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Leonardo da Vinci

2011-07-21T03:21:49Z

124.176.75.109: /* Early life */

{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|Renaissance|Bbook|Project Legacy|Ascendance|Assassins}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci
|image = Leonardo.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 15 April, 1452<br>[[wikipedia:Vinci|Vinci]], [[Italy]]
|death = 2 May, 1519 (aged 67)<br>[[wikipedia:Amboise|Amboise]], [[France]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''<br>''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|voice = [[Carlos Ferro]]
}}
{{quote|One thing I am not, is a man of violence.|Leonardo to [[Ezio Auditore de Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] in [[Valencia]], 1505.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)}}
'''Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci''' (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an [[Italy|Italian]] polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, botanist and writer.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 out of wedlock in Vinci, a town outside of [[Florence]], Italy, to a Florentine notary named [[wikipedia:Piero da Vinci|Piero da Vinci]] and a local woman named Caterina. He spent most of his early childhood in nearby rural [[Tuscany]] so as to spare his father the embarrassment of a scandal. However, young Leonardo's innate artistic prowess was obvious to his elders even then, and when he turned fourteen he was returned to Florence, apprenticed to the workshop of renowned painter [[Andrea del Verrocchio]]; while there, he is said to have collaborated with the Verrocchio on his masterpiece, ''[[wikipedia:Baptism of Christ|Baptism of Christ]]''.

===Florence===
At age 20, Leonardo was titled a master by the [[wikipedia:Guild of Saint Luke|Guild of Saint Luke]], and opened his first workshop in Florence where he continued to collaborate with his old master. During his time there, he also befriended the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], of which he sold most of his paintings to.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

====Meeting Ezio====
[[File:Friend 3 v.png|thumb|right|250px|Leonardo upon his initial meeting with Ezio.]]
In 1476, Leonardo met Ezio Auditore when the latter accompanied his [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|mother]] to pick up some paintings from Leonardo’s workshop. On the way back to the [[Palazzo Auditore]], Leonardo and Ezio conversed about his work, which sparked the lifelong friendship between the two young men.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

After the [[Auditore execution|execution]] of [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio Auditore]], Leonardo met Ezio once again, greeting him with a brotherly embrace. He was then requested by Ezio to repair the [[Hidden Blade]] and was immediately fascinated by its sophisticated and advanced design, despite its old age. After what was apparently several hours of work (as Ezio is shown to have fallen asleep for some time), Leonardo finally finished the repairs to the Hidden Blade. Just before handing the weapon over to Ezio, Leonardo claimed that Ezio's ring finger had to be removed because "the blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whoever wields it." It is shown that he was simply joking however, after embedding a cleaver into the table next to Ezio's hand, as the blade had been modified so that the removal of the finger was no longer necessary.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Immediately after this, a Florentine guard showed up at Leonardo's workshop and took him outside into his yard for interrogation, throwing him to the ground and kicking him several times in order to extract Ezio's whereabouts. Ezio promptly sneaked up behind the guard and assassinated him with his new weapon. Afterwards, Ezio hid the body inside the workshop with others upon Leonardo's request – as the bodies were used for his anatomical research.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

[[File:Codexleo.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio handing Leonardo a Codex page.]]
Leonardo and Ezio didn't meet again until 1478, when Ezio visited him with another [[Codex ]]page attained from his uncle [[Mario Auditore]]. He deciphered the page and, while Ezio practiced the new [[Assassination Techniques|assassination techniques]] as explained on the codex page in Leonardo's yard with straw dummies, Leonardo constructed a second Hidden Blade to be put at his friend's disposal. Shortly after practicing with his Hidden Blade, Ezio inquired about [[Francesco de' Pazzi]], which prompted Leonardo to discreetly tell him that he needed to seek out [[La Volpe]] ("The Fox"). After this, Leonardo appeared at several instances in which Ezio simply visited him to decipher codex pages.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

After Ezio put an end to the [[Pazzi Conspiracy]], he received another codex page from [[Lorenzo de' Medici]] and again visited Leonardo in order to have it deciphered. He was astonished by the new [[Poison blade|blade design]], as it has been developed to allow the wielder to inject poison through it and into their enemies for a more subtle kill.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

