Ubisoft is looking to bring back one of its biggest franchises with Assassin's Creed Mirage. The game will be the first full installment of the franchise since 2020 and appears to be taking the franchise back to its roots. Assassin's Creed Mirage will also focus on historical events that some gamers may not be familiar with.
The first trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage debuted in September 2022 and confirmed many things that had already been leaked. Following the video's release, the lead developers revealed various details about the franchise's latest installment. Like previous titles, the new game will focus on major historical events. One such event was a revolution against the Abbasid Caliphate known as the Zanj Rebellion.
The Abbasid Caliphate Setting Of Assassin's Creed Mirage
To understand the Zanj Rebellion one must understand the world during this time period. The 9th century AD is one that falls into an era colloquially known as The Dark Ages. This period is usually dated as after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD to William the Conqueror's conquest of England in 1066 AD. The Dark Age period has served as an inspiration for many great medieval fantasy video games over the years and remains a fixture in Western popular culture. However, the Dark Age term is somewhat misleading, as advances in culture, science, and mathematics were still happening. They just happened to take place in the Byzantine Empire and in other Eastern cultures, and in the world of Islam in particular.
In the 7th Century AD, the Arabian Peninsula was united under the Founder of Islam, Mohamed. After his death, various successor caliphates emerged and continued to expand the reach of this new religion through military conquests. These conquests would eventually trigger the events that lead to the Crusades or Holy Wars, which was the setting of the first Assassin's Creed. The Abbasid Caliphate was the third successor caliphate following Mohamed's death and would rule over a vast empire that stretched from North Africa to modern-day Pakistan. Assassin's Creed Mirage takes place within this empire, with the Zanj Rebellion apparently being a major event in the game.
The Zanj Rebellion and How It May Tie Into Assassin's Creed Mirage
The Zanj Rebellion was an event that took place in the Abbasid Caliphate from 869 until 883. The Zanj were Bantu-speaking people who had been forcibly taken from their homes in southeast Africa to work as slaves in plantations in what is now southern Iraq. The work and living conditions for the Zanj were apparently miserable, and the people were poorly treated by their masters. At the time the Abbasid Caliphate was dealing with political instability following civil wars and revolts as the military frequently clashed with ruling caliphates. This, in turn, allowed several rebellions to pop up, which included the Zanj Rebellion.
The leader of the rebellion was a man known as Ali ibn Muhammad. While Assassin's Creed Mirage's latest gameplay footage did not reveal the character, he will be playing a big role in the upcoming game. Ali ibn Muhammad ended up taking advantage of the Zanj's conditions and promised them wealth and prosperity in exchange for their support. For a time the rebellion was somewhat successful, as the Abbasid Caliphate was unable to mount an effective offensive against the Zanj forces for roughly ten years. Unfortunately, the Abbasid was able to reorganize itself in 879 and launch a successful counterattack against their forces. The majority of the Zanj leaders were eventually captured or killed by 883 bringing the rebellion to an end.
At this stage, it's difficult to say how big a role the Zanj Rebellion will have in the upcoming game or what side the characters will take. The period was full of revolution and civil strife. With Assassin's Creed Mirage going back to the franchise's roots, however, it's possible that the organization will play both sides of the fence. Only time will tell if that fence will impale them.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is set to release on October 12, 2023, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
