars in 1481, when [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Prince [[Cem]] used it to house an [[Apple of Eden 6|Apple of Eden]], after having concluded that the artifact refused to help him in achieving his goals.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''</ref>
   
In 1510, the Mentor of the [[Italian Assassins]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], set sail from [[Rome]] intending on finding [[Library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr's library]], hidden beneath the fortress of [[Masyaf]]. He used Cyprus as a stop on his journey, and ventured into the Archive itself, indicating that it was either rebuilt or was preserved enough that it could be explored, although he found nothing of note.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>
+
In 1510, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], Mentor of the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassins]], set sail from [[Rome]] intending on finding [[Library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr's library]], hidden beneath the fortress of [[Masyaf]]. He used Cyprus as a stop on his journey, and ventured into the Archive itself, indicating that it was either rebuilt or was preserved enough that it could be explored, although he found nothing of note.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>
  +
  +
==Appearances==
  +
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'' {{1st}}
  +
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''
  +
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''
  +
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{Mo}}
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{ACBL}}
 
{{ACBL}}
  +
  +
[[es:Archivo Templario]]
  +
[[ru:Архив Тамплиеров]]
  +
[[uk:Архів Тамплієрів]]
 
[[Category:Limassol]]
 
[[Category:Limassol]]
 
[[Category:Templar Order]]
 
[[Category:Templar Order]]
  +
[[Category:Libraries]]

Revision as of 08:59, 25 July 2019

"The Templar Archive. That's where we keep our undergarments."
―Maria Thorpe joking with Altaïr, 1191.[src]
ACBL Templar Archive Chamber

The Archive's main chamber

The Templar Archive was a secret underground complex on Cyprus, where the Templars' knowledge and artifacts were stored. It was located in Limassol, beneath the Limassol Castle.

History

Middle Ages

Until 1191, the Templar Archive was a well-kept secret, guarded by the Templar Emperor of Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus. However, in 1191, Comnenus went to war with King Richard I of England, who swiftly defeated him and conquered the island.[1]

Alarmed at this threat to the Archive's secrecy, Armand Bouchart, de facto Grand Master of the Templars, bought Cyprus from King Richard and promptly imprisoned and executed Isaac Comnenus. After learning of the purchase of the island, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, journeyed to Cyprus to thwart the Templars' plans and influence on it, though his main purpose was to obtain the information of the Archive's location in order to put a stop to Templars' access to knowledge and artifacts of the First Civilization.[1]

Quickly learning of Altaïr's presence in Limassol, a Cypriot city where the Archive was located, Bouchart sought to save the Archive's secrets by removing its contents from Cyprus. To do so, he planned a trip to another city, Kyrenia, as he knew Altaïr would trail him. Furthermore, the content of the Archive was put into ships at the Limassol harbor, with two objectives: removing the content from the Archive, and misleading Altaïr who would think the cargo would go into the Archive. Bouchart deceived Altaïr in Kyrenia to buy time, indirectly serving his subordinates located in Kyrenia up to the Assassin. He ultimately succeeded, and the Templars managed to relocate the Archive's contents shortly before it was discovered by Altaïr. Bouchart remained in the Archive after it was emptied, and battled Altaïr and a disaffected English Templar, Maria Thorpe, when they arrived, but was slain in battle with Altaïr. Shortly after Altaïr's triumph over Bouchart, the Templars began to destroy the empty Archive with artillery fire. The complex soon began to collapse, although Altaïr and Maria were able to escape in time.[1]

In 1228, Altaïr received word that the Templars had retaken the Archive, as Abbas Sofian, who usurped power over the Levantine Assassins, had refused to send reinforcements to defend it. Altaïr described the takeover as a massacre.[2]

Renaissance

The Archive was utilized again by the Templars in 1481, when Ottoman Prince Cem used it to house an Apple of Eden, after having concluded that the artifact refused to help him in achieving his goals.[3]

In 1510, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Mentor of the Italian Assassins, set sail from Rome intending on finding Altaïr's library, hidden beneath the fortress of Masyaf. He used Cyprus as a stop on his journey, and ventured into the Archive itself, indicating that it was either rebuilt or was preserved enough that it could be explored, although he found nothing of note.[4]

Appearances

References