====Moving to Venice====
[[File:EzioLeo2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Leonardo with Ezio on the ship to Venice.]]
Leonardo once again met Ezio in the [[Apennine Mountains]] after the fall of the Pazzi Conspirators. He was faced with the problem of a broken [[wagon]] wheel and asked Ezio to lift the carriage, causing Ezio to notice the contraption strapped to the roof. This was the first conversation in which Leonardo mentioned his [[Flying Machine]]. Amused by Leonardo’s idea, Ezio offered to drive, and they set off for [[Romagna]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

During the trip, the wagon was attacked by the soldiers of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], threatening their lives all the way through the Mountains. At the end of the trail, Ezio stayed behind to deal with the soldiers so Leonardo could get to Romagna safely. The two met back up at the docks in Romagna where they were scheduled to set sail for [[Venice]], after Ezio went through an ordeal involving [[Caterina Sforza]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Venice===
[[File:AC2LeonardoFire.jpg|thumb|250px|Leonardo noticing the floating paper.]]
Upon arrival in [[Venice]], Leonardo and Ezio were given a tour of the city by a baggage handler by the name of [[Alvise da Vilandino]], before being led to his new workshop. He and Ezio parted ways there with a brotherly embrace.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ezio again consulted Leonardo for his expertise, but this time for something other than decryption. He inquired about Leonardo’s Flying Machine that he learned of on the way to Romagna, hoping to use it in order to invade the [[Palazzo Ducale]] so that he could rescue [[Giovanni Mocenigo|Doge Mocenigo]] from the [[Templar]] [[Carlo Grimaldi]]. After one test flight, Leonardo deemed the machine useless and flew into a fit of rage, but was then inspired by a piece of burnt paper floating from the heat of the fire. He concluded that in order for Ezio to reach his destination, they had to light a dozen fires across the city which would cause the heated air to rise, therefore lifting the machine and allowing it to fly over a longer distance.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

====Carnevale====
[[File:EzioLeonardoCarnevale.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Ezio and Leonardo during Carnevale.]]
After being accused of the murder of the Doge, Ezio came to Leonardo asking for a [[Carnevale]] mask so that he would not be noticed as the most wanted man in Venice. He also bore another codex page, much to Leonardo's interest, as he discovered it contained plans for a small [[Pistol|firearm]] that could be concealed upon Ezio's wrist. After testing the pistol, Leonardo gave Ezio the mask he requested and pointed him in the direction of Sister [[Teodora]] and [[Antonio de Magianis]] so he could plot to assassinate the new Doge: the Templar [[Marco Barbarigo]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Leonardo also let Ezio know that [[Cristina Memories|Cristina Vespucci]] was in Venice at that time, attending Carnevale with her husband.<ref name="AC:R">''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' </ref>

====Apple from Cyprus====
Leonardo and Ezio met again briefly outside the workshop, just after Ezio discovered the Templar ship was returning the next day. Leonardo pointed out several key facts that he discovered, by piecing together the markings on the back of the codex pages, such as the arrival of a 'prophet' on the day the [[Piece of Eden]] was brought to the floating city [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

[[File:Zw-bof2.png|thumb|250px|Leonardo, studying the Apple of Eden.]]In 1488, Ezio, Mario, and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] visited Leonardo to see if he was able to make sense of the Apple which they had successfully obtained from Rodrigo Borgia. Upon its activation, Leonardo bore witness to the symbols and projections the Apple emitted, while Machiavelli and Mario fell to the floor in pain.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II-Battle of Forli">''[[Assassin's Creed II]] - [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)]]''</ref>

To their dismay, Leonardo couldn't learn any more about the Apple than the Assassins and, following its accidental activation, it was decided that it should be taken to [[Forlì]] to be kept out of Templar hands. Mario also asked Leonardo to come and visit him at the [[Villa Auditore]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II-Battle of Forli" />

====Pythagoras====
Leonardo stayed at the villa until 1499,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> where he started to become interested in the findings of [[Pythagoras]] and the location of the [[Temple of Pythagoras]]. He had managed to create a map pointing out the temple's location, and he drew pieces of this map with invisible ink on his paintings that hung in the villa.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-The Da Vinci Disappearance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''</ref>

