During the early 16th century, the Assassin Brotherhood – under the direction of Ezio Auditore, the Mentor of the Italian Assassins who happened to be visiting Constantinople at the time – sought to expand its influence throughout the Mediterranean; considering this, they began to send apprentices and recruits to usurp cities controlled by the Templar Order. Their exploits ranged from simple acts, such as protecting merchants and officials who were loyal to the Brotherhood or against the Templars, to greater plots involving assassinations and freeing jailed allies. Some special requests, specifically the survey requests of Piri Reis, involved the Assassins traveling to certain cities and mapping the area.