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Siege of Monteriggioni

2010-12-23T01:50:23Z

72.68.176.146: /* Escaping the city */

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{{revamp}}
{{Battle
|name = Fall of Monteriggioni
|imageBG = Fall of Monterigioni
|image = [[File:Siege-of-Monteriggioni.jpg|300px]]
|date = January 1500
|place = [[Monteriggioni]], [[Tuscany]]
|result = Major Borgia (Templar) Victory:

Pillage of Monteriggioni by Borgia forces. 
*Death of Mario Auditore
*Caterina Sforza captured
*[[Apple of Eden]] acquired

Minor Auditore Victory:
*Ezio, Claudia, Maria and villagers escaped through tunnels
|side1 = [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] ([[Templars]])
|side2 = [[House of Auditore|Auditore]]
|commanders1 = *[[Cesare Borgia]]
*[[Lucrezia Borgia]]
*[[Micheletto]]
*[[Octavian de Valois]]
*[[Juan Borgia]]
|commanders2 = *[[Mario Auditore]]
*[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
*[[Caterina Sforza]]
|forces1 = Unspecified numbers of:
*Militia
*[[Brutes]]
*[[Agile guards]]
*[[Seekers]]
*Elites
*Leaders
*[[Arquebusiers]]
|forces2 = Unspecified numbers of:
*[[Mercenaries]]
*Monteriggioni city guards
*Mercenary [[arquebusiers]]
|casual1 = *Large number of Borgia soldiers
*Moderate destruction of Borgia siege machines
|casual2 = *Mario Auditore
*Large number of mercenaries
|civilian = Unknown numbers|prev = [[Confrontation at the Vatican]]
|undefined|next = [[Liberation of Rome]]||conflict = Siege of Monteriggioni}}

The '''Fall of Monteriggioni''' was a series of events leading up to an engagement between the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]], under the command of [[Cesare Borgia]], and the [[House of Auditore|Auditore]] which took place in January, 1500.
==Return from the Vatican==
{{quote|Steel yourself, Ezio. They will have many questions.|Mario to Ezio, before returning to the villa.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
After [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] received the message of [[Those Who Came Before]] from [[The Vault|the Vault]] under the Vatican, Ezio and [[Mario Auditore]] return to [[Monteriggioni]] after escaping the Papal forces, with the [[First Apple|Apple of Eden]] with them.

In the countryside of Monteriggioni, Ezio and Mario conversed about what Ezio had learned in the Vault, though Mario assured him that many of the things that the [[Minerva|mysterious figure]] had mentioned would happen in the future, thus they need not worry about it. As they came within sight of the town, Ezio was slightly startled by a cannon ball impacting the ground near them, and Mario explained that his [[Mercenaries|mercenaries]] were merely testing out the [[Mounted cannons|cannons]] they had installed during Ezio's absence. Entering Monteriggioni, Ezio and Mario were joyously greeted by the townspeople on their return.
[[File:Zw-ach-ezio-mario-horse.jpg|230px|left|thumb|Ezio and Mario, riding back to Monteriggioni.]]
Arriving at the foot of the [[Villa Auditore]], the two were welcomed by [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|Claudia Auditore]], Ezio's sister, who told Ezio of [[Caterina Sforza]]'s presence in Monteriggioni. Claudia then asked if what Ezio had started was finally finished, to which Ezio replied that he would explain everything to both her and the others later in Mario's study. As Claudia left, Mario told Ezio to prepare himself for many questions, before going back into the Villa.

Before entering the Villa, Ezio helped some of the townspeople; and while doing so, he learned of Claudia's birthday party that would take place the next day in the Villa. After helping the townspeople and some of Mario's mercenaries by delivering flowers to the Villa Auditore and testing out the new cannons himself, Ezio headed off to the Villa. Caterina Sforza stood waiting in the main hall of the villa, and she greeted Ezio with glee. Caterina explained that she had come to Monteriggioni seeking the assistance of their mercenaries to defend Forli against the Papal army. Ezio told Caterina that they would discuss things after the meeting at Mario's study, to which she agreed.

Ezio arrived at the study, where Claudia, [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|his mother]], Mario, and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] were waiting. Ezio told them of what he had seen in [[The Vault|the Vault]], and of his confrontation with the Spaniard, [[Rodrigo Borgia]]. He spoke of the "moving portrait" of the goddess [[Minerva]], who had told Ezio about a disaster that would occur in the distant future, as well as the existence of Temples that could aid humanity. After her message, she had called out to a phantom named [[Desmond Miles|Desmond]], much to Ezio's confusion. After this, the goddess had disappeared.[[File:Vlcsnap-2010-11-12-17h26m26s59.jpg|230px|thumb|right|Ezio and Caterina, in Ezio's room.]]