===Rome===
In late 1499, Leonardo was forcibly pressed into designing several [[War Machines|war machines]] for [[Cesare Borgia]], son of Rodrigo Borgia, who was in turn [[Grand Master of the Templar Order]]. Additionally, he was also forced to fashion the ''[[pistol]]a'' that were used to kill [[Mario Auditore]]. These firearms were also used by the [[Papal Guards]], and by Cesare in the [[Siege of Viana]]. Despite this, Leonardo remained an ally of the Assassins, secretly meeting with Ezio to inform him of Cesare's plans, turning over the locations of the Templars overseeing the war machines, and fashioning items for Ezio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

====War Machines====
[[File:LeonardoDrawing.jpg|thumb|left|252px|Leonardo upon seeing Ezio again in Rome.]]
To avoid Templar scrutiny, Leonardo and Ezio would meet at different locations chosen by Leonardo and denoted with a drawing of a hand on a bench as a signal for Ezio to wait for him there. Leonardo agreed to reconstruct a second, smaller Hidden Blade that could fit against a standard glove to replace the one Ezio had lost during the [[Siege of Monteriggioni]], along with a [[Metal Cestus#Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|reinforced glove]] to allow Ezio to re-use the Climb Leap technique, and a forearm-mounted [[Poison darts|poison dart]] launcher.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

However, due to being paid "very little" by the Templars, Ezio was required to hand him the money for the raw materials upfront. After the [[war machines]] were finally destroyed, Leonardo also designed a [[Parachutes|parachute]] that could be built by sympathetic Roman [[tailors]], though his design (or at least the materials used) would not survive the landings, and would need to be replaced after every use.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

====Parting====
[[File:Ezioleoapple.jpg|thumb|250px|Leonardo and Ezio discussing the Apple of Eden.]]
When the Assassins finally secured the Apple of Eden from the Borgia, Ezio and Leonardo met at the [[Assassins Guild|Assassin's Guild]] on [[Tiber Island]]. Leonardo mourned the need to lock away the Apple, likening it to a masterpiece being hidden away from the world, though he did not oppose Ezio's decision. Additionally, as Leonardo's patron had been arrested and his income was still meager, Ezio turned over a sum of money to his friend, and they parted on good terms, although Leonardo would not accept the money if it was meant to be a 'goodbye'.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

The following year, Leonardo traveled with Machiavelli and Ezio to Spain to chase Micheletto and stop him from freeing Cesare after surviving wild seas, a skirmish in a bar, long horse rides and constructing bombs. After this, Leonardo decided he had enough of traveling and fighting, and returned to Rome, leaving Ezio and Machiavelli to destroy some war ships and battle Cesare.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref>

====The Pythagorian Temple====
[[File:Rollofthedice1.png|thumb|left|250px|Leonardo before being subsequently taken.]]
When Leonardo returned to Rome, he made contact with the [[Hermeticists|Cult of Hermes]], and he frequently visited the Cult head's ([[Ercole Massimo]]'s) personal library in order to do more research about [[Pythagoras]]. Eventually, he was kidnapped by the Hermeticists, who wanted him to give them the location of the temple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

After hunting across Rome, Ezio Auditore managed to gather the paintings that were seized by the Borgia during the [[Fall of Monteriggioni|attack on the Villa Auditore]] in January of 1500, and with the help of Leonardo's assistant [[Salaì]], Ezio pieced together the hidden map and the temple's location.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

Leonardo had been taken away to the catacombs that led to the Temple of Pythagoras, and it was to be where Ezio caught up with him. Ezio killed all the Hermeticists, including Massimo, and rescued Leonardo. After his ordeal, Leonardo and Ezio ventured deeper into the catacombs to explore the Temple of Pythagoras together, until they eventually stumbled upon the final chamber.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

Ezio recognized the room's architecture - a surviving [[Temples|Temple]] designed by [[Those Who Came Before]]. Though Ezio's DNA communed with a pedestal and revealed what would be coordinates, he decided it was best to leave it, despite Leonardo being eager to learn and explore more. Leonardo was distracted by Ezio, who asked him about his future plans, which Leonardo gladly revealed as they walked out of the temple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

