Welcome to Assassin's Creed Wiki! Log in and join the community.

Cantarella: Difference between revisions

From the Assassin's Creed Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
imported>Xangr8
No edit summary
imported>Gener4l Cl4ank4
No edit summary
 
(63 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Era|Weapons}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{era|ac2|acb}}
{{Quote|It is a most effective form of arsenic and difficult to trace.|Silvio Barbarigo describing cantarella to Rodrigo Borgia, 1485.|Assassin's Creed II|Birds of a Feather}}
{{Dialogue2|Silvio|I will confer with my associates in the streets, but chances are good that I can procure some Cantarella.|Rodrigo|Yes, and what is that?|It is a most effective form of arsenic and difficult to trace.|[[Marco Barbarigo]] and [[Rodrigo Borgia]] discuss [[Giovanni Mocenigo]]'s assassination.|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''Cantarella''' was a variation of {{Wiki|arsenic}} which was often used by the [[House of Borgia|Borgia family]] and other [[Templars]] who wished to rid themselves of unwanted people or enemies. [[Rodrigo Borgia]] and his daughter [[Lucrezia Borgia]], in particular, had a preference for using it in political assassinations.
'''Cantarella''' was a poison, a variation of arsenic, often used by the [[House of Borgia|Borgia family]] and other [[Templars]] who wished to rid themselves of unwanted people or enemies.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="AC: BH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>


[[Rodrigo Borgia|Pope Alexander IV]] and his daughter, [[Lucrezia Borgia]], in particular used it in political [[Assassination Techinques|assassinations]].<ref name="AC: BH" />
==Victims==
In 1485, after failing to recruit the [[Venice|Venetian]] {{Wiki|Doge of Venice|Doge}} [[Giovanni Mocenigo]] to the [[New World Order|Templar cause]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Birds of a Feather]]</ref> [[Carlo Grimaldi]] placed a fatal dose of cantarella in the Doge's [[wine]] when he was invited to a meal with him in the [[Palazzo Ducale di Venezia]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Infrequent Flier]]</ref>


Leading to references to ''la cantarella ''as the "liquor of succession".
In 1503, [[Cesare Borgia]] ordered [[Micheletto Corella]] to poison [[Pietro Rossi]], because he was jealous of Pietro's relationship with Lucrezia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Calling All Stand-Ins]]</ref> As Pietro was playing [[Jesus of Nazareth]] in the Passion Play held at the [[Colosseum|Colosseo]], Micheletto placed cantarella into the wine fed to Christ during his crucifixion.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Exit Stage Right]]</ref> Despite this, Pietro was saved by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who quickly brought him to a [[doctor]], [[Brunelleschi]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Intervention]]</ref>


Later that same year, on 17 August, Lucrezia Borgia ordered a shipment of cantarella to be delivered to the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]], though her intentions for it were unknown.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Requiem]]</ref> The following day, Rodrigo secretly took the shipment for himself and attempted to poison Cesare with a cantarella-laced apple to stop his son from what he saw as abusing his position as Captain General of the [[Papacy|Papal]] army. Cesare did not consume a lethal amount of the poison, however,<ref name="Apple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[An Apple a Day]]</ref> but it did render him ill for months after.<ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> Following Rodrigo's attempt to poison him, Cesare force-fed him the same cantarella-filled apple, resulting in his death.<ref name="Apple"/>


==Trivia==
*In both ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' and its [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novelization]], it was mentioned by the doctor who cured Pietro Rossi that in addition to the antidote, leeches would ensure full recovery. In the novel, it was further elaborated that the doctor, Brunelleschi, had developed an effective antidote due to his experience with numerous victims of the poison.
*It is generally assumed by historians that cantarella was simply a variation of arsenic. On the other hand, its actual historical use by the Borgias and even its very existence have been doubted by others.{{Cite|11 March 2023. Who?}}
*Cantarella's later prolific use by the Borgia seems to have been inspired by [[Silvio Barbarigo]], who procured the poison used on Doge Mocenigo, as dialogue between Silvio and Rodrigo Borgia implies that the latter was unaware of its existence at the time.