The others were astounded by Ezio's discoveries, and Claudia asked if the goddess had appeared human. Ezio told her that she had, though her words proved otherwise. Mario asked who Desmond was, and where the Temples that Minerva mentioned were. Ezio could not provide the answer to either. Machiavelli asked Ezio how it had ended with Rodrigo, if he had begged for mercy or had offered him power. Ezio told him that none of these happened, for he had allowed Rodrigo to live. Enraged, Machiavelli told Ezio that sparing him was a mistake. Ezio attempted to explain why he had spared Rodrigo, saying that they should forget the past and focus more on the future, but Machiavelli disagreed vehemently with him, and abruptly left for [[Rome]].

As Machiavelli left, Mario tried to comfort Ezio with his decision, stating that he trusted his decisions. After this, Ezio left the study and returned to his room. There, he undressed and bathed, and was soon by Caterina, who "comforted" him. After the bath, Ezio and Caterina continued their "activities" in bed, which lasted until dawn.

==Siege==
{{quote|We've had too much bloodshed. I think a cleansing is in order. So consider this as an invitation from my family...to yours!|[[Cesare Borgia]], moments before killing Mario.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:AssassinsCreedBrotherhoodE32010SinglePlayerGameplayMovie.jpg|thumb|230px|[[Monteriggioni]] under fire.]]
As they finish, Caterina asked Ezio if he wants to "go again". Ezio replied that she need not to ask. As they were about to begin, cannon fire can be heard from the outside. When Caterina wondered aloud what it was, Ezio assumed it was just the mercenaries training with the new cannons. This was proven wrong, as a cannon ball tore through the windows of Ezio's room, destroying the [[Armor of Altaïr|armor of his ancestor]]. Surprised, Ezio got out of bed and dressed himself for combat. Taking up a common sword and his [[Hidden Blade|hidden blade]], while dressed in common clothes, Ezio headed out of the villa through the wall blown open by cannon fire. Caterina leaves the room through the stairs and tells Ezio that she will assist the civilians. After this, the two part ways.

What greeted Ezio was the site of [[Monteriggioni]], under cannon fire, with buildings and structures burning and falling apart. As his eyes wandered, Ezio sees a cannon ball headed his way, which he barely dodged. Ezio falls off the roof of the Villa, but was able to recover quickly. He was then helped up by his uncle, quickly informed Ezio that [[House of Borgia|the Borgia]] were the invading force. Ezio wondered they did not see the this coming during the night, to which Mario replied that they must have taken a alternative route to the east. As the Villa sustained more damage, Mario instructed Ezio to climb the battlements of the city and assist the mercenaries as the villagers flee. Mario told Ezio that he will lead a frontal assault against the Borgia.

Ezio asked his uncle if he had [[First Apple|the apple]], to which he replied that he is keeping it safe. After this, the two bid each other safety and farewell, before Ezio tells Mario to be careful, with Mario reassuring him that he will be, the two then departed. Ezio, with haste, dropped off the villa's courtyard and landed onto nearby a [[Horses|horse]], where he rode across the city as it fell apart. Arriving at the side of the city walls, a building collapsed, which causes Ezio's horse to trip over and die. Ezio dismounts just in time, and proceeds to climb up a ladder leading directly to the battlements, after small nuisances. Ezio made his way to the mounted cannons.

Ezio proceed the use of the cannons to destroy the Borgia cannon while also hitting approaching siege tower, which after sustaining enough damage collapsed. As Ezio and the mercenaries defended the city, the townspeople flee to safety of the villa. After all the townspeople fleed to safety, the inevitability of the Borgia to preach the city walls happened sooner that expected, as one siege towers successfully preached the oppisite side of the city walls. One of the mercenaries took Ezio's place as the cannoneer, Ezio then directly ran through the battlement to aid the mercenaries being assaulted be attacking soldiers.[[File:Cesare with the Apple.jpg|230px|thumb|left|[[Cesare Borgia]], holding the [[First Apple|Apple of Eden]] alongside his sister]]