====Invitation into the Order====

After Ezio killed Cesare in Navarre during the [[Siege of Viana]], Leonardo met again with Ezio and Machiavelli at Ezio's forty-eighth birthday party. Ezio offered Leonardo a place in the Assassin Order, though Leonardo refused, saying that he respected the Assassins' goals, but that he wanted to tread a different path; "a solitary one." Leonardo left for Milan afterwards, from which he would leave for [[wikipedia:Amboise|Amboise]] in [[France]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel"/>

===Later life===
Leonardo spent his last years in France, at the home awarded to him by Francis I. He took his most famous painting, the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'', with him when he retired to France in 1513. He died on his bed on May 2, 1519.

==Legacy==
[[File:ACB-TDVD-LeonardoWorkshop.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Leonardo's workshop portrayed in ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''.]]
Leonardo is renowned primarily as a painter. Two of his works, the ''Mona Lisa'' and ''[[wikipedia:The Last Supper|The Last Supper]]'', are the most famous, most reproduced and most parodied portrait and religious painting of all time, their fame approached only by [[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[wikipedia:The Creation of Adam|Creation of Adam]]''. Leonardo's drawing of the [[wikipedia:Vitruvian Man|Vitruvian Man]] is also regarded as a cultural icon.

Perhaps fifteen of his paintings survived; the small number due to his constant, and frequently disastrous, experimentation with new techniques and his chronic procrastination. Nevertheless, these few works, together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams and his thoughts on the nature of painting, are an invaluable contribution to later generations of artists; indeed, Leonardo could arguably be considered the most iconic artist of the Italian Renaissance, with only a handful of his contemporaries (most notably Leonardo's chief artistic rival and fellow Florentine, [[Michelangelo ]]Buonarroti) posing a realistic challenge.

====Genius Inventor====
[[File:ACBSP 2011-04-12 00-08-19-92.png|thumb|250px|The unfinished Mona Lisa, a part of his legacy.]]
Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity. He conceptualized a helicopter, a tank, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or even feasible during his lifetime, but some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As a scientist, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics and hydrodynamics.

==Characteristics and personality==
His portrayal in ''Assassin's Creed II'' depicts Leonardo da Vinci as a cheerful and optimistic man. Ezio is his best friend, and as such, he treats him like a brother and has taken great risks to protect him, even though he says later in the game that courage is not his strong suit.

====Assets====

Despite being an accomplished and respected artist, as well as deeply curious about the world's wonders, Leonardo da Vinci was also a chronic procrastinator. Most of his commissioned works took years longer than anticipated, and many were never even finished. It is possible that this was because he did not feel his work to be important enough to devote his life to, as when he met Ezio, he complained that it lacked purpose and he wishes to do something which had more impact on the world, such as architecture. Regardless, when Leonardo was intrigued by something, he became insatiably curious and often impossible to communicate with, as demonstrated when Ezio first brought him [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr]]'s [[Codex ]]pages for decryption.

Leonardo was often forgetful and easily distracted. Ezio exploited this in the [[Pythagorean Vault]] by asking Leonardo about his projects, taking his mind off the mysterious images and numbers they were gazing at.

Leonardo was also hinted at being homosexual multiple times in both ''Assassin's Creed II'' and ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', and appeared to be in a relationship with his assistant, Salaì.

==Trivia==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Focus On|thumb|250px|Leonardo da Vinci - Genius Inventor]]
===History===
*Leonardo had no surname; "da Vinci" simply means "from Vinci," identifying the town of his birth, much in the same manner that "Ezio Auditore da Firenze" shows that Ezio was born in Florence. Historically, surnames as modern society know them were still fairly uncommon (though not unheard of) into the 15th century.
*Historically, Leonardo would later become a close friend and military engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Rodrigo Borgia.
*Interestingly, in author Dan Brown's novel ''[[wikipedia:The Da Vinci Code|The Da Vinci Code]]'', it is suggested that Leonardo da Vinci was the Grand Master of a secret society known as ''[[wikipedia:The Priory of Sion|The Priory of Sion]]'', an organization that was allegedly connected with the Knights Templar.
*Ezio uses a [[Wikipedia:Wheellock|wheellock firearm]], based on a design found in the Codex pages, which historically wasn't developed until just after the time-frame of the game. Historically, Leonardo designed some of the first wheel-lock firearms.
*In reality, Leonardo was based in Milan between1482 and 1499. There, he worked in the service of Ludovico il Moro. He fled to Venice in 1499, where he worked as a military architect and engineer until his return to Florence in 1500.

