马匹

“任何有价值的雇佣军都会知道一个可靠的，训练有素的马的价值。在战场上骑到受惊的动物或是很快失去速度是一个我们不会采取的风险。”

―马里奥·奥迪托雷在检查军队的马匹, 1454.

阿泰尔·伊本·拉阿哈德在马斯亚夫外骑马

马是一种有蹄的四足动物，在大多人类历史上被作为一种主要的运输工具来使用。

他们的存在和使用是广泛的，应为一些用途和目的使它们的许多品种在中世纪，文艺复兴时期，美国革命时期都有配合人类使用。

品种

“The stable keeper gives me a short tour. He presents the different breeds - some bred stocky for labor, some wiry for travel, and of course, the unflinching steeds we will ride into combat.”

―Mario Auditore surveying the horses of Monteriggioni.

Three breeds of horse in particular were common throughout Rome in the early 16th century, and differed in both appearance and characteristics.

埃齐奥刺杀一名骑在马上的守卫

The common horse, or Rouncey, which was heavily laden with saddle bags, could usually be found in the Antico and Campagna Districts, with the guards riding them (possibly messengers) always pushing them into a quick gallop.

The standard horse, or Jennet, was mostly found in the Centro and Vaticano Districts, and they were usually ridden by civilians. Coincidentally, this horse was the fastest of the three breeds, despite being the weakest for combat.

The rarest type, the armored warhorse or Destrier, could be found in any of Rome's districts still occupied by the Borgia, or at stables after all of them had been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, this armored breed was able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without falling.

Other slightly uncommon breeds used at the time were the Percheron, which Lucrezia Borgia used for her carriages, and two sub-varieties of warhorse.

历史

The horse and carriage were equally common modes of transportation, and indispensable for the Assassin Order from the Third Crusade until the Renaissance.

阿泰尔在马背上攻击一个圣殿骑士

During the Third Crusade, stables were located directly outside the Assassin-controlled village of Masyaf, and horses residing there were often used by the Assassins to traverse the expanse of the Kingdom, allowing them to reach other cities for missions or assassinations.

A variety of horses could be found throughout the Kingdom as well, either in corrals or stables, or standing alone on the path with their rider nearby. During the height of the Crusades, horse-drawn carriages and warhorses were also common sights on the battlefield.

As such, guards stationed along the paths of the Kingdom were always wary of horsemen, particularly if they were riding hard, or acted as if they were being pursued. With this in mind, most Assassins made it a point to ride slowly when in the presence of alert guards.

蒙特里久尼的马厩

By the Renaissance, though ridden horses still held their importance, horse-drawn carriages had grown significantly in popularity. Travel stations could also be found just outside of major cities, and offered citizens safe and easy carriage rides for a fee.

In the large city of Rome, horses were often used to travel between districts, and were ridden by citizens, guards, and Assassins alike, with the latter able to hijack horses from the former two.

Horses also remained essential for warfare. Mario Auditore, as ruler and protector of Monteriggioni, always held horses in high regard, noting that "some of them will die alongside us; others will actually be key to keeping us alive." As such, each of the Monteriggioni mercenaries was made to get to know his horse before riding out into battle.

Monteriggioni, like Masyaf before it, had stables conveniently located just outside the main gate. On one occasion, Mario's nephew Ezio had to chase down his uncle's favorite horse after it escaped from these stables and returned it to its keeper.

During the 18th century, horses were used to drive wagons or carriages for transporting shipments and people. In revolutionary America, peddlers also equipped horse-driven wagons to sell goods in the Frontier. By the mid-18th century, horse-driven carriages were used as a mobile transport system for people, especially for nobles.

战斗和运动

阿泰尔从马背上攻击敌人

During the Third Crusade, horses were somewhat rare off of the battlefield, and Assassins were able to use the strength and speed granted by their mounts in order to gain an advantage over their enemies. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, for instance, could wield his sword to combat opponents while on horseback, or flee from them if necessary.

However, while an Assassin's horse could outrun any pursuer and leap over most obstacles, a single sword strike could trip it and send its rider into the ground.

Though horses could easily plow through crowds, pulling the horse into a rear would normally startle nearby civilians, clearing a path in the process.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze was also equally skilled at riding and combat, though he could use a horse directly before or after free-running. He was able to stand on the saddle at any time, and jump from horseback onto a wall or beam. Inversely, he could also jump directly onto horseback from a nearby building, or from a parachute.

