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{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|pl|Renaissance|Bbook|Lineage|Ascendance|Embers}}
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{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]''}}
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{{Country Infobox
'''Italy''' (Italian: ''Italia'') is a country located in southern [[wikipedia:Europe|Europe]], and home to the [[Italian Assassins|Italian branch]] of the [[Assassins|Order of Assassins]] during the 13th to 16th centuries. Italy also served as the birthplace of the [[Renaissance]], and had many beautiful cities and towns dotted across the landscape.
|title1=
|image1= AC2 Map Italy.png
|ethnic_groups= {{wiki|Italians}}
|languages= {{wiki|Italian language|Italian}}
|religion= {{wiki|Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion}}<br>[[Christianity]]
|demonym= Italian
|current_state= {{wiki|Italian Republic}}
|capital= [[Rome]]
|assassin_branch= [[Roman Hidden Ones]] {{c|defunct}}<br>[[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Brotherhood]]
|templar_branch= [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Roman Rite]]
|historical_capitals= [[Ravenna]]<br>{{wiki|Pavia}}<br>{{wiki|Turin}}
|major_conflicts= *{{wiki|Third Servile War}}<ref name="Spartacus">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: Crucifixion]]: "Spartacus"</ref>
*[[Caesar's civil war]]<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref><br>
*[[Liberators' civil war]]<ref name="Holidays 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Holidays: Chapter 1 – Ghosts of Christmas Past]]</ref><br>
*[[War of Actium]]<ref name="ACO comic">[[Assassin's Creed: Origins (comic)|''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' comic]] – [[Assassin's Creed: Origins 4|Issue #4]]</ref><ref name="DT">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt]]: "War With Rome"</ref>
*[[Italian Wars]]<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – {{Cite|16 Sept 2024}}</ref><ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>
**[[War of the League of Cambrai]]<ref name="Italian Wars 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Italian Wars: Chapter 1 – Bartolomeo d'Alviano]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' – [[Database: War of the League of Cambrai]]</ref>
*[[World War I]]{{Fact|15 March 2021}}<br>
*[[World War II]]<ref name="Holidays 1" />
|region= [[Europe|Southern Europe]]
|features=
|major_cities= [[Milan]]<br>[[Florence]]<br>[[Naples]]<br>[[Venice]]
|major_landmarks= [[Colosseum]]<br>[[St. Mark's Basilica]]<br>[[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore|Florence Cathedral]]<br>[[St. Peter's Basilica]]<br>[[Sistine Chapel]]
|isu_vault(s)= [[Colosseum Vault]]<br>[[Pythagorean Vault]]<br>[[Vatican Vault]]<br>[[Venice vault|Venice Vault]]
}}
'''Italy''' (Latin and Italian: ''Italia'') is a country located in southern [[Europe]] that shares borders with [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Austria]], and {{Wiki|Slovenia}} to the north.


Despite the ideals of the Renaissance spreading out across all Italy, during this period the nation remained divided into a multitude of city-states and Republics, notables of which included [[La Serenissima|La Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia]], and the [[Papacy|Papal States]]. Taking advantage of this division, the [[Templars]] attempted to seize control of much of northern Italy during the late 15<sup>th</sup> century, but were ultimately thwarted in this attempt by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] and his fellow Assassins.
The Italian Peninsula's history dates back to the ancient era, when it was home to the [[Roman civilization]], which started as a [[Roman Kingdom|kingdom]] centered around the city of [[Rome]] before becoming a [[Roman Republic|Republic]] and, eventually, an [[Roman Empire|Empire]] spanning the entire [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. During the final years of the Roman Republic, both the newly-formed [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]] and the [[Order of the Ancients]] spread their influence to Italy, commencing their [[Assassin-Templar War|shadow war]] that would continue for millennia afterwards.
 
After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, Italy was split into numerous city-states, such as the [[Republic of Florence|Republics of Florence]] and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] and the [[Papacy|Papal States]]. It later became the birthplace of the [[Renaissance]] cultural movement, which also saw a major escalation of the conflict between the [[Assassins]] and [[Templars]], the respective successors of the Hidden Ones and Order of the Ancients. The Assassins thwarted the Templars' attempts to unify Italy under their banner, but the various city-states would nonetheless be {{Wiki|Unification of Italy|unified}} in the 19th century, laying the foundations of the modern country.


==History==
==History==
===Founding the Assassin Order===
===Isu era===
After having founded an [[Assassins Guilds|Assassins Guild]] in [[Constantinople]] at the request of the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]], [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], [[Niccolò Polo|Niccolò]] and [[Maffeo Polo]] traveled to Italy, where they established another Assassins Guild.<ref name="TSC">[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]</ref>
During the [[Isu Era]], the [[Isu]] built at least three [[Temple (Isu)|vaults]] in the area that would one day become the city of [[Rome]]. A number of Isu were later remembered as gods by the Romans and ancient [[Greece|Greeks]], with [[Jupiter]], [[Minerva]], and [[Juno]] comprising what would be remembered as the [[Capitoline Triad]], a group of gods worshipped on the [[Capitoline Hill]].<ref name="ACB"/>
 
During the late 13th century the family that would later become the [[House of Auditore]] lived near [[Venice]]. Somewhere around 1296, [[Domenico Auditore]] was inducted into the Assassin Order. When his master, [[Dante Alighieri]] died, Domenico was tasked with the hiding of the [[Codex]] in [[Spain]], but he was ambushed by Templar pirates.<ref name="TSC" />
 
With only his son remaining, he started impersonating a nobleman in [[Florence]], using the money he had been given by Marco Polo. His family continued to act as nobles to conceal their affiliation to the Assassins. The family also built the [[Villa Auditore]] around this time, thus founding [[Monteriggioni]].<ref name="TSC" />
 
===Giovanni's travels===
In 1476, the Assassin [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze]], a descendant of Domenico Auditore, discovered the Templars plotted to gain power in Italy. He discovered that the Templars, led by [[Rodrigo Borgia]] were planning to [[Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza|murder the Duke of Milan]]. This act would greatly destabilize the relations between [[Milan]] and Florence, allowing the Templars to seize power. Even though he attempted to stop them, it was too late to prevent the assassination and the Assassin started investigating the event for the [[House of Medici|Medici]] family.<ref name="Lineage">[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]</ref>
 
[[File:Sforza Dead.jpg|thumb|250px|Sforza's death.]]
He set off to Venice, where he infiltrated the [[Palazzo Ducale]] and overheard two men sending a messenger to [[Rome]]. He followed the messenger to interrogate him, but the messenger took his own life by impaling himself on Giovanni's [[Hidden Blade]] without revealing his secrets. Giovanni searched his body and found a letter with the seal of the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo family]]. He took the letter to his employer and friend, [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], who found the letter to be encrypted. The letter was then given to [[Uberto Alberti]], who deciphered it with the help of [[Antonio Maffei]], though they kept the contents to themselves. They then proposed to have Giovanni deliver a duplicate letter to expose the man behind the assassination of [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza|Galeazzo Sforza]], the Duke of Milan.<ref name="Lineage" />
 
Giovanni traveled to Rome, posing as the original courier, and witnessed the letter switching hands until it eventually got in the hands of Rodrigo Borgia, who delivered the letter to Pope [[Sixtus IV]]. The Pope was worried about the Medici family not respecting him, and Rodrigo played on these feelings to gain "spiritual support and military aid." Rodrigo then made his way to an abandoned church, where Giovanni confronted him. Rodrigo offered him a place in the Templar organization, claiming that they would win the war that hadn't even begun yet, but Giovanni declined the offer and was forced to fend of a number of [[guards]], leaving him wounded and with a broken Hidden Blade.<ref name="Lineage" />


===Auditore execution===
===Roman era===
Later that year, [[Francesco de' Pazzi]] was arrested for his involvement in the plot against the Duke of Milan, and Giovanni Auditore started to prepare for the trial against him. However, he and two of his sons, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]] where taken away by guards before the trial could start.<ref name="ACII">[[Assassin's Creed II]]</ref>
Between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, the Greeks founded many colonies in southern Italy. The cities of [[Naples]], [[Sybaris]], and [[Croton]] formed a part of the [[Magna Graecia]].<ref name="ACOD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> During the 6th century BCE, the mathematician [[Pythagoras]] visited Italy and discovered [[Pythagorean Vault|one]] of its Isu vaults. His followers built a [[Temple of Pythagoras|temple]] on the site of the vault to hide it.<ref name="ACB"/>