===Inventions and art===
*All of Leonardo's modifications on previously existing Assassin gear are based on designs detailed in Altaïr's Codex. It is possibly from these, that Leonardo also designed some of his other inventions.
*Leonardo and Giovanni Auditore are the only known characters that can decipher and translate Altaïr's Codex.
*When Ezio accidentally activates the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] in Venice, images similar to Leonardo's later designs for the [[Tank]] can be briefly glimpsed. This experience may have provided him with the ideas for his later inventions, as well as showing him a vision of the [[Temple of Pythagoras]].
*[[File:Mapofimola.jpg|thumb|Leonardo's map of Imola.]]Additionally, when the Apple is activated, both Ezio and Leonardo are largely unaffected, although they are still blinded by the light. Mario and Machiavelli, however, are crippled by the loud noise and are unable to stand.
*Eight of the thirty collectible [[paintings]] that are placed in the Villa Auditore were painted by Leonardo. They play a significant role in the ''Brotherhood'' DLC, ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''.
*A map of the city of Imola that Leonardo drew for Cesare Borgia appears frequently in-game; on a wall in the [[Hideout]], in Leonardo's workshop, as the Codex map that Caterina gives to Ezio, and in a [[Lairs of Romulus|Lair of Romulus]], on the ground. It also appeared on a wall in his workshop in [[Florence]] in [[Assassin's Creed II]], even though he would not have completed it until 1502.

===Appearance and behavior===
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', like other main characters, Leonardo's appearance does not change throughout the 23 years he is shown in the game, from his first encounter to the decoding of the Codex in the villa in 1499. This was rectified in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', where Leonardo is depicted older with a longer beard and slightly greying hair.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the cut-scene when Ezio visits Leonardo is the same each time (even after Leonardo moves to Venice), except when the Codex pages provide new modifications to Ezio's equipment.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', Leonardo is shown as right-handed, but in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', he is left-handed, as he was known to be in real life.
*In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', after Leonardo mentions his work on the ''Mona Lisa'', Ezio warns him not to allow pretty girls to distract him from making the designs he needs. His arm around him, Leonardo lightly assures Ezio that women would ''"provide little distraction"'' to his work, to which Ezio replies, ''"Wait, I don't get it."'' This is a reference to the widely-held belief that the real-life Leonardo was homosexual.
*While exploring the [[Temple of Pythagoras|Pythagorian Temple]], Ezio and Leonardo have a brief conversation about Leonardo's assistant Salaì. Leonardo asks where he is, and quickly clarifies that he is only concerned about Salaì's careless spending. Ezio, however, merely comments that Salaì fits Leonardo, and that he approves. Leonardo is left nervously speechless.

===Others===
*Leonardo has the same voice actor as the [[Rafiq]] in Damascus from Assassins Creed, Carlos Ferro.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the only time the player can explore Leonardo's Workshop is when they are disposing of the dead body in [[Ace Up My Sleeve]]. In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood,'' it can only be explored while assembling Leonardo's map during [[Decoding Da Vinci]] as part of [[Da Vinci Disappearance|The da Vinci Disappearance]].
*In one of Ezio Auditore's [[Cristina Memories]] in Venice, Leonardo tells Ezio that [[Cristina Vespucci|Cristina]] was attending Carnevale; even hinting that they might be close, despite Leonardo having nothing to do with Cristina in the majority of the two games. However, in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' it is revealed that he knew because Cristina was a guest of his patron.
*In the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novel for ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], Leonardo is invited to join the Brotherhood. However, he declines, saying that though he will always support their goals, he is on a different path, one that is solitary.
*You can kill Leonardo right before the mission (while, and after, you walk with him) "All Things Come To He Who Waits", as well as the quest "Friend of the Family".

