History has always formed the backbone of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. While it never pretends to be themost historically-accurate seriesout there,Assassin’s Creedfully embraces the past, setting each entry in a new location and time period, and including characters and major events that are heavily inspired by real-world history.Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis no exception.
For the first time in the franchise’s long history,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsintroduces a playable protagonist directly inspired by a historical figure, Yasuke. But Yasuke is far from the only history-inspired character inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Alongside the fictional Naoe, Yasuke crosses paths with a plethora of real-world figures, one of which is Luis Frois, a Portuguese man with a storied life.
The Real-World History of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Luis Frois Explained
Luis Frois' Early Life
Luis Frois was born in the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon, in the year 1532. Frois spent the first 16 years of his life getting an education in the court ofKing John III, after which he decided to join the Jesuit Order. Founded just 8 years prior, the Jesuit Order was a group of Catholic clerics who were frequently sent as missionaries to foreign lands in an attempt to spread Catholicism throughout the world.
After joining the Jesuits, Luis Frois traveled to Portuguese India, where he met fellow Jesuit Francis Xavier, who was embarking on a mission to Japan. By 1561, Luis Frois had completed his Jesuit studies and had become a fully-trained priest, one particularly skilled with words and writing.
Luis Frois' Life in Japan
In 1563, Luis Frois was sent as a missionary to Japan. Frois eventually found his way to Kyoto, where he met both theshogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and Oda Nobunaga, a man who was embroiled in various plots and civil conflicts between Japan’s daimyos and their respective clans.
Frois gradually gained Nobunaga’s trust, and eventually became something of an ally. As Nobunaga continued to gain power and proceeded with his attempt to unify Japan under one banner, Frois (alongside fellow Jesuits like Alessandro Valignano) was given free rein to spread Catholicism throughout Japan.
In 1583, Luis Frois was asked by his superiors to begin recording the activities of the Jesuit missionaries in Japan, as well as the wider events occurring in Japan at the time. Frois' records – later titledHistory of Japan– were fairly extensive, and are still used today as a key source of information on theSengoku period of Japan. Frois died in Nagasaki in July 1597.
Both Francis Xavier and Alessandro Valignano have been listed as Templars in previousAssassin’s Creedmedia, though that’s unclear inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. It’s unlikely that Luis Frois is a Templar inShadows, with him helping Yasuke’s personal journey towards the end of the game.
Luis Frois' Records Mention Yasuke’s Presence in Japan
Very little is known aboutYasuke’s life in Japan, but what little we do know comes primarily from Luis Frois' records and letters. According to Frois' accounts, Yasuke accompanied Frois and Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano during their meeting with Oda Nobunaga in 1581. During the meeting, Nobunaga requested Valignano to part with Yasuke, which he agreed to. This meeting is the very first scene inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