Ezio Auditore went to the [[Palazzo della Signoria]], where his father was being held prisoner, and spoke to him through the bars in front of the window of his cell. Giovanni told Ezio to go to his office and look for a hidden passage, open the chest that was there and take everything that was in it, which Ezio hurriedly did. The chest contained a set of robes, a sword, a broken blade and bracer and a letter addressed to Uberto Alberti, which Ezio delivered.<ref name="ACII"/>
According to legends, the city of Rome was founded in 753 BCE by [[Romulus]] after he killed his twin brother [[Remus]]. In 510 BCE, the monarchy of Rome fell and the [[Roman Republic]] was created. The Republic conquered all of Italy before turning its attention to other lands around the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], including [[Spain|Hispanica]], [[Cyrenaica]], and Greece.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Database: Roma]]</ref>


[[File:Assassins creed 2 222785.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Auditore execution]]
In 71 BCE, [[Spartacus]], amongst others, incited a {{Wiki|Third Servile War|slave uprising}} in the Roman Republic. By the rebellion's end, Spartacus and 6000 others were [[Crucifixion|crucified]] to death as punishment.<ref name="Spartacus"/>
The next day, the trial was held at the [[Piazza della Signoria]], and Uberto sentenced the three men to death, claiming to have no knowledge of any documents. Ezio attempted to attack Uberto, but was stopped and disarmed by the guards.<ref name="ACII"/>


Ezio went back home, where he found [[Annetta]]. She told him the location of his mother and sister, and he found them in a brothel, where [[Paola]] was looking after them. He told them what had happened and started training under Paola, so he could take his revenge on Alberti. He also had [[Leonardo da Vinci]] repair his Hidden Blade, as he had lost his sword at the execution of his family.<ref name="ACII"/>
Circa 60 BCE, the Roman Republic became became an influencial power in [[Egypt]] and the [[Middle East]] with the military campaigns of the consul [[Pompey]]. Another consul, [[Gaius Julius Caesar]], conquered [[France|Gaul]] in 52 BCE.<ref name="ACO"/>


===Death of the Gonfaloniere===
[[File:ACO Theatre of Pompey Garden 1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rome, 1st century BCE]]
Shortly after the Auditore execution, Uberto Alberti attended an art display by [[Andrea del Verrocchio|Verrocchio]] in the [[Basilica di Santa Croce|Santa Croce]]. Ezio used this as a chance to assassinate the Gonfaloniere by stabbing him multiple times and declared that the Auditore were still alive.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 49 BCE, a [[Caesar's civil war|civil war]] erupted between Pompey and Caesar. The former fled to Egypt but was soon tracked down by Caesar, who had been appointed {{Wiki|Roman dictator|dictator}}. In 46 BCE, after triumphing over Pompey's and [[Ptolemy XIII]]'s army, Caesar returned to Rome with [[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII]], the [[pharaoh]] of Egypt, and their son [[Caesarion]]. During his time in Egypt, Ceaser had become affiliated with the [[Order of the Ancients]], a secret society that sought to control the world from the shadows, and eventually rose to become one of the Order's leaders.<ref name="ACO"/>


[[File:Uberto2.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio stabbing Uberto]]Immediately after this event, the remaining members of the Auditore family left the city, as Ezio was now the most wanted man in Florence. They traveled to [[Monteriggioni]], where they encountered [[Vieri de' Pazzi]], a long-time rival of Ezio, and his men. However, the ambushers were quickly defeated with the help of [[Mario Auditore]] and his Mercenaries.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 44 BCE, Caesar was [[Assassination of Julius Caesar|assassinated]] by [[Amunet|Aya]], [[Marcus Junius Brutus]], [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], and other members of the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Fall of an Empire, Rise of Another]]</ref> His {{Wiki|Adoption in ancient Rome|adopted}} son [[Augustus|Octavian]], who succeeded him as leader of the Order,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]] – [[The Hidden Ones (DLC)|The Hidden Ones]]'' – [[Sic Semper Tyrannis]]</ref> formed the {{Wiki|Second Triumvirate}} with [[Marcus Antonius]] and {{Wiki|Lepidus}} to exact revenge on Caesar's killers and bring the Roman Republic under their control.<ref name="ACO comic"/>


After that, Ezio was trained in Monteriggioni for a few months, receiving lessons from his uncle to become a true Assassin. Once Mario declared Ezio's training to be finished, the latter decided to leave Italy, causing Mario to angrily ride to [[San Gimignano]] to deal with Vieri.<ref name="ACII"/>
Following the [[Liberators' civil war]], which saw Brutus and Cassius [[Battle of Philippi|defeated]] at [[Philippi]],<ref name="Holidays 1"/> Octavian continued to cement his power, eventually instigating the [[War of Actium]] against the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]], which Antonius had allied himself with.<ref name="ACO comic"/><ref name="DT"/> Octavian's forces invaded Egypt, forcing both Antonius and Cleopatra to commit suicide and removing his last remaining opposition. Consequently, in 27 BCE, Octavian transformed the republic into the Roman Empire and became its first emperor under the name Augustus.<ref name="ACO comic"/>


The assault on San Gimignano resulted in the death of Vieri de' Pazzi, and most of his mercenaries, by the hands of the Assassins. The Assassins also learned that something was about to happen in Florence, as they overheard a conversation between Rodrigo Borgia and [[Jacopo de' Pazzi|Jacopo]], Francesco and Vieri de' Pazzi.<ref name="ACII"/>
During the 1st century CE, Emperor [[Caligula]], one of Augustus' successors, was supported and influenced by the Order of the Ancients. In 41 CE, the Hidden One [[Leonius]] assassinated Caligula to end his tyrannical reign over Rome.<ref name="AC2"/>


===Pazzi Conspiracy===
Around 60 CE, [[Saint Peter|Simon Peter]], a disciple of the preacher [[Jesus of Nazareth]] and the wielder of a [[Papal Staff of Eden|Staff of Eden]], arrived in Rome to spread [[Christianity]] to Italy.<ref >''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph #5]]: "Instruments of Power"</ref> In 67 CE, Emperor [[Nero]] ordered Peter's execution and the persecution of the Christians.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Database: Basilica di San Pietro]]</ref> The Staff of Eden was then passed down among the leaders of the Christian community.<ref name="AC2"/> During the 4th century, Christianity became the official religion of the empire.{{Fact|15 March 2021}}
With the help of Leonardo da Vinci and [[La Volpe]], Ezio managed to eavesdrop on a secret Templar meeting underneath the [[Santa Maria Novella]], where he discovered they were planning to kill Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother, [[Giuliano de' Medici]].<ref name="ACII"/>


[[File:WiSC 8.png|thumb|250px|left|The Pazzi Conspiracy.]]
===Middle Ages===
The next day, the attack on the Medici occurred at the [[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore|Duomo]]. Lorenzo and Giuliano's arrived, as well as Francesco de' Pazzi and one of his co-conspirators, [[Bernardo Baroncelli]]. They attacked Giuliano, while two of the priests attacked Lorenzo. Ezio managed to save Lorenzo, though he came too late to rescue Giuliano.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 476 CE, the Western Roman Empire collapsed. During the 5th century, the Ostrogoths, who had sacked Rome previously, controlled the city of [[Florence]]. During the 6th century, it fell under the control of the Lombards. Italy soon found itself divided into countless city-states.<ref name="Florence DB">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Firenze (Assassin's Creed II)|Database: Firenze]]</ref>


Immediately after the attack, Florence was in chaos, with Medici guards fighting of the attacking Pazzi guards. Ezio made his way to the Palazzo della Signoria, where he managed to assassinate Francesco after a short chase across the rooftops.<ref name="ACII"/>
[[File:Venice Lineage.png|thumb|250px|Venice]]
In the late 7th century, a [[Republic of Venice|Republic]] was formed in the city of [[Venice]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Venezia]]</ref> and in 751 CE, the bishop of Rome founded his [[Papacy|own state]], becoming the Pope and the spiritual leader of the Catholic world. During the 11th century, the Normans invaded the south of Italy and founded the Kingdom of Naples.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Database: Napoli]]</ref> During the 12th century, Florence also became a Republic.<ref name="Florence DB"/>


While the crowds were cheering to the Pazzi conspirators, being rallied by Jacopo de' Pazzi, Francesco's body was thrown from the roof of the Palazzo della Signoria, causing the other conspirators to flee the city because of their failed attempt to seize power.<ref name="ACII"/>
During the [[Crusades]], Italian states such as Venice and [[Genoa]] maintained an economical connection with the Middle East thanks to the establishment of Italian districts in cities like [[Acre]] and [[Constantinople]].<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> In 1269, the explorer brothers [[Niccolò Polo|Niccolò]] and [[Maffeo Polo]] returned to Venice from a long journey to the [[Levant]]. During their travels, they had met [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins]], who inducted them into the Order and entrusted them with his [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex|Codex]], which they lost to the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Passing the Torch]]</ref>