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="168" captionalign="left">
Leonardoartwork1.jpg|Leonardo's concept art.
Leo.JPG|In-game ''Assassin's Creed II'' model.
Leonardo_workshop.jpg|Leonardo's workshop.
Da Vinci 2.jpg|Leonardo da Vinci's concept art
assassins-creed-2-leonardo-davinci.jpg|Database Entry Potrait of Leonardo Da Vinci
assassins-creed-brotherhood-Leonardo-da-vinci-50p.jpg|Ezio and Leonardo in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
Bench.jpg|A bench, marked by Leonardo.
</gallery>
===Da Vinci's Designs===
<gallery widths="168" captionalign="left">
Leonardo's_Flying_machine_Design.jpg|Flying machine.
Armored_car.jpg|Tank.
Gun_l.jpg|12-barelled gun.
Leonardo Davinci.jpeg|Self-portrait
Crossbow design LDV.jpg|Leonardo's crossbow design
Leonardo's Parachute.jpg|Leonardo's parachute design
2 The-Last-Supper.jpg|Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper
mona-lisa-painting.jpg|Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vinci, Leonardo da}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Battle of Forlì

2011-07-21T03:11:40Z

124.176.75.109: /* Planning the Protection */

{{era|AC2}}
{{WPtimeline}}
{{Battle
|prev = [[Hunt in Venice]]
|next = [[Corombo in Venice]]
|image = [[File:Battle for forli.jpg|300px]]
|date = 1488
|place = [[Romagna]], [[Italy]]
|result = *Orsi Brothers' death.
*The Apple is taken by Savonarola.
*Retaking of Forlí by Sforza
|side1 = [[Templars]]
|side2 = [[Assassins]] & [[Caterina Sforza]]'s city guard
|commanders1 = *[[Checco Orsi]]
*[[Ludovico Orsi]]
|commanders2 = *[[Niccolò Machiavelli]]
*[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
|forces1 = Unspecified numbers of:
*Militia
*Brutes
*Agiles
*Seekers
*Elites
*Leaders
|forces2 = Unspecified numbers of:
*Forlì militia
*Forlì brutes
*Forlì leaders
*Forlì seekers
*Forlì archers
|casual1 = *Checco Orsi
*Ludovico Orsi
*Unknow number of soldiers
|casual2 = *Girolamo Riario
*Unknown number of soldiers
|civilian = Unknown numbers}}
{{youmay|the event|the [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|downloadable content]]}}
The '''Battle of Forlì''' was a military conflict between the [[Templars|Templar]] forces of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], commanded by the [[House of Orsi|Orsi brothers]], and the [[Caterina Sforza]], Countess of [[Forlì]], with allied Assassins the year 1488.

==Shelter in the Wetlands==
[[File:WW.png|thumb|left|200px]]
===Planning the Protection===
{{Template:Dialogue3|Mario|Take is to Forlì. The citadel is walled, protected by cannons -- and our ally controls it|Ezio|Who is this ally?|Her name is Caterina Sforza.|You don't say... I think I might enjoy this mission.|Mario to Ezio on where to take the Apple, Venice 1488.}}
After [[Hunt in Venice|procuring]] the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] from the [[Templar]] [[Rodrigo Borgia]] in the city of [[Venice]] and the [[Initiation to the Assassin Order|induction]] of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] into the Assassin Order, Ezio, [[Mario Auditore]] and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] met with the inventor [[Leonardo da Vinci]] at his workshop, with the hope that he might be able to shed some light upon the nature of the artifact. Leonardo, fascinated by the Apple, explained he knew little more of it than the Assassins themselves.

Leonardo derived that it was fabricated with materials that shouldn't exist, and yet was an ancient artifact. Mario then claimed that the [[Codex]] refers to it as a "[[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]]". Ezio then interrupted, stating that Rodrigo referred to it as "the Apple". Leonardo then speculated that this might be referring to [[Adam and Eve|Adam and Eve's]] Apple. A forbidden knowledge, Leonardo asked Ezio if he was suggesting they were connected. Neither confirming nor denying this, Ezio placed his hand over the Apple and touched it.

