Havana

Havana (Spanish: La Habana) is the capital and commercial center of the island country of Cuba in the Caribbean.
Founded by Spaniards in the 16th century, Havana served as a springboard for the of the Americas and became a stopping point for the treasure-laden Spanish galleons on the crossing between the New World and the Old World. As a result, the city flourished both economically and culturally.
==History==
===Humble beginnings===
In the early 1500s, several attempts were made to found a town near the Havana BayAssassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Havana, around 1514,Assassin's Creed: Identity – Database: Havana (Identity) with a settlement eventually being established on the southern coast by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. However, the city was moved north in 1519 for strategic reasons, namely the narrow passageway of the bay which provided easy shelter for ships, with three different harbors constructed due to the island's large size.Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
Sitting on a bay that opened to the Gulf Stream, Havana became a natural stopping point between Europe and the Americas. As the city grew around its trade port, Havana became a target for buccaneer and privateer attacks. In 1555, Havana was partially burnt to the ground by the French corsair Jacques de Sores, forcing the Spanish Crown to build fortifications.
===Key to the New World===
Following a Royal Decree in 1561, all ships of the annual treasure fleet were required to meet up in Havana before they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. This boosted commerce and development of the city, with Havana supplying food and equipment for most of the Spanish fleet. It eventually became the richest and largest port in the Caribbean, making it a prime target for pirates, who hoped to rob the treasure fleet's ships of their riches. The pirates were able to infiltrate Havana, contributing to the rise of corruption.Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Golden Age of Piracy: "The Fortified City"
To ward off potential attackers, military forts such as the Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta and the Castillo Morro were constructed.Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Despite this, attacks from pirates and privateers continued. In 1634, Havana was officially designated the "Key to the New World and Rampart of the West Indies" by the Spanish Crown.
In 1708, the Templar Laureano de Torres y Ayala was appointed Governor of Cuba with the help of his allies in the Spanish Court. Establishing his own Order in the West Indies, he orchestrated Templar involvement in the Caribbean from his mansion within the city. Torres would also make many lasting improvements to the city, fortifying the island's defenses and kick-starting the production of tobacco. He remained governor until 1716, following which he retired and dedicated his life to charitable functions, such as financing hospitals.
The Assassin Order also maintained a presence in Havana during this time, running an Assassin bureau headed by Rhona Dinsmore. She faced opposition from Templar agent Hilary Flint, who used local pickpockets to fund an arms race against her, though he was eliminated by the combined efforts of Dinsmore and Edward Kenway in 1717. Following Torres' death in 1722 and the subsequent decline of the Caribbean Templars, she was able to expand her branch of Assassins and secure full control of the city for many years, focusing on keeping it safe from territorial squabbles.Assassin's Creed: Rogue
By the mid-18th century, Havana had reached a population of more than 70,000 people, exceeding the size of other New World settlements like New York and Boston. Despite Dinsmore's efforts, the city eventually became embroiled in the Seven Years' War and was captured by the British in 1762. Israel Putnam, then a Colonel in with the British Army, participated in their to capture Havana, though his ship was wrecked in the attempt and he was its sole survivor.Assassin's Creed III – Conflict Looms
Less than a year later, the ensured the return of Havana to Spain, though Spain had to cede Florida to Great Britain in return. The de Grandpré business also sent ships to Havana to import and export goods.Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Christopher Columbus's body was once transferred to Havana in 1795, before 1899 transfer to Seville, Spain.Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization – Chapter 25
===Later developments===
During the 19th century, Havana flourished, benefitting greatly from trade with the United States. Having become an economic and cultural center, the city was referred to as the "Paris of the Caribbean".
In 1898, while the Cubans were fighting their , the battleship USS Maine exploded in the port of Havana. The incident gave the United States a pretext to occupy the wealthy island for four years, starting the Spanish-American War. Later still, would lead a revolution to install a communist regime that nationalized all foreign assets, including the powerful American United Fruit Company.
===Modern times===
In 2013, Havana was used as a simulated location created by Abstergo Industries' entertainment branch, in order to influence the general public through the console stage of their Animus technology.
==Trivia==
*Havana is the only city in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag in which no animals can be hunted.
*Several in-game sources refer to Havana's "Poor District", despite cities in Black Flag not being divided into districts.
**Furthermore, district specification of "Poor", "Middle", and "Rich" is identical to the one seen in Assassin's Creed.
==Gallery==
<tabber>Concept art=
AC4BF Arriving in Havana - Concept Art.jpg|Bird's eye view of Havana
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana Skyline by Donglu.jpg|Havana skyline
AC4BF Havana Port - Concept Art.jpg|Havana's port
ACIFortifiedCity.jpg|Fortifications in Havana
AC4BF Havana Bay Approach - Concept Art.jpg|Rowers entering Havana Bay
AC4BF Havana Dusk - Concept Art.jpg|View of the Havana Bay
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana exploration by Donglu.jpg|View of the Havana Bay
Caribbean city ACIV.jpg|The Cathedral of Havana
Havana Cathedral's Plaza - Concept Art.jpg|Plaza de la Catedral
AC4BFLaHavane.jpg|A plaza in Havana
AC4BF Havana Streets - Concept Art.jpg|Streets of Havana
AC4BF Docked - Concept Art.jpg|Streets of Havana
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana alley by Donglu.jpg|An alleyway in Havana
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana City by Donglu.jpg|An alcove in Havana
Havana (Identity).png|
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana city block set by Donglu.jpg|Various types of buildings
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Havana city landmarks set by Donglu.jpg|Various landmarks
|-|In-game=
AC4 Map.png|In-game map of Havana
Lively Havana 3.png|Edward Kenway on a viewpoint in Havana
A Man They Call The Sage 9.png|The Cathedral of Havana
Lively Havana 1.png|Stede Bonnet and Edward at the port of Havana
</tabber>
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed III 
*Assassin's Creed III: Liberation 
*Assassin's Creed: Initiates 
*Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 
*Assassin's Creed: Pirates
*Assassin's Creed: Identity 
*Assassin's Creed: Rogue 
*Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization 
==References==
de:Havanna
es:La Habana
fr:La Havane
hu:Havanna
it:L'Avana
pl:Hawana
ru:Гавана
zh:哈瓦那
Category:Port cities
Category:Capital cities
Category:Cuba
Category:Animi virtual locations
Category:Quaternary stage locations