The fleeing conspirators, Antonio Maffei, Bernardo Baroncelli, [[Francesco Salviati]] and [[Stefano da Bagnone]], were all hunted down in San Gimignano before they could attend the next Templar meeting. Jacopo de' Pazzi was the only one to arrive at the meeting with Rodrigo Borgia and [[Emilio Barbarigo]] in [[Antico Teatro Romano|The ancient Roman theatre]].<ref name="ACII"/>
In Venice, the Polo brothers founded an [[Assassins Guilds|Assassins guild]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref> marking the first establishment of an Assassin presence in Italy since the fall of the Roman Empire.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Brief History of the Hidden Ones]]</ref> Between 1271 and 1295, Niccolò and Maffeo, joined by the former's son [[Marco Polo|Marco]], who also became an Assassin, traveled to [[Kublai Khan]]'s court and recovered Altaïr's Codex before returning to Venice.<ref name="Paying Respects">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Paying Respects]]</ref>


Rodrigo and Emilio stabbed Jacopo for not having kept his promises and then directed their attention to Ezio, who had infiltrated the meeting, sending the guards to deal with him. Ezio defended himself and finished of Jacopo. He then returned to Florence to report his progress and seek out his friend Leonardo, though he was told Leonardo had moved to Venice.<ref name="ACII"/>[[File:With Friends 6 v.png|thumb|250px|Jacopo being stabbed]]
Later, Marco entered into contact with the Florentine writer [[Dante Alighieri]], who was also an Assassin. [[Domenico Auditore's father|One]] of Marco's sailors and his son [[Domenico Auditore|Domenico]] also joined the Brotherhood. In 1321, Dante was assassinated by the [[Templars]], the successors of the Order of the Ancients. The [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassins]] decided to hide the Codex in [[Spain]] and sent Domenico with his [[Isabetta Auditore|wife]] and his [[Renato Auditore|son]] to accomplish the mission. Around 1324, the Templars killed Marco Polo and Domenico's father in Venice. Domenico returned to Italy after scattering the Codex's pages to prevent them from falling into Templar hands, but lost his wife to [[Piracy|pirates]].<ref name="Paying Respects"/>


The two men met each other just outside of Florence, where Leonardo's carriage had broken down. After having it repaired, they continued their journey together, only to be attacked by Borgia guards. The attack failed and both men managed to make it to [[Forlì]], a city in [[Romagna]] from where the ship to Venice departed. After having saved [[Caterina Sforza]], the duchess of Forlì, from an island, Ezio was allowed entrance to the ship and they set off to Venice.<ref name="ACII"/>
[[File:ACIVilla.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni]]
Using Marco's fortune, Domenico built a new identity, posing as a Florentine noble from the [[House of Auditore]]. In 1327, he acquired a [[Villa Auditore|Villa]] in the town of [[Monteriggioni]] in [[Tuscany]], which became the headquarters of the Italian Assassins.<ref name="Paying Respects"/> Domenico also installed a [[Auditore Family Crypt|crypt for his family]] under the city and locked the [[Armor of Altaïr]] in the [[Sanctuary]]. The [[Assassin Seals|Seals]] were hidden in six [[Assassin Tombs]] in Florence, Venice, [[San Gimignano]], and [[Forlì]].<ref name="AC2"/>


===Hunt in Venice===
By 1356, Renato, Domenico's son, was in possession of a [[Shroud of Eden 1|Shroud of Eden]] and hid it under the Villa Auditore.<ref name="Italian Wars 3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Italian Wars: Chapter 3 – Mario Auditore]]</ref>
In 1480, a group of [[Thieves]] tried to assault the [[Palazzo della Seta]], where Emilio Barbarigo lived. Their attempt failed and one of the thieves, Rosa, was shot in her leg by an archer. Ezio Auditore helped getting her back to the [[Venice Thieves Guild|Thieves Guild]] and met [[Antonio de Magianis]].<ref name="ACII"/>


[[File:EMG 5.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio assassinating Emilio.]]
===Renaissance===
In 1485, the Thieves worked with Ezio and they managed to infiltrate the Palazzo. Ezio overheard Emilio speaking with [[Carlo Grimaldi]], a government official. Soon after the two men parted, Ezio assassinated Emilio and opened the Palazzo doors to let the Thieves in. From then on, the Thieves would use the Palazzo della Seta as their main hideout.<ref name="ACII"/>
Italy served as the birthplace of the [[Renaissance]], a cultural movement which soon spread throughout all of Europe, during the 15th century. Florence was one of the major cultural centers of the Italian Renaissance. The dome of the [[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore]], built by [[Filippo Brunelleschi]], became a manifest of the Renaissance while the artistic patronage of the [[House of Medici]], the rulers of Florence, greatly impacted the city's cultural influence around Italy.<ref name="Florence DB"/>


Sometime after the death of Emilio Barbarigo, a Templar meeting was held. Carlo Grimaldi, [[Silvio Barbarigo]], [[Marco Barbarigo]] and [[Dante Moro]] discussed who would become the new Doge of Venice, and Rodrigo Borgia soon joined them. It was then decided that [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], the current Doge, would be poisoned by Carlo Grimaldi, using [[Cantarella]]. After that, Marco Barbarigo would be elected the new Doge.<ref name="ACII"/>
When [[Rodrigo Borgia]] became the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templars]] by 1476, the Templars executed plans to take over the major city-states of northern Italy. They first organized the [[Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza|assassination]] of [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], the Duke of Milan. As the Assassin [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze]] tried to stop their plans,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref> they executed him and two of his sons.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Last Man Standing]]</ref>


Ezio and Antonio called upon the help of Leonardo da Vinci to gain entry into the [[Palazzo Ducale]] using his [[Flying Machine]]. The plan worked, and though it was too late to save Mocenigo, Ezio managed to assassinate Carlo Grimaldi.<ref name="ACII"/>
[[File:Firenzelineage.png|thumb|250px|Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance]]
Giovanni's last surviving son, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]], with the support of the Assassins, thwarted many Templar plots, including the [[Pazzi conspiracy]] against [[Lorenzo de' Medici]] in 1478,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Wolves in Sheep's Clothing]]</ref> and the [[Venetian conspiracy|attempt]] to take control of the Venetian Republic during the 1480s.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Everything Must Go]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Infrequent Flier]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Having a Blast]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Cheaters Never Prosper]]</ref> In 1492, the Templars nonetheless managed to seize control of Rome and the rest of the Papal States when Rodrigo Borgia was elected Pope Alexander VI.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Rodrigo Borgia (Assassin's Creed II)|Database: Rodrigo Borgia]]</ref>


Soon after this, Marco Barbarigo was elected Doge and [[Carnevale]] arrived in Venice. Marco hosted a Carnevale party, which was infiltrated by Ezio Auditore, who planned to assassinate him. With the help of a Golden Mask, his Hidden Gun and Teodora Contanto, Ezio managed to assassinate the Templar Doge.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1488, the Italian Templars delivered to Venice an [[Apple of Eden 6|Apple of Eden]] recovered from [[Cyprus]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[All Things Come to He Who Waits]]</ref> The Assassins succeeded in retrieving the artifact,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Play Along]]</ref> only to later lose it during the [[Battle of Forlì]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]] – [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Battle of Forlì]]'' – [[Checcomate]]</ref> The monk [[Girolamo Savonarola]] found the Apple and, after the death of Lorenzo de' Medici in 1492 and the invasion of Italy by King [[Charles VIII of France]] in 1494, used it to take power in Florence, installing a theocracy. As Rodrigo tried to recover the artifact, Florence and the Papacy went to war.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''</ref> In 1498, the Assassins rallied Florence's population to revolt against Savonarola's rule. Following the monk's death, the [[Bonfire of the Vanities]] came to an end and the Republic of Florence was restored.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]] – [[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)|Bonfire of the Vanities]]'' – [[Mob Justice]]</ref>


[[File:IF 6.png|thumb|250px|Ezio warning Mocenigo of the poison.]] Not long after that, Ezio met with Antonio once more, who now introduced him to [[Agostino Barbarigo]], who would soon become the new Doge and promised not to serve the Borgia. Ezio told them he planned to assassinate Silvio Barbarigo as well, and Antonio directed him to [[Bartolomeo d'Alviano]], a mercenary leader in the Arsenale District. Once he arrived, he found Bartolomeo imprisoned by Silvio's thugs and managed to free him, after which the two of them started the preparations for their assault on the [[Arsenale di Venezia|Arsenal]].<ref name="ACII"/>
In the late 1480s, both the Assassins and Templars sought to find an Isu [[Venice vault|vault]] hidden in Venice. The Assassin [[Giulia]] killed a Templar inside the [[Basilica di San Marco]], who revealed the vault's location underneath the cathedral. Giulia subsequently accessed the vault, where she found one piece of an Isu [[Vejovis' dagger|dagger]] and was contacted by a hologram of [[Vejovis]], who instructed her to hide the dagger deeper within the vault.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 5: A Hidden Tomb</ref>