The Apple immediately reacted with his DNA and cause the entire room to be filled with a blinding light, and images of the future. Causing confusion and pain to everyone, Ezio stopped it once more with the touch of his hand. After inadvertently witnessing the Apple's power, Leonardo proclaimed that if the artifact fell into the wrong hands, the results could prove evidently disastrous.

Mario, however, knew it had to be protected. He thought it best to hide the Piece of Eden within the city of Forlì, where a powerful ally of the Assassins reigned; Caterina Sforza, an old acquaintance of Ezio. Informing Ezio of this plan, he explained the city was walled and protected by cannons. Ezio expressed his joy with this plan, and prepared to depart for Forlì.

===Escort to the conflict===
{{Dialogue3|Civilian|They came as soon as you left the city walls, Signora. The city is under attack!|Caterina|What!? By who!?|The Orsi brothers, Signora.|Aw, sangue di Giuda! (God damn it!)|A civilian informing Caterina of the attack, Romanga 1488.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:BOF2.png|thumb|250px|Ezio with Machiavelli and Caterina.]]
Accompanied by Machiavelli, Ezio met up with Caterina, who was surprised to hear of Ezio's allegiances to the Assassins, even claiming she knew there was something special about him when they first met. Escorted by the city [[guards]], Caterina, Machiavelli and Ezio made their way to the city.

As they did, Caterina claiming that the Apple would be safe in Forlì. As they walked Ezio complimented Caterina on ruling her own city, remarking it was very impressive. Caterina agreed, but reminded him it was once [[Girolamo Riario|her husband]], before he passed away. Ezio offered his condolences, however Caterina simply told not to, as she had him killed.

Surprised by this, Machiavelli explained that Girolamo was affiliated with the Templars, and was making a map on the remaining codex pages. Caterina then expressed her loathing for her ex-husband, pointing out various flaws. As they made their way towards the city however, they found the townspeople fleeing from an unknown hostile force. When Caterina asked one of the fleeing civilians who was attacking, she was given the names [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] and [[Ludovico Orsi]], the men she had hired to kill her husband. They had invaded and taken control of much of the city.

[[File:BOF1.png|thumb|left|250px|Forlì as the battle begins.]]Fearing the worst for her children, the party made their way to the city with haste, but was blocked from entry, for the city gates were locked. Ezio asked if there was another way into the city, and Caterina replied that there was a secret entrance. She instructed Ezio to swim under the city drain and open the gates once he got inside.

As he made his way into the city, Caterina threw insults at the Orsi brothers, shouting and screaming at them with vulgar taunts. After making his way through the city, avoiding open conflict, Ezio managed to scale the walls, and dispatch any Borgia invaders that challenged him, and eventually opened the gates for Caterina and her militia, allowing them to retake the city.

==Defending the Citadel==
[[File:500x_assassins_creed_2_dlc.jpeg|thumb|300px]]
===Open Battle===
{{Quote|Reinforcements from the mountains! They are breaching the citadel!|One of Caterina's guard screaming of the Orsi's reinforcements, 1488.|Assassin's Creed II}}
Ezio, opening the gates with Machiavelli and Caterina, made their way to the citadel. Ezio then performed a [[Leap of Faith|leap of faith]] to join the skirmish. There they fought off the Templars attacking. Though several times they were ambushed Ezio and Machiavelli both managed to protect Caterina. As they reached the inner citadel, Caterina went on to check on her children.

She noticed that two of her children, [[Ottaviano Riario|Ottaviano]] and [[Bianca Riario|Bianca]] were missing. The servant informed her that the two were playing outside during the attack, and feared the worst. Before Caterina spoke, a guard posted on the city walls bellowed that the Orsi were bringing reinforcement from the mountains, and are breaching the citadel.

===Defensive===
{{Quote|Caterina! Caterina Sforza! I know you're in there! I have something you may want back… Are you missing any children?|Checco Orsi|Battle of Forlì (DLC)}}
Caterina told Ezio to stop them from breaching the citadel. Preparing for combat, Ezio, Caterina and Machiavelli fought off the invaders as they made their way into the citadel. After fending off most of the attackers, Caterina heard some very familiar voices. Looking outside the citadel, Caterina saw it was the Orsi brothers, accompanied by their infantry of Borgia soldiers. Checco then claimed that he had something she may want back, informing her that the children were with them.