Ezio killed the commanding soldier from above and disposed off the remain attacker. As he did, the inevitable happened, the Borgia preached the city, his uncle Mario arriving at the city gates, barely alive. Who followed was [[Cesare Borgia]], aside him his sister, [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], also being accompanied by his general and a large number of soldiers. Cesare called out for Ezio's attention, stating that he knew of him and his "little group" of [[Assassins]], and also the Apple. Ezio rushed to Mario, as Cesare quickly snatched the firearm fashioned by [[Leonardo da Vinci|the assassin's friend]], and points it to Mario's head. Claiming that a cleansing is in order, Cesare shoots Mario with the gun, serving as the invitation of the Borgia to the [[House of Auditore|Auditore]]. Subsequently, Ezio was shot across the left shoulder and stomach by several of the [[Arquebusiers|arquebusiers]] positioned at the city walls, which causes Ezio to fall of the building unconsciousness.

==Escaping the city==
Waking up, Ezio is greeted by two mercenaries, dragging him across the ground. Ezio abruptly told them to let go, stating that he can stand on his own. As he did, the Borgia's soldiers arrive to finish off what they began. Knowing he cannot handle the guards alone, Ezio called for the mercenaries to aid him, without much effort, Ezio and the mercenaries made their way to the villa, to meet up with Claudia.[[File:Zw-acb-hiddenpassage.jpg|250px|thumb|The escape passage constructed at the Sanctuary.]]

As he made his way through the city rubble, Ezio arrives at the villa, at the site Claudia and a group of mercenaries being assaulted by more soldiers. Ezio and his group of mercenaries assisted them, and successfully fended them off. With haste, the group made their way to the Sanctuary, still being constantly assaulted by Borgia guards. Eventually, Ezio made his way to the Sanctuary, after being greeted by one of the [[Thieves|thieves]] of Monteriggioni. The thief told Ezio that they thought he was dead. Before Ezio closed the passage to the sanctuary, the thief left to aid the other factions assisting Ezio. After this, Ezio locked the secret door to the hidden passage, before meeting up with Claudia, Maria and the towns people

Ezio, there, led the escape through a long, perilous passage constructed behind [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|his ancestor]]'s statue, that leads to the outside of the northern walls. After a long journey, navigating through the complex structure and dealing with the guards that managed to catch up with the group, Ezio and the other civilians managed to escape the city, by that time the Borgia assumed Ezio was dead and began to recall their invading forces.

==Aftermath==
{{dialogue|Claudia|You're not coming with us? Where are you going?|Ezio|To [[Roma]].|Ezio and Claudia, before Ezio rides off to Rome.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

While asking for a horse, Ezio instructed Claudia to take their mother back to [[Florence]]. Claudia asked where he was headed, to which he replied that he was going to [[Rome]]. As the civilians leave the area, and as Maria bids her son farewell, Ezio rides off to Rome.

As Ezio travels the countryside, he grows weaker and weaker from his injury, and falls off his horse and passes out on the road. After a while, Ezio woke up, dazed and covered in bandages. He was greeted by the sight of a kindly woman, who nursed him back to health. There, she told him that a man took him there and left new equipment for him to use. After this, the woman instructs Ezio to meet up with [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] at the Mausoleo di Augusto.

The [[Liberation of Rome|liberation of Rome]] has begun.

==Source==
*[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]

{{Timeline}}
[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Monteriggioni]]

Isu

2010-12-23T01:46:43Z

72.68.176.146: /* War */

[[File:Zw-Minerva-3.png|thumb|[[Minerva]], a representative of "Those Who Came Before"]]
{{quote|We simply came... before.|[[Minerva]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''Those Who Came Before'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>, also known as '''the First Civilization'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>, were an ancient and advanced species on Earth who created the [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]], as well as the [[Humans|human]] race itself. Exactly who they were, where they came from and when they disappeared is largely unknown. With early humans unable to comprehend the First Civilization for what they truly were, they were looked upon as gods.