During the attack, Bartolomeo fought against Dante, until Silvio told him to come back because their ship was about to leave. Ezio chased them and managed to assassinate both Silvio and Dante before they reached their ship, after which Dante told the Assassin they were to sail to [[Cyprus]].<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1493, the Templar [[Bonacolto Contarini]] attempted to seize control of Florence, capturing and selling anyone who opposed him into slavery. A team of [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassins]] worked with the Italian Assassins [[Perina di Bastian]] and [[Corvo Antonelli]] to eliminate Contarini.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[A War in the Shadows]]'' – [[The Slaver's Demise]]</ref>


In 1488, Ezio learned from Rosa that the ship would return from Cyprus soon. He finally realized the Templars had plotted something large, something that had to do with the Codex and the vault. He spied on the ships return and decided to take the place of a courier when he learned that the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]] would be brought to Rodrigo Borgia, who was also in Venice.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1498, King [[Louis XII of France]] allied with Rodrigo in his conquest of Naples. Rodrigo's son, [[Cesare Borgia]], further conquered several other regions of Italy, like Imola and [[Romagna]] in his role as Captain General of the Papal Armies, expecting to unify Italy. In 1499, the Venetian Republic went to [[Ottoman–Venetian War|war]] with the [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref name="ACB"/>


[[File:Play along 2.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio and Rodrigo.]]
[[File:IBAL 15.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio contacted by the hologram of Minerva]]
He eventually confronted Rodrigo, who spoke of a Prophet, though Ezio sarcastically told him that no one had shown up. Rodrigo declared he was the Prophet, after which Ezio attacked him. Suddenly, Mario Auditore, La Volpe, Antonio de Magianis and Bartolomeo d'Alviano arrived and started fighting the guards. Rodrigo eventually managed to escape, though he was forced to leave the Apple behind. Ezio wanted to give chase, but was stopped by Paola and Teodora. [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] then appeared, explaining to Ezio about the Assassin Order, and all of them being members of it. Ezio was officially inducted in the Order that night.<ref name="ACII"/>
In December 1499, after defeating Rodrigo in the [[Sistine Chapel]], Ezio opened the [[Vatican Vault]] with the Apple of Eden and the Papal Staff. There, he was contacted by a hologram of Minerva, who told him about the [[Great Catastrophe]] and warned his descendant, [[Desmond Miles]], about the incoming [[Second Disaster]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[In Bocca al Lupo]]</ref> Later, Cesare led an [[Siege of Monteriggioni|attack]] on Monteriggioni, taking the Apple, capturing [[Caterina Sforza]], and killing [[Mario Auditore]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Vilified]]</ref> Ezio decided to install the new headquarters of the Assassins in Rome, recruiting the population to defeat Cesare.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Man of the People]]</ref>


===Battle of Forlì===
During this time, Ezio, at [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s request, traveled around Italy to destroy the [[war machine]]s the inventor had been forced to build for Cesare's army.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[An Unexpected Visitor]]</ref> Another team of Assassins led by [[Francesco Vecellio]] also operated throughout Italy, supporting Cesare's enemies and attacking the French troops of the Templar [[Charles de la Motte]].<ref name="Rome 3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Rome: Chapter 3 – Francesco Vecellio]]</ref>
Later that same year, Ezio and Machiavelli traveled back to Forlì, where they planned to keep the Apple safe. They met up with Caterina Sforza, an ally of the Assassins, and she assured them the Apple would be safe in the [[Rocca di Ravaldino]]. As they reached the town, they noticed it was being attacked by [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] and [[Ludovico Orsi]], who had been hired by the Borgia to find the Apple of Eden.<ref name="ACII"/>


[[File:Godfather 2.png|thumb|250px|The Orsi threatening Caterina and Ezio.]]
By 1503, because of the Assassins' actions, coupled with Rodrigo's death at the hands of his son, the Templars' influence in Rome and Italy as a whole started to dwindle.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[An Apple a Day]]</ref> The succeeding Popes, [[Pius III]] and [[Julius II]], did not favor Cesare, and the Templars' influence completely collapsed following Cesare's arrest in December 1503, while the Assassins continued to maintain a strong presence in the country.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[All Roads Lead To...]]</ref>
They fought their way through the city until they had it in their control again, though Caterina Sforza soon discovered two of her children had been taken by the Orsi brothers, who were willing to trade them for the Apple. Ezio was sent out to liberate the children while Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza kept the citadel secure.<ref name="ACII"/>


Ezio quickly managed to save [[Bianca Riario|Bianca]] and [[Ottaviano Riario]], killing Ludovico in the process. When he returned to the city, Ezio found that Checco had managed to obtain the Apple and had taken off with it, and thus he gave chase. He managed to catch up with Checco and killed him too, though he was wounded in the process. Just before passing out, Ezio saw a [[Girolamo Savonarola|monk with a missing finger]] taking the Apple and setting off with it.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1506, Ezio decided to hide the Apple of Eden in the [[Colosseum Vault]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[A Seed]]</ref> The [[Hermeticists]] led by [[Ercole Massimo]] tried to recover the artifact and also kidnapped Leonardo da Vinci to find the Temple of Pythagoras. Ezio killed Ercole and rescued Leonardo, then explored the temple alongside the latter, discovering its hidden Isu vault.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]'' – [[The Temple of Pythagoras]]</ref>


When he had recovered from his wounds, he sought out [[Darby O'Callahan]], hoping he could reveal the identity of the mysterious monk. He was then directed back to Florence, suspecting the mysterious monk to be Girolamo Savonarola.<ref name="ACII"/>
[[File:ACID War of the League of Cambrai.jpg|thumb|240px|French troops camped in Italy during the War of the League of Cambrai]]
Around the same time, the Assassins faced a new foe in the form of the [[Crows]], a secret organization created by Cesare Borgia with the goal of eradicating the Brotherhood by replicating their techniques.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' – [[Niccolò Machiavelli's journal]] – [[Database: Journal – A Storm of Crows|Entry #6]]: "A Storm of Crows"</ref> Thanks to the actions of [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] and the Assassin [[Lo Sparviero]], the Crows were defeated and disbanded, while their leader [[Sirus Favero]] was personally killed by Lo Sparviero.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' – [[Niccolò Machiavelli's journal]] – [[Database: Journal – Saviors of Roma|Entry #10]]: "Saviors of Roma"</ref>


===Bonfire of the Vanities===
In 1509, Louis XII of France invaded the Venetian Republic. The Venetian ''condottiero'' and Assassin [[Bartolomeo d'Alviano]] tried to defended the city of [[Agnadello]] during a [[Battle of Agnadello|battle]] but was captured. Bartolomeo's cousin, [[Niccolò di Pitigliano]], stole the Shroud of Eden from the Assassins during the conflict.<ref name="Italian Wars 1" /> A year later, Francesco Vecellio mortally wounded Pitigliano and recovered the artifact for the Brotherhood.<ref name="Italian Wars 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Italian Wars: Chapter 2 – Francesco Vecellio]]</ref>
Ezio Auditore did not return to Florence until 1497, because he had traveled to Spain to thwart the Templars there. When he arrived in Florence, the city where he was born, he discovered it had changed considerably. Girolamo Savonarola had taken control over the city with the use of the Apple, and had turned Florence into a place where art and wealth was not allowed.<ref name="ACII"/>


[[File:Mob justice 1.png|thumb|250px|left|Savonarola being tied to the stake.]]
In 1511, the city of Genoa was under the control of the French troops. The Genoese captain [[Andrea Doria]] led a revolt against the French, with the help of a team of [[Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins|Ottoman Assassins]]. After this attempt failed, the Assassins escorted Doria out of the city.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense]]</ref>
He met up with Machiavelli, and the two Assassins came up with a plan to break Savonarola's power, deciding they would take down his nine lieutenants in order to free the people from his tiranny. Meanwhile, La Volpe and Paola rallied the citizens to stand up to Savonarola.<ref name="ACII"/>