The two were also surprised to see Ezio, and introduced themselves to the Assassin. Caterina insulted them and demanded her children be released, and the Orsi brothers claimed that they would be freed once Caterina handed over her husband's map. During this exchange, [[Girolamo Savonarola|a unknown monk]] watched from the back of the Orsi's armed band.

Caterina refused to surrender the map, and even went as far as to say that the Orsi can have her children, stating that she has'' "the instrument to make more". ''Knowing that Caterina would inevitably change her mind, the Orsi brothers claimed that she had one hour before they killed them. After this, the brothers and their men retreated to the countryside. Caterina cried out of concern for her children.

Ezio told Caterina that he couldn't let her make that sacrifice, and Caterina replied that there would be no sacrifices and asked Ezio get them back for her. Ezio agreed and gave Caterina the Apple of Eden, stating that it needed to remain safe in the citadel. He then departed to rescue her children.

==Dealing with the Orsi==
{{quote|The Maestro gains his prize, because of me...|Ludovico Orsi's last words after Ezio slays him}}
[[File:Assassins-creed-2-forli-2.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Ezio assassinating Checco Orsi on horseback]]With two of Sforza's children still in Orsi hands, Ezio was tasked with their liberation. The Assassin overpowered the guard detail assigned to imprison Bianca, who directed Ezio to her brother Ottaviano. As Bianca fled back to the city, Ezio made his way the the lighthouse upon which Ottaviano was being held by Ludovico himself.

Climbing the tower, Ezio dispatched the Orsi brother, and rescued Ottaviano, though not before learning that the distraction of the captured siblings had allowed the brothers to steal the Apple. Hurrying back to the citadel, Ezio learned that Ludovico's jeering had been true, and that Checco had acquired the Apple; Ezio swiftly tracked down and killed the remaining Orsi brother.

Retrieving the Apple, Ezio failed to notice that Checco had stabbed him in the abdomen. Injured, Ezio collapsed to the floor, the Apple rolling from his hand. Before losing consciousness Ezio saw a monk with a missing finger pick up the Apple and walk away, despite Ezio's warnings against doing so. The battle was over, and the city remained within the hands of Caterina Sforza.

==The Hunt for the Monk==
[[File:62550_orig.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio waking up after being stabbed by Checco Orsi]]
In the battle's aftermath, Forlì guards scouting the area found Ezio, barely alive. They brought him back to the city, where Caterina personally nursed him back to health.

When Ezio regained consciousness, he told her what had happened, and she suggested that he head for an abbey in the wetlands where he might find some clues to the monk's identity, and also gave Ezio the map, since he would need to find it to find the remaining [[Codex ]]pages in order to determine the location of [[Vatican Vault|the Vault]]. With that, Ezio thanked Caterina for her help, and departed.

Ezio headed to the abbey, where he found an Irish priest, [[Darby O'Callahan|Brother O'Callahan]] being roughed up by Borgia thugs. After helping the priest defeat his attackers, Ezio was able to inquire as to the identity of the monk with the missing finger. O'Callahan replied that he didn't know, but suggested that Ezio might gain more information at [[Abbazia di San Mercuriale|the abbey within Forlì]].

Returning to the city, Ezio went to the Abbey and was about to make inquiries when one of the priests present recognized him as [[Stefano da Bagnone]]'s killer nine years previous. The man fled, but Ezio caught up and tackled him. Ezio managed to convince the monk that Stefano's death had been justified, since Ezio only slew those who deserved death, then asked for the identity of the monk. The priest identified the monk as [[Girolamo Savonarola|Brother Savonarola]], but insisted that he had retired to a hermitage. Ezio replied that Savonarola had left and asked where he might have gone; the priest suggested he might have returned to the place where he studied; [[Santo Spirito]], in [[Florence]].

==Source==
*
[[Assassin's Creed II]][[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|'' - Battle of Forlì'' DLC]]

{{Timeline}}
[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II events]]
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II DLC]]
[[Category:Timeline]]