Unlike Altaïr, Ezio (as well as any opponent he faced) was able to use a variety of his weapons while on horseback, both long and short-ranged; however, this excluded any heavy or two-handed weapon, the Hidden Blade and daggers.

埃齐奥从马上跳起对一名波奇亚士兵进行空中刺杀

Though Ezio could not remain on horseback while wielding his Hidden Blade, he could perform assassinations from horseback. To do this, he would leap from the saddle to assassinate either an enemy on the ground or a mounted horseman, wherein he would subsequently steal their mount in the case of the latter. Conversely, he could also drag the rider of a horse to the ground, before using his Hidden Blade to assassinate them where they lay.

Upon dismounting a horse, depending on whether or not the steed had been stolen, it would either follow its rider or flee immediately. Additionally, if their rider was in battle next to them, horses would often kick out at attacking guards, causing them to fall.

琐闻趣事

• So far throughout the Assassin's Creed series, only three rideable horses had ever died. The first died during the Fall of Monteriggioni, when it was hit by a collapsing tower damaged by cannon fire, and the second during the Siege of Viana, when it was struck by a cannonball. The third, used by Haytham Kenway, was shot in the rear by George Washington during the Braddock Expedition.
  • Never once in full, physical gameplay could a rideable horse die, instead only tripping over and causing its rider to fall off. This could particularly be seen during the memory "Outgunned", as horses shot by the machine gun would not die; instead they would fall over and get up again.
  • In the first memory of Altaïr within Assassin's Creed: Revelations, a horse was seen on the ground, dead, with arrows sticking out of it.
  • Assassin's Creed: Syndicate is the first game in which horses permanently die when shot three to six times in the body, one time in the head.
• In Assassin's Creed, horses taken from within the Kingdom had a tendency to abruptly change color when passing from one region to another.
• Though Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood was the first to allow horses inside cities, early gameplay videos showed that riding horses inside of a city was originally intended to be possible in Assassin's Creed.
  • In Assassin's Creed, the only horses shown inside a city were during the cutscene of Richard I exiting on horseback with his caravan from the Acre Citadel.
• Horses were only used by guards in Assassin's Creed II during one mission, "Romagna Holiday", wherein they attacked Leonardo da Vinci's carriage.
• In Assassin's Creed II, if Ezio's horse falls over after galloping through several groups of people, it is possible for him to lose health or even die.
• In Assassin's Creed: Revelations, the only times horses were encountered were during the carriage missions, the memories of Altaïr, and a cutscene in the memory "End of the Road". These horses were not rideable, however.
• In Assassin's Creed III, full synchronization of the memory "Battle of Bunker Hill" required Connor to air assassinate John Pitcairn, who was on horseback at the time. 
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is the only main game thus far where horses do not appear in any form.
• In Assassin's Creed: Unity, horses can be seen hitched to carriages in Versailles in the beginning of the game and later in front of the Café Théâtre. Just like Revelations, they cannot be ridden.
• The achievement "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU" could be earned by shooting five horses, causing the carriages they were pulling to flip over, potentially catapulting their drivers.

刺客信条：兄弟会

• Brotherhood was the first game where citizens were shown on horseback, though this led to a minor anachronism: female citizens were depicted as straddling their horse rather than sitting side-saddle. This was historically inaccurate, as seeing a woman's legs spread apart was considered a most vulgar and insulting sight during the Renaissance period.
• Galloping was disabled throughout Rome, and was only possible in Viana, Monteriggioni, Colli Albani, and the Colosseo's Lair of Romulus.
  • When the game was ported to the PC, the gallop option was reintroduced.
• Jumping from a horse onto a beam 20 times was a requirement for the completion of the Roman Thieves Guild challenges.
• The achievement "Grand Theft Dressage" could be unlocked by stealing five horses in a row, without touching the ground.
• Destriers could not be found in any color but white, despite their image in the in-game manual showing a black-haired coat.
• A minor glitch may occur if Ezio was using his sword while on horseback. If he was knocked off while attacking, once he got back to his feet, he would still hold his sword with his arm raised above his head. It would remain this way, even when supposedly attacking or countering, until the weapon was sheathed.

画廊

Horses used in the Defense of Monteriggioni

Ezio fleeing soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo with a Jennet

Ezio facing a horseman on a Destrier

A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier

Ezio and his apprentices on horseback

Ezio attacking a horseman with a spear