After the death of his lieutenants, Savonarola too was assassinated by Ezio, though the mob had planned to burn him at the stake. Ezio then spoke to the citizens directly, telling them they were now free to do as they desired without obeying any particular ruler. Immediately after that, Ezio chased a Borgia guard who had taken off with the Apple and managed to retrieve the artifact.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1513, the Republic of Venice allied with the French against Milan. In 1515, Bartolomeo d'Alviano participated in the French victory in Marignano against the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] mercenaries.<ref name="AC2"/> That same year, the Templars in Florence were in possession of an Apple of Eden. The Assassins [[Giovanni Borgia]] and [[Hiram Stoddard]] tried to recover the artifact with the aid of [[Michelangelo]], but failed.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed (Titan Comics)|Assassin's Creed]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed 13|Issue #13]]</ref>


===Confrontation in the Vatican===
[[File:ACE-V 11.png|thumb|250px|left|Shao Jun preparing to leave Italy and return to China]]
Immediately after the retrieval of the Apple, an Assassin meeting was held in the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni, where the Apple was used to reveal the location of the [[Vatican Vault|Vault]], which was underneath the Vatican. The Assassins decided to travel to Rome and cause a distraction, so that Ezio could infiltrate the [[Cappella Sistina]] and enter the Vault.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1524, the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassins]] [[Zhu Jiuyuan]] and [[Shao Jun]] arrived in Venice to find Ezio Auditore and seek his help with rebuilding their fallen Brotherhood. However, they were followed by Templar agents who killed Jiuyuan,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Zhu Jiuyuan]]</ref> while Shao Jun eventually met Ezio at his villa in Tuscany. Ezio, having retired from the Brotherhood, was reluctant to help her, but when Shao Jun's pursuers attacked the villa, the two Assassins worked together to defeat them. Shao Jun then left Italy with a [[Precursor box]] she received from Ezio.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Embers]]''</ref>


[[File:IBAL 4.png|thumb|250px|Ezio confronting Rodrigo.]]
In 1527, Rome was sacked by [[Holy Roman Empire|Imperial]] troops.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Giuliano de' Medici]]</ref> Around this time, Giovanni Borgia and his wife [[Maria Amiel]] entered the Temple of Pythagoras and came into contact with the Isu [[Consus]].<ref name="Divine Science 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Divine Science: Chapter 1 – Maria Amiel]]</ref>
Ezio Auditore and Rodrigo Borgia faced each other in the Sistine Chapel, with both of them possessing a Piece of Eden. After the fight, Rodrigo attempted to enter the Vault.<ref name="ACII"/>


However, Rodrigo couldn't open the Vault, and Ezio revealed to him that he had never been the Prophet. The two of them then got into a fistfight and Ezio, being victorious, entered the Vault where he found [[Minerva]]. Once Minerva had given her warning and had dissapeared, Ezio made his way out of the Vault and met up with his uncle Mario, who helped him to escape the Vatican. Together, they traveled back to Monteriggioni.<ref name="ACII"/>
In 1542, Pope [[Paul III]] established the [[Roman Inquisition]] in Italy, a system of tribunals for prosecuting anyone with alternate religious beliefs. Individuals such as [[Giordano Bruno]] and [[Galileo Galilei]] were judged and condemned by the Inquisition.<ref name="DNA">''[[Assassin's Creed DNA]]'' – Timeline</ref>


===Fall of Monteriggioni===
Prior to traveling to [[Japan]] with the [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] mission, [[Luís Fróis]] spent time in Rome, where he learned about the city's corruption under the Templars and its subsequent [[Liberation of Rome|liberation]] by the Assassins half a century prior.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Path He Walks]]</ref>  
The day after the arrival of Ezio and Mario in Monteriggioni, the town was besieged by Borgia forces under the command of [[Cesare Borgia]]. The attack was fierce and the Borgia heavily outnumbered Monteriggioni's mercenaries, resulting in them taking the town without too much effort.<ref name="ACBH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>


[[File:Vilified 3 v.png|thumb|250px|left|Monteriggioni besieged.]]
===Early modern era===
The attack on Monteriggioni resulted in the death of Mario Auditore and the imprisonment of Caterina Sforza, who had also been in the town. Ezio, Maria and Claudia Auditore managed to escape through a secret passage in the [[Sanctuary]] beneath the Villa Auditore, along with most of the citizens. Ezio immediately traveled to Rome, knowing that was where the Borgia were based, and was thus the base of the Templar power.<ref name="ACBH"/>
Around 1724, the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Edward Kenway]] visited Italy during his search for Isu vaults around the world. He found several temples, which he documented in his [[Edward Kenway's journal|journal]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[War Letters]]: "Lawrence of America"</ref> and later contacted the Brotherhood, who also conducted an investigation and discovered several new Precursor ruins.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 2|Episode 2]]</ref>


From that moment onwards, Monteriggioni became an abandoned and ruined town, without any of the status it had when it was still ruled by the Auditore family.<ref name="ACBH"/>
In 1853, the [[Aurora Equestrian Troupe]] performed in Rome, where its acrobat [[Pierrette Arnaud]] searched for a lost [[soldier]] and [[Ada Lovelace]]'s childhood friend, [[Simeon Price]].<ref name="Chapter 09">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy]]'' – Chapter 9</ref> A year later, Price found himself at a villa near [[Lake Como]] and stayed there with its owner, [[Laura]]. However, after saving another visitor, [[Felice Orsini]], from soldiers, Price had to leave upon Orsini's mention of the "[[Oscar Kane|Magus]]" freeing him from prison.<ref name="Chapter 12">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy]]'' – Chapter 12</ref>


===Liberation of Rome===
===World Wars===
Immediately after the attack on Monteriggioni, Ezio met up with Machiavelli in Rome and the two discussed how to free Rome. Ezio burned down one of the [[Borgia Towers]] that the Borgia had built around the city, sending a signal to the citizens as well as to the Borgia.<ref name="ACBH"/>[[File:Borgia Tower.jpg|thumb|250px|A burning Borgia Tower.]]
In the century after its unification occurred, Italy joined with the [[British Empire]] in the [[World War I|First World War]], supporting it against the [[Germany|German Empire]].{{Fact|June 2019}}


The Assassins then focused on [[Rise of the Brotherhood|rebuilding Rome's underground factions]], [[La Volpe Addormentata]], The [[Rosa in Fiore]] and the [[Caserma di Alviano]]. By doing this, they enforced the Assassins Guild with allies and met up with old friends and fellow Assassins, such as La Volpe and Bortolomeo d'Alviano, and Maria and Claudia Auditore, who took control over the Rosa in Fiore.<ref name="ACBH"/>
During the interwar period, Italian dictator {{Wiki|Benito Mussolini}} joined forces with the Templar puppet and dictator of [[Germany]], [[Adolf Hitler]]. Together with Japan, they formed the {{Wiki|Axis powers}}, and a [[World War II|Second World War]] started against the {{Wiki|Allies of World War II|Allies}}, perpetrated by the [[United Kingdom]], the [[United States]], and the [[Soviet Union]], led by [[Winston Churchill]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], and [[Joseph Stalin]], all three of whom were influenced by the Templars.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs]]</ref>


The next important action in the Liberation of Rome was Ezio's [[Infiltration of the Castel Sant'Angelo|infiltration]] of the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]], where the Borgia had imprisoned Caterina Sforza. Both Rodrigo Borgia and his son Cesare were away from the Castel, leaving Ezio with no chance to assassinate them, but he did confront [[Lucrezia Borgia]] in order to free Caterina Sforza. After returning to the [[Tiber Island Hideout|Tiber Island Hideout with]] the Duchess, Ezio [[Assassination of the Templar Agents|hunted down several Templar Agents]].<ref name="ACBH"/>
===Modern times===
By the early 21st century, the Templars had returned to prominence in the country, mainly thanks to the establishment of an [[Abstergo Industries]] [[Animus Project laboratory|laboratory]] in Rome. In 2012, Abstergo kidnapped the former Assassin [[Desmond Miles]] and brought him to the laboratory to explore his ancestors' [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]] to find [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]].<ref name="AC1"/> Desmond eventually escaped with the help of the Assassin mole [[Lucy Stillman]], and the pair worked with Lucy's fellow Assassins [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] to explore Ezio Auditore's memories in search of his Apple of Eden.<ref name="AC2"/>  


From that moment on, the Assassins started thwarting the Borgia even more than before, having decided to break Cesare's power while he was away from Rome. They started of by seeking out [[Egidio Troche]] and enlist his help in finding the Banker, the mysterious man that supplied Cesare with the money he needed for his conquests.<ref name="ACBH"/>
[[File:ACBH Modern Monteriggioni.png|thumb|250px|Monteriggioni, 2012]]
[[File:CesareArrest.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Cesare's arrest.]]
After the Templars discovered and attacked their [[Rome hideout|hideout]] in Rome,<ref name="AC2"/> the team relocated to Monteriggioni, where they continued their research of Ezio's memories, leading them to the Colosseum Vault. However, while retrieving the Apple from the vault, Juno contacted Desmond through the artifact and influenced him to kill Lucy, who was a Templar double agent. Desmond subsequently fell into a coma and had to be flown to the [[United States]].<ref name="ACB"/>


