Until 1191, the Templar Archive was a well-kept secret, guarded by the Templar Emperor of Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus. However, in 1191, Comnenus went to war with King Richard I of England, who swiftly defeated him and conquered the island. In 1228, Altaïr received word that the Templars had retaken the Archive, as Abbas Sofian, who usurped power over the Levantine Assassins, had refused to send reinforcements to defend it. Altaïr described the takeover as a massacre.