With the Assassin's Creed fan, old or new. The franchise has changed greatly throughout the years, going from a linear story-based stealth game to a full-blown open-world RPG series, but one thing that has remained constant is its perfect use of its historical settings.
The games never fail to deliver an immersive experience, and one of the ways this is achieved is by putting real-life historical figures in the games that the player can interact with. From the Queen of Egypt to the artist who painted the Mona Lisa, there is no shortage of historically influential people to be found in the games, some of which have been described below.
Assassin’s Creed II - Leonardo Da Vinci
Not since the second Assasin's Creed game has the series used a real-life historical figure in a way that is not just interesting but also integral to the plot and lore itself.
In the context of AC II, Leonardo isn't just a genius polymath, but a close ally of the Auditore family and the person who modifies the hidden blade throughout the game, without which the game would be incomplete. Players not only get to see what life was like for this 15th-century inventor but also try out his inventions such as the Flying Machine that allowed Ezio to fly over the city of Venice.
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - The Borgia Family
The House of Borgia was one of the most politically powerful families of the Italian Renaissance period, and their scandalous history led them to becoming the overarching villain of the first two games of the Ezio trilogy. Rodrigo Borgia, or as he was known by his official title - Pope Alexander VI, is the main villain of AC II and the head of the Templars, while his illegitimate son, Cesare Borgia, is the antagonist in Brotherhood.
The father-son duo makes up two of the best villains in the Assassin's Creed franchise, while other real-life of the Borgia family, such as Cesare's sister Lucrezia Borgia, also appear. The conflict against the family, as a whole, drives the plot of the game.
Assassin's Creed III - George Washington
Taking place in 18th century America, much of Assassin's Creed III revolves around the American Revolution, so one of the founding fathers and the first President of the United States George Washington himself making an appearance is not surprising at all. Playing as the assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton, players aid the American Patriots in their war and also protect Washington from Templars, although it is eventually revealed that he was behind the assault on Ratonhnhaké:ton's village that lead to his mother's death.
The game also has a DLC, The Tyranny of King Washington, which tells the story of an alternate reality where Washington acquires a Piece of Eden and uses its power to become the king of the United States.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag - Edward Thatch "Blackbeard"
Black Flag is all about the pirates, so including one of the most infamous pirates of all time was a given. Akin to his real-life legend, the Blackbeard in the game sports an eccentric persona, going as far as to braid fuses into his hair and light them on fire, creating a fearsome and unforgettable image to those around him.
He acts as a mentor figure and ally of protagonist Edward Kenway, which makes him one of the best characters in Black Flag. Thatch's death is one of the most memorable scenes in the game, as he is killed in a fight against British soldiers after being shot and stabbed multiple times and before he takes his last breath.
Assassin's Creed Rogue - Benjamin Franklin
Yet another founding father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin can be found not only in Assassin's Creed III but also in Rogue. His allegiances lie not specifically with either the Assassins or the Templars, being oblivious to their backgrounds, and can be found interacting with both groups at different points in time.
Players have the opportunity to meet Benjamin Franklin multiple times throughout Rogue, first towards the beginning of the game and then at a later time after protagonist Shay Cormac becomes a templar when they get a grenade launcher from the genius inventor.
Assassin's Creed Unity - Napoleon I Bonaparte
Set in 18th century Paris, Unity puts players in the role of Arno Dorian as he grows up to be an assassin during French Revolution. A young Napoleon Bonaparte, before his rise to power, makes an unexpected appearance in a certain mission of the game when Napoleon and Arno infiltrate the same location and confront each other.
This sparks a friendship that continues beyond the base game and eventually devolves into enmity as Napolean tries to get his hands on an Apple of Eden (explored in one of the best the DLC in the Assassin's Creed series, Dead Kings) to gain even more power, and is stopped by Arno.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate - Queen Victoria
Between Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Winston Churchill, Syndicate is absolutely filled with surprise appearances from many famous figures, most noteworthy among them being the person after whom the very time period is named - Queen Victoria.
The historical British monarch interacts with the Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye on a limited number of occasions, and within that time frame, knights the twins into the Order of the Sacred Garter. Throughout the game, the Queen works with the Assassin Order to eliminate the Templar threat present in 19th century London.
Assassin's Creed: Origins - Cleopatra
Assassin's Creed: Origins tells the story of the beginning of the Assassins in the form of a group called the Hidden Ones, started by the protagonist of the game Bayek of Siwa and his wife, Aya of Alexandria.
Throughout the course of the game, Aya becomes a close acquaintance of Cleopatra as she and her husband help her in her dispute against her brother Ptolemy XII, while Cleopatra helps them hunt down the Ancient Ones. The last Pharaoh of Egypt is one of the best characters in Assassin's Creed: Origins, even if she does ultimately betray the trust of Aya and Bayek.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Socrates
Socrates is one of the most well-known names in the world of philosophy, and he can be found in Assassin's Creed Odyssey if the player is looking for a philosophical bout in Ancient Greece. Staying in line with his philosophical legends, the Socrates of Odyssey is a man of complicated nature who never says anything definite, instead choosing to make ambiguous dialogues that make the player question their choices.
The Socratic method was a form of argument developed by the man himself which involved asking various questions to a person, and it can be experienced firsthand numerous times in Odyssey. Other historical figures can also be met in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, namely Plato, Perikles, and Alkibiades.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Alfred The Great Of Wessex
While playing as Viking Eivor in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players will find themselves invading 9th century England, of which Alfred the Great was king, putting him in direct opposition to the invasion of Eivor and his allies.
Interestingly, even though Alfred is the Grand Maegester of the very Order of the Ancients that Eivor is trying to eliminate, he aids Eivor in her efforts, wishing to replace the Order with something else. Alfred is the game's main villain, but far from being one of the toughest bosses in Valhalla, as players never get the chance to fight him at all.