The Assassins soon discovered the Banker to be [[Juan Borgia the Elder]], a cousin of Cesare Borgia himself, and managed to [[Incident at the Pagan Party|assassinate him]] during one of his parties. Soon after that, Ezio made his way to Bartolomeo d'Alviano, and discovered his wife, [[Pantasilea Baglioni]], to be imprisoned by the French general [[Octavian de Valois]]. Using several French armors, the Assassins and several mercenaries managed to [[Skirmish in the Campagna District|enter the French camp]], [[Castra Praetoria]], and Ezio managed to kill Octavian, freeing Pantasilea and breaking even more of Cesare's power.<ref name="ACBH"/>
Around the same time, an [[Assassin cell]] led by [[Adriano Maestranzi]] operated in Florence and maintained contact with [[William Miles]] and his team.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "The Mole"</ref> On 27 October 2012, as the Assassins attempted to leave Italy with the comatose Desmond, Abstergo's [[Delta Team]] led by [[Daniel Cross]] and [[Theodore Rizzo]] intercepted them at the {{Wiki|Florence Airport}}. However, the Assassin [[Harlan Cunningham]] led a counter-ambush,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "Breakdown"</ref> during which all the Abstergo operatives were killed, with the exception of Daniel.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "Farewell To Florence"</ref>


After [[Colosseum Passion Play|having recovered the key]] to the Castel Sant'Angelo from [[Pietro Rossi]], Ezio once again infiltrated the building. Once he reached its top, he witnessed how Cesare murdered his father after the latter had attempted to poison him. Lucrezia then told him where the Apple of Eden had been hidden, and Ezio managed to recover it before Cesare could do so.<ref name="ACBH"/>
On 28 November, the Assassins attacked the Abstergo campus in Rome, killing four hackers and several guards to prevent the Templars from finding William's team.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "Hacker Massacre"</ref> However, as they returned to their hideout in Florence, one of the Assassins was tracked by Abstergo.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "The Hound"</ref> The [[Master Templar]] [[Juhani Otso Berg]] subsequently led [[Sigma Team]] to raid the hideout, but Maestranzi detonated an explosive that destroyed the safehouse,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "Kaboom!"</ref> leaving Berg and Cunningham as the sole survivors.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]: "Only One Left"</ref>


The Assassins then used the Apple to break Cesare's power in Rome, and Cesare was eventually imprisoned by the new Pope, [[Julius II]], and locked up in the Castel Sant'Angelo. However, after a failed escape attempt, he was transferred to the [[Castillo de la Mota]] in Spain.<ref name="ACBH"/>
On 14 December, Desmond returned to Rome to rescue his father William, who was being held hostage by the Templars at their laboratory in the city. Aided by Ezio's Apple of Eden, Desmond killed Daniel Cross and [[Warren Vidic]] and saved his father before they both escaped the laboratory.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Return to Abstergo]]</ref>


===Battle of Agnadello===
In 2022, [[Joey]] and the Assassins [[Alera]] and [[Colm]] traveled to Venice to retrieve the second piece of Vejovis' dagger from the Isu vault underneath the Basilica di San Marco. As they entered the vault, Colm revealed himself as a Templar double agent and tried to force Joey to reconstruct the dagger, but he was killed by Alera. Joey then assembled the dagger, which started a resurrection process for Vejovis, who revealed that Joey was one of his [[Sage]]s and that the artifact would allow the Isu to possess them. Joey broke the dagger to stop the resurrection process, then left the vault with Alera, who invited them to join the Assassins.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 6: Stopping the Cult</ref>
In 1509, the French army and the Venetian army were involved in a clash in the fields of [[Agnadello]]. The military conflict was a great failure for Venice, who lost more than 4000 men in the battle. Despite this, Bartolomeo d'Alviano, one of the commanders of the Venetian army, managed to put up a good fight against the French.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]</ref>


===Modern Times===
==Gallery==
During the [[Modern Times|early 21<sup>st</sup> Century]], [[Abstergo Industries]], a front company for the Templar Order, had a presence in Italy, whilst the Assassins continued to maintain a presence of their own. In 2012, Abstergo held Desmond Miles, an Assassin, hostage and used him as subject 17 for their Animus Project, having him relive the memories of one of his ancestors, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.<ref name="ACII"/>
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
[[File:Escape3.jpg|thumb|250px|Desmond and Lucy making their way through Abstergo Industries.]]
ACRec Map Italian Cities.png|Map of Italy from ''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''
[[Lucy Stillman]], and undercover Assassin, managed to free him and they escaped to the [[Hideout]], where they met up with [[Rebecca Crane]] and [[Shaun Hastings]]. Desmond then started reliving the memories of Ezio Auditore. When their Hideout was compromised and Abstergo came to take Lucy and Desmond back, they made their way to Monteriggioni, where they found shelter in the Sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore.<ref name="ACBH"/>
ACI Map Italy.png|Map of Italy from ''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]''
ACI Map Italy 2.png|Alternate view of the Italian Peninsula
</gallery>


When Desmond discovered where Ezio had hidden the Apple, the Assassins made their way to the [[Santa Maria in Aracoeli]], where they discovered the Temple of [[Juno]].<ref name="ACBH"/>
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
**''[[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Battle of Forlì]]
**''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)|Bonfire of the Vanities]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
**''[[Copernicus Conspiracy]]''
**''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''
*[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
*[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' novel]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Embers]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' {{Mdat}}
*[[Assassin's Creed (Titan Comics)|''Assassin's Creed'' (Titan Comics)]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]''
**''[[Forlì – A Crimson Sunset]]'' {{c|non-canon}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Reflections]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
*[[Assassin's Creed: Origins (comic)|''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' comic]]
*''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]''
**''[[A War in the Shadows]]''
**''[[Naples, 1499 CE]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]''
**''[[Roma (expansion pack)|Roma]]''
**''[[Creed vs Crows]]'' {{c|non-canon}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga]]'' {{c|as "Langbarðaland"}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Countries]]
{{ACLin}}
{{AC2}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACB}}
{{ACPL}}
{{Initiates}}
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{{ACComic}}
{{ACID}}
{{ACReflections}}
{{ACRebellion}}
{{ACBV}}
{{ACTEH}}
{{ACERPB}}
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Latest revision as of 20:19, 6 June 2026

Patience, brothers. Soon we will reveal the secrets of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice.

This article has been identified as being out of date. Please update the article to reflect recent releases and then remove this template once done.

Italy (Latin and Italian: Italia) is a country located in southern Europe that shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north.

The Italian Peninsula's history dates back to the ancient era, when it was home to the Roman civilization, which started as a kingdom centered around the city of Rome before becoming a Republic and, eventually, an Empire spanning the entire Mediterranean. During the final years of the Roman Republic, both the newly-formed Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients spread their influence to Italy, commencing their shadow war that would continue for millennia afterwards.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, Italy was split into numerous city-states, such as the Republics of Florence and Venice and the Papal States. It later became the birthplace of the Renaissance cultural movement, which also saw a major escalation of the conflict between the Assassins and Templars, the respective successors of the Hidden Ones and Order of the Ancients. The Assassins thwarted the Templars' attempts to unify Italy under their banner, but the various city-states would nonetheless be unified in the 19th century, laying the foundations of the modern country.