==Knowledge==
Though various religious beliefs seem to have been based on aspects and misinterpretations of Those Who Came Before, their existence was largely unknown to [[Humans|humanity]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. As early as the 12th Century, both the [[Assassins]] and the [[Knights Templar]] knew that the focus of human religions, the Gods, did not truly exist, and that miracles and other supernatural occurrences were simply manifestations of the powers of the [[Pieces of Eden]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />, devices created by Those Who Came Before to control the Human race<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. It is unclear, however, if the Assassins and Templars understood the origin of the Pieces at that time. By the 15th century, at least one Templar, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], was aware of the existence, if not the nature, of Those Who Came Before; he mistakenly believed that [[The Vault]] underneath the Sistine Chapel housed a living God<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The first known instance of a human becoming aware of their existence following their disappearance was that of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], who made mention of them in his [[the Codex|Codex]]. However, it would not be until the year 1499 that humanity would "meet" Those Who Came Before again; [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], an Assassin, encountered a hologram of a being calling herself [[Minerva]] in The Vault. Even though Ezio told his fellow Assassins of Minerva, they still did not understand her true nature; Ezio himself showed great difficulty in understanding [[Minerva]]'s explanation of her existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

By 2012, the Templars in [[Abstergo Industries]] had a great understanding of the true nature of Those Who Came Before. Whether they learned this information through the use of the [[Animus]] or had found evidence of it earlier is unknown. However, none of the Assassins seen in this time period indicated that they had previous knowledge of the existence of Those Who Came Before until Desmond relived Ezio's memories<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Even by this time, only three members of the First Civilization were known of, let alone named: [[Juno]], [[Jupiter]] and [[Minerva]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==History==
===Creation of humanity===
{{Quote|We built you in our own image, we built you to survive.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Eden-Slaves-Workshop.png|thumb|350px|One of Those Who Came Before; using a [[Piece of Eden]] to control humans.]]
The origins of the First Civilization are unclear; Minerva simply stated that they "came before". They were responsible for the creation of humanity, creating them in their own image to be a docile workforce; built to survive, though not to be wise.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> Research by [[Subject 16]] seemed to suggest that Those Who Came Before radically altered the genetic make-up of a pre-existing species on the planet to create humanity, leaving a large gap in terms of transitional species between archaic hominids and modern humans. By 1997, the Templars had taken note of this and arranged for fake skeletons to be planted in Ethiopia, so as to limit human exposure to the possibility of the existence of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Control of humanity was assured through use of the Pieces of Eden, which tapped into a neuro-transmitter located deep within the human brain. However, there were some humans born without the neuro-transmitter, hybrids of the First Civilization and humans, and could subsequently live without being influenced by the First Civilization through such means<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

===War===
{{Quote|When we were still flesh, and our homes still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you, we who gave you life.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
Eventually, despite humanity and the First Civilization living in peace for some time, war broke out. Possibly the result of at least two immune individuals stealing a Piece of Eden from their masters. The fate of these two – [[Adam and Eve]] – following their attempt is unknown, however humanity and Those Who Came Before soon found themselves at war with each other. While Those Who Came Before were more technologically advanced and powerful, humanity had the advantage of numbers<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Somehow, the Pieces of Eden had lost their ability to influence humanity, whether it be through deactivation or by natural immunity building up within the Human race, remains unknown. This was probably done by one of Those Who Came Before who resembled a "serpent" of somekind and told Eve to take the Apple of Eden and to activate it. Thus giving her the "knowledge of good and evil". She then probably showed it to Adam and they both tried to liberate their world from the tyranny of TWCB and free their people.

====Catastrophe====
The war did eventually end, although with casualties greater than the First Civilization could have ever anticipated. The distraction of war had blinded them to all else, and their preoccupation prevented them from seeing the signs of an impending danger from the "heavens"; by the time they had noticed it, it was too late. [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Lucy Stillman]] later hypothesized that this "danger" could have been a massive solar flare, that had flipped the Earth's weakening magnetic field, reversing the polarity and making the planet geologically unstable. This hypothesis was supported by evidence found by [[Subject 16]];

*"Near the day of purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky. - Hopi"
*"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans. - Hopi"
*"They died in the fire from the heavens."
*"[[Toba catastrophe|75ka was not a volcano]]."<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Aftermath===
{{Quote|You may not comprehend us, but you will comprehend our warning. […] And as life returned to the world, we endeavored to ensure that this tragedy would not be repeated.|Minerva to [[Desmond Miles]], through the memories of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]|Assassin's Creed II}} While both races survived the catastrophe, few of either species remained. Working together, they rebuilt their world, though humanity continued to view Minerva's kind as gods<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Despite their survival, Those Who Came Before were unable to fully recover and began heading toward extinction. They knew however, that the catastrophe that had burned their world before would eventually reoccur and so they took steps to prevent it, recording a holographic, yet interactive, message to serve as a warning to those who entered [[the Vault]]. In it, Minerva warned of the impending doom, and spoke of the [[Temples]] that could save Earth from destruction, built by those who "knew to turn away from war"<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

