Ubisoft has once again fired up the Animus, this time transporting us to Japan's Sengoku Period with Assassin's Creed Shadows. This installment features historical figures from 1579, including Fujibayashi Nagato, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Yasuke, the African samurai who served Oda Nobunaga. As with previous entries in the series, these characters are seamlessly integrated into a narrative that blends fact with fiction, spinning a tale of revenge, betrayal, and murder. Yes, even the part where Yasuke has to eliminate opponents to gather enough XP to wield a gold-tier weapon.

Assassin's Creed is renowned for its historical fiction, where it masterfully uses gaps in history to weave a science fiction conspiracy tale about a secret society aiming to control the world through the mystical powers of a pre-human civilization. While Ubisoft's open-world environments are meticulously researched and rooted in history, it's crucial to understand that they serve as a canvas for storytelling rather than a strict recounting of historical events. The developers frequently alter historical facts to better fit the narrative arc.

There are countless "historical inaccuracies" in the series, but here are ten notable instances where Assassin's Creed has taken creative liberties with the past.

The Assassins vs Templars War

Let's address the most obvious: there is no historical evidence of a war between the Order of Assassins and the Knights Templar. The conflict between these two groups is a fictional construct, loosely inspired by conspiracy theories surrounding the Templars. The Assassins were established in 1090 AD, and the Templars in 1118. Both groups existed for approximately 200 years before being disbanded by 1312. The notion of a centuries-long feud is pure fabrication. The only historical conflict involving both was the Crusades, which only the first Assassin's Creed game accurately reflects in terms of timeline. While there might have been minor interactions, there is no evidence of ideological opposition between them.

The Borgias and their Superpowered Pope

Assassin's Creed 2 and its sequel, Brotherhood, center around Ezio's struggle against the Borgia family. In the game, Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia is revealed as the Grand Master of the Templar Order, a significant threat since he becomes Pope Alexander VI. However, as previously noted, the Templars did not exist during the late 1400s, so the plot involving the magical Apple of Eden and a pope with god-like control over humanity is entirely fictional, as is Ezio's confrontation with Pope Alexander VI in the Vatican.

While it's clear that the Borgias' portrayal in the game strays from historical accuracy, their depiction as Renaissance villains is a mixed bag. The Borgias were indeed controversial, but Ubisoft's portrayal of them as cartoonish villains is an exaggeration. Rodrigo's son, Cesare, is depicted as an incestuous psychopath, a claim based on rumors rather than evidence. In reality, Machiavelli considered Cesare a competent ruler.

Machiavelli, Enemy of the Borgias

In Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood, Niccolò Machiavelli is portrayed as Ezio's ally and leader of the Italian Assassin's Bureau, aiding in the fight against the Borgias. However, Machiavelli's actual beliefs and actions contradict this portrayal. His philosophies on strong authority clash with the Assassin's Creed's anti-authoritarian stance. Moreover, Machiavelli did not view the Borgias as repulsive; he saw Rodrigo as a successful con man and served as a diplomat in Cesare's court, considering him a model ruler.

The Incredible Leonardo da Vinci and his Flying Machine

Assassin's Creed 2 features a strong portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci, capturing his wit and charisma accurately. However, the game deviates from historical accuracy by altering da Vinci's timeline. In 1482, Leonardo moved from Florence to Milan, but the game has him move to Venice in 1481 to align with Ezio's journey.

The game also brings da Vinci's designs to life, including a machine gun and tank, which have little historical evidence of being built. The most fantastical element is Ezio's use of da Vinci's flying machine to glide over Venice, despite no historical accounts confirming that any of Leonardo's machines ever flew.

The Bloody Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party, a pivotal event in the American Revolution, was a non-violent protest where men disguised as Mohawks dumped tea into Boston Harbor. In Assassin's Creed 3, the event is dramatically altered. Protagonist Connor, the only one in Native American attire, engages in a violent confrontation, killing British guards while the tea is being dumped. This portrayal transforms a peaceful protest into a violent clash, likely for added drama.

The game also suggests Samuel Adams orchestrated the event, while historians debate his exact involvement, showcasing Ubisoft's tendency to fill in historical gaps with their own narrative.

The Lone Mohawk

Assassin's Creed 3's depiction of Connor, a Mohawk, siding with the Patriots during the Revolutionary War, contradicts historical alliances. The Mohawk people were allied with the British, not the Patriots, due to their beneficial trade relations and hopes of land protection. Historians have questioned the plausibility of Connor's actions, suggesting he would be seen as a traitor among his people.

While there were rare instances of Mohawks fighting against the British, like Louis Cook, such occurrences were highly unusual. Connor's story explores the "what if" scenario that Assassin's Creed often delves into.

The Templar Revolution

Assassin's Creed Unity's portrayal of the French Revolution veers into conspiracy theory territory, suggesting the Templars orchestrated the revolution to create a food crisis. In reality, the famine was due to natural causes such as drought and floods. The game also simplifies the Reign of Terror as the entire revolution, rather than just one phase, ignoring the complex causes behind the event.

The Controversial Killing of King Louis 16

The execution of King Louis 16 during the French Revolution is a key event in Assassin's Creed Unity. The game depicts the vote on his execution as a close call, swayed by a Templar's vote, suggesting controversy. In reality, the vote was a clear majority of 394 to 321 in favor of execution. Unity also glosses over the King's attempt to flee to Austria, which contributed to his treason charges and the public's anger toward the aristocracy.

Jack the Assassin

Assassin's Creed Syndicate's take on Jack the Ripper is one of the series' most audacious reimaginings. The real Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer in London's Whitechapel in 1888. In the game, he's a rogue Assassin who overthrows the London Brotherhood, turning it into a criminal gang. This narrative twist, while fitting the series' theme of hidden histories, strays far from the inconclusive police investigations of the actual case.

The Assassination of the Tyrant Julius Caesar

The assassination of Julius Caesar is one of history's most documented events, yet Assassin's Creed Origins reimagines it to fit the game's narrative. Caesar is portrayed as a proto-Templar whose death is necessary to prevent global tyranny. The game inaccurately depicts the Roman Forum and the events leading to Caesar's Senate visit. Most notably, Origins misrepresents Caesar's political stance, framing him as a tyrant when he actually advocated for land redistribution to the poor and retired soldiers. The game's portrayal of his assassination as a victory oversimplifies the complex historical aftermath that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

The developers of Assassin's Creed put immense effort into creating historically rich environments, but as seen, accuracy is often sacrificed for storytelling. And that's perfectly fine! After all, the series is historical fiction, not a documentary. It's just a video game, after all. What are your favorite examples of Assassin's Creed bending historical truths? Share them in the comments below.