History[edit | edit source]

Isu era[edit | edit source]

During the Isu Era, the Isu built at least three vaults in the area that would one day become the city of Rome. A number of Isu were later remembered as gods by the Romans and ancient Greeks, with Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno comprising what would be remembered as the Capitoline Triad, a group of gods worshipped on the Capitoline Hill.[7]

Roman era[edit | edit source]

Between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, the Greeks founded many colonies in southern Italy. The cities of Naples, Sybaris, and Croton formed a part of the Magna Graecia.[10] During the 6th century BCE, the mathematician Pythagoras visited Italy and discovered one of its Isu vaults. His followers built a temple on the site of the vault to hide it.[7]

According to legends, the city of Rome was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus after he killed his twin brother Remus. In 510 BCE, the monarchy of Rome fell and the Roman Republic was created. The Republic conquered all of Italy before turning its attention to other lands around the Mediterranean, including Hispanica, Cyrenaica, and Greece.[11]

In 71 BCE, Spartacus, amongst others, incited a slave uprising in the Roman Republic. By the rebellion's end, Spartacus and 6000 others were crucified to death as punishment.[1]

Circa 60 BCE, the Roman Republic became became an influencial power in Egypt and the Middle East with the military campaigns of the consul Pompey. Another consul, Gaius Julius Caesar, conquered Gaul in 52 BCE.[2]

Rome, 1st century BCE

In 49 BCE, a civil war erupted between Pompey and Caesar. The former fled to Egypt but was soon tracked down by Caesar, who had been appointed dictator. In 46 BCE, after triumphing over Pompey's and Ptolemy XIII's army, Caesar returned to Rome with Cleopatra VII, the pharaoh of Egypt, and their son Caesarion. During his time in Egypt, Ceaser had become affiliated with the Order of the Ancients, a secret society that sought to control the world from the shadows, and eventually rose to become one of the Order's leaders.[2]

In 44 BCE, Caesar was assassinated by Aya, Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, and other members of the Hidden Ones.[12] His adopted son Octavian, who succeeded him as leader of the Order,[13] formed the Second Triumvirate with Marcus Antonius and Lepidus to exact revenge on Caesar's killers and bring the Roman Republic under their control.[4]

Following the Liberators' civil war, which saw Brutus and Cassius defeated at Philippi,[3] Octavian continued to cement his power, eventually instigating the War of Actium against the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which Antonius had allied himself with.[4][5] Octavian's forces invaded Egypt, forcing both Antonius and Cleopatra to commit suicide and removing his last remaining opposition. Consequently, in 27 BCE, Octavian transformed the republic into the Roman Empire and became its first emperor under the name Augustus.[4]

During the 1st century CE, Emperor Caligula, one of Augustus' successors, was supported and influenced by the Order of the Ancients. In 41 CE, the Hidden One Leonius assassinated Caligula to end his tyrannical reign over Rome.[6]

Around 60 CE, Simon Peter, a disciple of the preacher Jesus of Nazareth and the wielder of a Staff of Eden, arrived in Rome to spread Christianity to Italy.[14] In 67 CE, Emperor Nero ordered Peter's execution and the persecution of the Christians.[15] The Staff of Eden was then passed down among the leaders of the Christian community.[6] During the 4th century, Christianity became the official religion of the empire. [citation needed]

Middle Ages[edit | edit source]

In 476 CE, the Western Roman Empire collapsed. During the 5th century, the Ostrogoths, who had sacked Rome previously, controlled the city of Florence. During the 6th century, it fell under the control of the Lombards. Italy soon found itself divided into countless city-states.[16]

Venice

In the late 7th century, a Republic was formed in the city of Venice,[17] and in 751 CE, the bishop of Rome founded his own state, becoming the Pope and the spiritual leader of the Catholic world. During the 11th century, the Normans invaded the south of Italy and founded the Kingdom of Naples.[18] During the 12th century, Florence also became a Republic.[16]

During the Crusades, Italian states such as Venice and Genoa maintained an economical connection with the Middle East thanks to the establishment of Italian districts in cities like Acre and Constantinople.[19][20] In 1269, the explorer brothers Niccolò and Maffeo Polo returned to Venice from a long journey to the Levant. During their travels, they had met Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins, who inducted them into the Order and entrusted them with his Codex, which they lost to the Mongols.[21]

In Venice, the Polo brothers founded an Assassins guild,[22] marking the first establishment of an Assassin presence in Italy since the fall of the Roman Empire.[23] Between 1271 and 1295, Niccolò and Maffeo, joined by the former's son Marco, who also became an Assassin, traveled to Kublai Khan's court and recovered Altaïr's Codex before returning to Venice.[24]

Later, Marco entered into contact with the Florentine writer Dante Alighieri, who was also an Assassin. One of Marco's sailors and his son Domenico also joined the Brotherhood. In 1321, Dante was assassinated by the Templars, the successors of the Order of the Ancients. The Italian Assassins decided to hide the Codex in Spain and sent Domenico with his wife and his son to accomplish the mission. Around 1324, the Templars killed Marco Polo and Domenico's father in Venice. Domenico returned to Italy after scattering the Codex's pages to prevent them from falling into Templar hands, but lost his wife to pirates.[24]

The Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni

Using Marco's fortune, Domenico built a new identity, posing as a Florentine noble from the House of Auditore. In 1327, he acquired a Villa in the town of Monteriggioni in Tuscany, which became the headquarters of the Italian Assassins.[24] Domenico also installed a crypt for his family under the city and locked the Armor of Altaïr in the Sanctuary. The Seals were hidden in six Assassin Tombs in Florence, Venice, San Gimignano, and Forlì.[6]

By 1356, Renato, Domenico's son, was in possession of a Shroud of Eden and hid it under the Villa Auditore.[25]

Renaissance[edit | edit source]

Italy served as the birthplace of the Renaissance, a cultural movement which soon spread throughout all of Europe, during the 15th century. Florence was one of the major cultural centers of the Italian Renaissance. The dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, built by Filippo Brunelleschi, became a manifest of the Renaissance while the artistic patronage of the House of Medici, the rulers of Florence, greatly impacted the city's cultural influence around Italy.[16]

When Rodrigo Borgia became the Grand Master of the Italian Templars by 1476, the Templars executed plans to take over the major city-states of northern Italy. They first organized the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan. As the Assassin Giovanni Auditore da Firenze tried to stop their plans,[26] they executed him and two of his sons.[27]

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance

Giovanni's last surviving son, Ezio, with the support of the Assassins, thwarted many Templar plots, including the Pazzi conspiracy against Lorenzo de' Medici in 1478,[28] and the attempt to take control of the Venetian Republic during the 1480s.[29][30][31][32] In 1492, the Templars nonetheless managed to seize control of Rome and the rest of the Papal States when Rodrigo Borgia was elected Pope Alexander VI.[33]

In 1488, the Italian Templars delivered to Venice an Apple of Eden recovered from Cyprus.[34] The Assassins succeeded in retrieving the artifact,[35] only to later lose it during the Battle of Forlì.[36] The monk Girolamo Savonarola found the Apple and, after the death of Lorenzo de' Medici in 1492 and the invasion of Italy by King Charles VIII of France in 1494, used it to take power in Florence, installing a theocracy. As Rodrigo tried to recover the artifact, Florence and the Papacy went to war.[37] In 1498, the Assassins rallied Florence's population to revolt against Savonarola's rule. Following the monk's death, the Bonfire of the Vanities came to an end and the Republic of Florence was restored.[38]

In the late 1480s, both the Assassins and Templars sought to find an Isu vault hidden in Venice. The Assassin Giulia killed a Templar inside the Basilica di San Marco, who revealed the vault's location underneath the cathedral. Giulia subsequently accessed the vault, where she found one piece of an Isu dagger and was contacted by a hologram of Vejovis, who instructed her to hide the dagger deeper within the vault.[39]

In 1493, the Templar Bonacolto Contarini attempted to seize control of Florence, capturing and selling anyone who opposed him into slavery. A team of Spanish Assassins worked with the Italian Assassins Perina di Bastian and Corvo Antonelli to eliminate Contarini.[40]

In 1498, King Louis XII of France allied with Rodrigo in his conquest of Naples. Rodrigo's son, Cesare Borgia, further conquered several other regions of Italy, like Imola and Romagna in his role as Captain General of the Papal Armies, expecting to unify Italy. In 1499, the Venetian Republic went to war with the Ottoman Empire.[7]

Ezio contacted by the hologram of Minerva

In December 1499, after defeating Rodrigo in the Sistine Chapel, Ezio opened the Vatican Vault with the Apple of Eden and the Papal Staff. There, he was contacted by a hologram of Minerva, who told him about the Great Catastrophe and warned his descendant, Desmond Miles, about the incoming Second Disaster.[41] Later, Cesare led an attack on Monteriggioni, taking the Apple, capturing Caterina Sforza, and killing Mario Auditore.[42] Ezio decided to install the new headquarters of the Assassins in Rome, recruiting the population to defeat Cesare.[43]

During this time, Ezio, at Leonardo da Vinci's request, traveled around Italy to destroy the war machines the inventor had been forced to build for Cesare's army.[44] Another team of Assassins led by Francesco Vecellio also operated throughout Italy, supporting Cesare's enemies and attacking the French troops of the Templar Charles de la Motte.[45]

By 1503, because of the Assassins' actions, coupled with Rodrigo's death at the hands of his son, the Templars' influence in Rome and Italy as a whole started to dwindle.[46] The succeeding Popes, Pius III and Julius II, did not favor Cesare, and the Templars' influence completely collapsed following Cesare's arrest in December 1503, while the Assassins continued to maintain a strong presence in the country.[47]