Delivering their message to the Assassin Desmond Miles, who was viewing the memories of his ancestor [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], Minerva warned that time was short, and that "[[Templars|the Cross]]" would stand in their way. With the deliverance of that message, the last vestiges of the First Civilization died away and the gods had become extinct<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==Legacy==
{{Quote|They're gifts, Mr. Miles. From those who came before.|Dr. [[Warren Vidic]]|Assassin's Creed}}
Despite the mark they left behind on Earth, the First Civilization faded into obscurity rapidly after their decline; the inability of humans to comprehend their creators as anything but Gods did however allow their names at least, to live on. The lack of evidence for their existence did not prevent all humans from learning about them however, and by the 21st Century, the Knights Templar had a limited understanding of the nature of those who had lived before<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Indeed, the technology used to view the genetic memories of ones ancestor – the [[Animus]] – was based off technology utilized by the First Civilization<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The Templars also knew of the existence of the Pieces of Eden, and regarded them as gifts left behind by the First Civilization for them to utilize<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. This situation was in significant contrast to the situation in the 15th Century, where it had been the Assassins who knew explicitly of the existence of Those Who Came Before, whilst the Templar Grand Master [[Rodrigo Borgia]] merely believed the Vault to be the location of God himself. This changed however, and five hundred years later, the Order of Assassins knew nothing of the First Civilization's existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

==Characteristics==
{{Quote|The rest is up to you, Desmond.|Minerva to Desmond Miles, through the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Assassin's Creed II}}
The First Civilization were a technologically advanced and powerful race, who seemed to possess precognitive abilities; either natural or technological. This was proven during Minerva's conversation with Ezio Auditore, within The Vault in Rome. Minerva revealed that Ezio was simply a conduit which allowed Minerva to speak to [[Desmond Miles]], who was viewing his ancestor's memories. Furthermore, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] mentioned in [[the Codex]] that his Piece of Eden not only possessed a catalogue of past events, but also future events, implying that the Pieces contain predictions made by Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Those Who Came Before also have connections with many of Earth's religions, and likely influenced their developments directly. During her warning to Desmond, [[Minerva]] made mention of her former names, as well of those of her fellow "Gods"; Menrva, Uni and Tinia, who later became known as Minerva, Juno and Jupiter, respectively. The former names correspond to the Etruscan Triad of Deities, while the latter are the names of their Roman counterparts, who make up the Capitoline Triad. This shift in names may be indicative why various religions have numerous similarities, as they are all based on the story of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Unlike the human creations, who were created with only five senses, members of the First Civilization possessed six; the sixth being "knowledge". Following the catastrophe that set the First Civilization on the path to extinction, a concerted effort was made to pass on this sixth sense to humanity, their "final, faultered hope." Ultimately however, they failed; though humanity could ''"''[…]''see the blue shimmer ''[and] ''hear the words,"'' they did not fully possess the "knowledge" of their creators, convincing some, like [[Juno]], that humanity should have simply been left as they were.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

===Bloodline===
{{Quote|Why do we have these gifts, these abilities? Because it's in our blood! […] The seeds were planted as two world became one. Behold the Assassins, the children of two worlds!|[[Subject Sixteen]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
The mysterious individual known only as [[Subject 16]] at one point theorized that the true reason behind the [[Eagle Vision|abilities]] of some Assassins was genetic, suggesting a lineage including both human and creator blood. 16's own [[The Truth|genetic memories]] indicated him to be a direct descendant of both Adam and Eve, suggesting that his bloodline, if not many more, would all have access to these abilities. Indeed, Subject 16, Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond Miles all possessed [[Eagle Vision]], while Ezio and Altaïr both showed themselves resistant to the effects of the Apple<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. In addition, Ezio was able to use the Staff and the Apple to open The Vault, while Rodrigo Borgia could not<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />, and Altaïr had previously used the Apple to enlighten the people of Cyprus to [[Armand Bouchart]]'s lies<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>.

==Trivia==
*Though they play an important part in the plot of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', Those Who Came Before are first mentioned briefly, by [[Warren Vidic]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''. When talking to Desmond, Vidic claims that the Knights Templar are responsible for all major human technological advances in history, though he denies that they invented them, calling them "gifts… from those who came before."

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}

[[es:Aquellos Que Vinieron Antes]]
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