Finding Cologne In Ac Valhalla: A Guide To The City's Location

In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players can find references to Cologne, a city located in Germany, in the form of hidden notes and letters. These notes suggest that Cologne was a base for the Hidden Ones, the precursors to the German Brotherhood of Assassins, as early as the 5th century. The references to Cologne are found in various locations within the game, including the Londinium Bureau in Lunden, the Francia DLC during the The Missing Queen mission, and in the form of an evacuation order letter in the Siege of Paris expansion. These hints at Cologne's significance in the Assassin's Creed universe have sparked speculation among players about the potential for a future game set in Germany.

Cologne is a city in Germany

Cologne was founded in the 1st century CE as Colonia Agrippina in the Germanic Ubii territory. The name Colonia, derived from the Latin for 'colony', developed into the modern German 'Köln' and French 'Cologne'. The city was the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior until it was occupied by the Franks in 462.

Cologne is famous for its medieval cathedral, which was the world's tallest building from 1880 to 1890 and is now the world's third-tallest church and tallest cathedral. The city is also known for its Eau de Cologne, a perfume that has been produced there since 1709, and its beer, Kölsch, which is also the name of the local dialect.

Cologne has a thriving arts scene, with over 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. It is a major cultural centre for the Rhineland and hosts the annual Cologne Carnival, one of the largest street festivals in Europe. The city is also known for its music, with several orchestras and choirs, including the Gürzenich Orchestra and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne.

Cologne has a long history of foreign occupation, including by the French and British during and after World War II, when it was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany. The city is home to several universities, including the University of Cologne, one of Europe's oldest and largest, and a major research hub for the aerospace industry.

In summary, Cologne is a major German city with a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene. It is known for its cathedral, arts, music, and beer, as well as its significant role in the Roman Empire and medieval trade.

It's been a base for the Hidden Ones

Cologne, Germany, has been a base for the Hidden Ones, who would eventually evolve into the German Brotherhood of Assassins. In the 5th century, shortly after the death of Emperor Honorius in 423 CE, the magister and member of the Roman Hidden Ones, Vitus, wrote to his brethren stationed in Leicester, England, ordering them to evacuate and move their headquarters to Cologne. This was due to local tribes who harboured negative sentiments towards the Hidden Ones, filling the power vacuum left by the departing Roman legions.

In the game, players can find a hidden note in the Londinium Bureau, which mentions Cologne and advises the rest of the order to evacuate to the city. This note seems to be a reference to the historical events described above.

Cologne is also mentioned in the Francia DLC, during the mission "The Missing Queen", when players are at the Diodurum Ruins. This further suggests that Cologne may have been a significant location for the Hidden Ones.

The presence of the Hidden Ones in Cologne and the potential for a German-based Assassin's Creed game adds an intriguing layer to the game's lore and future possibilities.

The Italian Brotherhood visited during the Renaissance

The Italian Brotherhood, also known as the guild of Assassins, was located in Italy and existed initially as the Roman branch of the Hidden Ones since 46 BCE. The Italian Renaissance, a period of cultural revival and renewed interest in classical antiquity, took place between the 14th and 16th centuries. The Renaissance began in Tuscany and centred in the city of Florence, which became the banking capital of Europe by the middle of the century.

The Italian Brotherhood, led by Niccolò Polo and Maffeo Polo, was established in Venice in 1269. The Venetian guild was created on the order of Altaïr, who wanted to expand the Brotherhood's influence globally. In 1324, the guild's headquarters were relocated to the Tuscan city of Monteriggioni by the Assassin Domenico, who also founded the House of Auditore. The House of Auditore led the guild for over two centuries.

During the late 15th century, the Italian Assassins were primarily focused on taking down the corrupt Borgia family, the ruling body of the Templar Order, which tried to take control of all the city-states of Italy. The Italian Assassins were also involved in recovering Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex and Pieces of Eden to secure the location of an Isu Vault and protect its contents from the Templars.

In 1500, the guild suffered a major setback when the Templars laid siege to Monteriggioni, leading to the death of the guild leader, Mario Auditore, and the loss of an Apple of Eden. However, Mario's nephew, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, rebuilt the guild in Rome, recruiting oppressed citizens to fight the Borgia. Under Ezio's leadership, the guild was stronger than ever, operating across Europe and Asia and establishing the first guild in the New World. The Italian Assassins led the fight against the Borgia, eventually breaking their hold on power.

In 2000, the Italian Assassins, like other guilds, were almost wiped out during the Great Purge led by the Templar Order. However, one cell remained active in Florence until 2012, led by the Assassin Adriano Maestranzi.

A letter mentions Cologne as a safe haven

Cologne, or Köln in German, is a city located in Germany, and has been a base for the Hidden Ones, who would later become the German Brotherhood of Assassins. The city also received visits from members of the Italian Brotherhood during the Renaissance.

In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players can find another reference to Cologne in the Francia DLC. During the mission "The Missing Queen", players can find a script that mentions the city.

The letter found in the Londinium Bureau is not the only clue that hints at a future Assassin's Creed game being set in Germany. Another letter found in the remains of the Brotherhood offices also mentions Cologne, and players have speculated that this could be a teaser for the next instalment in the franchise.

The city is featured in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy

Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy was a Facebook game that was active from 30 September 2010 to 17 May 2013. In the game, players were recruits for Abstergo Industries' Project Legacy, tasked with reliving the genetic memories of other individuals through a program known as the DDS (Data Dump Scanner).

The DDS was an Animus software patch that allowed a person to relive the memories of someone who was not their ancestor. The memories entrusted to the player, referred to as the "Recruit", ranged across different environments and eras but always followed the same structure. This structure included an introduction video of the chapter, a brief introduction of the group, and a brief introduction of the memory.

There were four memory sets available in the game: "Italian Wars", "Rome", "Holidays", and "Divine Science". Each memory set was made up of four chapters, with each chapter focusing on a different character and their memories. For example, in the "Italian Wars" memory set, Chapter 1 centred on Bartolomeo d'Alviano, while Chapter 2 focused on Francesco Vecellio.

In addition to the in-game plot elements, Project Legacy also featured interactions between the Abstergo management responsible for the project and raids by Erudito. Outside of the game, Abstergo Industries also provided questionnaires to players, with the results influencing the narrative.

While Project Legacy is no longer available to play, it offered players an opportunity to engage with the rich lore of the Assassin's Creed universe and left a lasting impression, with some players expressing their desire to experience it again.

Frequently asked questions