 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
 
IF 9.png|Doge Mocenigo dying from cantarella
 
The Apple 3.png|Cesare Borgia suffering from cantarella poisoning
==Victims==
</gallery>
*Doge&nbsp;Giovanni Mocenigo was poisoned by [[Carlo Grimaldi]] using cantarella.<ref name="AC2" />
*[[Pietro Rossi]] was poisoned by [[Micheletto Corella]] during the events of the [[Colosseum Passion Play]] with cantarella concealed in his wine; though Pietro was eventually saved by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], who quickly brought him to a [[Doctors|doctor]].<ref name="AC: BH"/>
*Rodrigo Borgia attempted to poison his own son, [[Cesare Borgia]], with cantarella concealed within an apple. Cesare did not consume a lethal amount of the poison, but it did render him ill for months after.<ref name="AC: BH"/>
*After Rodrigo Borgia attempted to poison his son, Cesare force-fed him the same cantarella-filled apple, resulting in his death.<ref name="AC: BH"/>
 
==Trivia==
*It is interesting to note that in reality Cantarella was used to make whoever took it fall asleep for 4 hours. It appeared as if the person was dead, since they had no detectable pulse. Presumably with a higher, more concentrated dose it would prove fatal, as was the case with Rodrigo Borgia.
*When you infiltrate the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] for the second time, you can hear Lucrezia say to a guard that she ordered Cantarella last night. The guard then says that Rodrigo had taken it. Presumably, the arsenic could have been for Caterina Sforza, but Rodrigo may have taken it in order to poison Cesare.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Weapons]]
[[Category:Poisons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Weapons]]

Latest revision as of 00:04, 31 July 2025

"It is a most effective form of arsenic and difficult to trace."
―Silvio Barbarigo describing cantarella to Rodrigo Borgia, 1485.[src]-[m]

Cantarella was a variation of arsenic which was often used by the Borgia family and other Templars who wished to rid themselves of unwanted people or enemies. Rodrigo Borgia and his daughter Lucrezia Borgia, in particular, had a preference for using it in political assassinations.

Victims[edit | edit source]

In 1485, after failing to recruit the Venetian Doge Giovanni Mocenigo to the Templar cause,[1] Carlo Grimaldi placed a fatal dose of cantarella in the Doge's wine when he was invited to a meal with him in the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia.[2]

In 1503, Cesare Borgia ordered Micheletto Corella to poison Pietro Rossi, because he was jealous of Pietro's relationship with Lucrezia.[3] As Pietro was playing Jesus of Nazareth in the Passion Play held at the Colosseo, Micheletto placed cantarella into the wine fed to Christ during his crucifixion.[4] Despite this, Pietro was saved by Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who quickly brought him to a doctor, Brunelleschi.[5]

Later that same year, on 17 August, Lucrezia Borgia ordered a shipment of cantarella to be delivered to the Castel Sant'Angelo, though her intentions for it were unknown.[6] The following day, Rodrigo secretly took the shipment for himself and attempted to poison Cesare with a cantarella-laced apple to stop his son from what he saw as abusing his position as Captain General of the Papal army. Cesare did not consume a lethal amount of the poison, however,[7] but it did render him ill for months after.[8] Following Rodrigo's attempt to poison him, Cesare force-fed him the same cantarella-filled apple, resulting in his death.[7]

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • In both Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and its novelization, it was mentioned by the doctor who cured Pietro Rossi that in addition to the antidote, leeches would ensure full recovery. In the novel, it was further elaborated that the doctor, Brunelleschi, had developed an effective antidote due to his experience with numerous victims of the poison.
  • It is generally assumed by historians that cantarella was simply a variation of arsenic. On the other hand, its actual historical use by the Borgias and even its very existence have been doubted by others. [citation needed]
  • Cantarella's later prolific use by the Borgia seems to have been inspired by Silvio Barbarigo, who procured the poison used on Doge Mocenigo, as dialogue between Silvio and Rodrigo Borgia implies that the latter was unaware of its existence at the time.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Doge Mocenigo dying from cantarella
    Doge Mocenigo dying from cantarella
  • Cesare Borgia suffering from cantarella poisoning
    Cesare Borgia suffering from cantarella poisoning

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Birds of a Feather
  2. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Infrequent Flier
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Calling All Stand-Ins
  4. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Exit Stage Right
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Intervention
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Requiem
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – An Apple a Day
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel
Retrieved from ‘https://assassinscreedwiki.accesstheanimus.com/index.php?title=Cantarella&oldid=132578’