In 1506, Ezio decided to hide the Apple of Eden in the Colosseum Vault.[48] The Hermeticists led by Ercole Massimo tried to recover the artifact and also kidnapped Leonardo da Vinci to find the Temple of Pythagoras. Ezio killed Ercole and rescued Leonardo, then explored the temple alongside the latter, discovering its hidden Isu vault.[49]

French troops camped in Italy during the War of the League of Cambrai

Around the same time, the Assassins faced a new foe in the form of the Crows, a secret organization created by Cesare Borgia with the goal of eradicating the Brotherhood by replicating their techniques.[50] Thanks to the actions of Niccolò Machiavelli and the Assassin Lo Sparviero, the Crows were defeated and disbanded, while their leader Sirus Favero was personally killed by Lo Sparviero.[51]

In 1509, Louis XII of France invaded the Venetian Republic. The Venetian condottiero and Assassin Bartolomeo d'Alviano tried to defended the city of Agnadello during a battle but was captured. Bartolomeo's cousin, Niccolò di Pitigliano, stole the Shroud of Eden from the Assassins during the conflict.[8] A year later, Francesco Vecellio mortally wounded Pitigliano and recovered the artifact for the Brotherhood.[52]

In 1511, the city of Genoa was under the control of the French troops. The Genoese captain Andrea Doria led a revolt against the French, with the help of a team of Ottoman Assassins. After this attempt failed, the Assassins escorted Doria out of the city.[53]

In 1513, the Republic of Venice allied with the French against Milan. In 1515, Bartolomeo d'Alviano participated in the French victory in Marignano against the Swiss mercenaries.[6] That same year, the Templars in Florence were in possession of an Apple of Eden. The Assassins Giovanni Borgia and Hiram Stoddard tried to recover the artifact with the aid of Michelangelo, but failed.[54]

Shao Jun preparing to leave Italy and return to China

In 1524, the Chinese Assassins Zhu Jiuyuan and Shao Jun arrived in Venice to find Ezio Auditore and seek his help with rebuilding their fallen Brotherhood. However, they were followed by Templar agents who killed Jiuyuan,[55] while Shao Jun eventually met Ezio at his villa in Tuscany. Ezio, having retired from the Brotherhood, was reluctant to help her, but when Shao Jun's pursuers attacked the villa, the two Assassins worked together to defeat them. Shao Jun then left Italy with a Precursor box she received from Ezio.[56]

In 1527, Rome was sacked by Imperial troops.[57] Around this time, Giovanni Borgia and his wife Maria Amiel entered the Temple of Pythagoras and came into contact with the Isu Consus.[58]

In 1542, Pope Paul III established the Roman Inquisition in Italy, a system of tribunals for prosecuting anyone with alternate religious beliefs. Individuals such as Giordano Bruno and Galileo Galilei were judged and condemned by the Inquisition.[59]

Prior to traveling to Japan with the Jesuit mission, Luís Fróis spent time in Rome, where he learned about the city's corruption under the Templars and its subsequent liberation by the Assassins half a century prior.[60]

Early modern era[edit | edit source]

Around 1724, the British Assassin Edward Kenway visited Italy during his search for Isu vaults around the world. He found several temples, which he documented in his journal,[61] and later contacted the Brotherhood, who also conducted an investigation and discovered several new Precursor ruins.[62]

In 1853, the Aurora Equestrian Troupe performed in Rome, where its acrobat Pierrette Arnaud searched for a lost soldier and Ada Lovelace's childhood friend, Simeon Price.[63] A year later, Price found himself at a villa near Lake Como and stayed there with its owner, Laura. However, after saving another visitor, Felice Orsini, from soldiers, Price had to leave upon Orsini's mention of the "Magus" freeing him from prison.[64]

World Wars[edit | edit source]

In the century after its unification occurred, Italy joined with the British Empire in the First World War, supporting it against the German Empire. [citation needed]

During the interwar period, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini joined forces with the Templar puppet and dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler. Together with Japan, they formed the Axis powers, and a Second World War started against the Allies, perpetrated by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union, led by Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin, all three of whom were influenced by the Templars.[65]

Modern times[edit | edit source]

By the early 21st century, the Templars had returned to prominence in the country, mainly thanks to the establishment of an Abstergo Industries laboratory in Rome. In 2012, Abstergo kidnapped the former Assassin Desmond Miles and brought him to the laboratory to explore his ancestors' genetic memories to find Pieces of Eden.[19] Desmond eventually escaped with the help of the Assassin mole Lucy Stillman, and the pair worked with Lucy's fellow Assassins Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane to explore Ezio Auditore's memories in search of his Apple of Eden.[6]

Monteriggioni, 2012

After the Templars discovered and attacked their hideout in Rome,[6] the team relocated to Monteriggioni, where they continued their research of Ezio's memories, leading them to the Colosseum Vault. However, while retrieving the Apple from the vault, Juno contacted Desmond through the artifact and influenced him to kill Lucy, who was a Templar double agent. Desmond subsequently fell into a coma and had to be flown to the United States.[7]

Around the same time, an Assassin cell led by Adriano Maestranzi operated in Florence and maintained contact with William Miles and his team.[66] On 27 October 2012, as the Assassins attempted to leave Italy with the comatose Desmond, Abstergo's Delta Team led by Daniel Cross and Theodore Rizzo intercepted them at the Florence Airport. However, the Assassin Harlan Cunningham led a counter-ambush,[67] during which all the Abstergo operatives were killed, with the exception of Daniel.[68]

On 28 November, the Assassins attacked the Abstergo campus in Rome, killing four hackers and several guards to prevent the Templars from finding William's team.[69] However, as they returned to their hideout in Florence, one of the Assassins was tracked by Abstergo.[70] The Master Templar Juhani Otso Berg subsequently led Sigma Team to raid the hideout, but Maestranzi detonated an explosive that destroyed the safehouse,[71] leaving Berg and Cunningham as the sole survivors.[72]

On 14 December, Desmond returned to Rome to rescue his father William, who was being held hostage by the Templars at their laboratory in the city. Aided by Ezio's Apple of Eden, Desmond killed Daniel Cross and Warren Vidic and saved his father before they both escaped the laboratory.[73]

In 2022, Joey and the Assassins Alera and Colm traveled to Venice to retrieve the second piece of Vejovis' dagger from the Isu vault underneath the Basilica di San Marco. As they entered the vault, Colm revealed himself as a Templar double agent and tried to force Joey to reconstruct the dagger, but he was killed by Alera. Joey then assembled the dagger, which started a resurrection process for Vejovis, who revealed that Joey was one of his Sages and that the artifact would allow the Isu to possess them. Joey broke the dagger to stop the resurrection process, then left the vault with Alera, who invited them to join the Assassins.[74]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Tours: Crucifixion: "Spartacus"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Origins
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Holidays: Chapter 1 – Ghosts of Christmas Past
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Assassin's Creed: Origins comic – Issue #4
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Tours: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt: "War With Rome"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Assassin's Creed II – [citation needed]
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Italian Wars: Chapter 1 – Bartolomeo d'Alviano
  9. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Identity – Database: War of the League of Cambrai
  10. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  11. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Roma
  12. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Fall of an Empire, Rise of Another
  13. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – The Hidden Ones – Sic Semper Tyrannis
  14. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph #5: "Instruments of Power"
  15. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Basilica di San Pietro
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Assassin's Creed II – Database: Firenze
  17. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Database: Venezia
  18. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Napoli
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Assassin's Creed
  20. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations
  21. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Passing the Torch
  22. ↑ Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
  23. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Brief History of the Hidden Ones
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Assassin's Creed II – Paying Respects
  25. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Italian Wars: Chapter 3 – Mario Auditore
  26. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Lineage
  27. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Last Man Standing
  28. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
  29. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Everything Must Go
  30. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Infrequent Flier
  31. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Having a Blast
  32. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Cheaters Never Prosper
  33. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Database: Rodrigo Borgia
  34. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – All Things Come to He Who Waits
  35. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Play Along
  36. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Battle of Forlì – Checcomate
  37. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Renaissance
  38. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Bonfire of the Vanities – Mob Justice
  39. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book – Chapter 5: A Hidden Tomb
  40. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – A War in the Shadows – The Slaver's Demise
  41. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – In Bocca al Lupo
  42. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Vilified
  43. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Man of the People
  44. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – An Unexpected Visitor
  45. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 3 – Francesco Vecellio
  46. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – An Apple a Day
  47. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – All Roads Lead To...
  48. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – A Seed
  49. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – The Temple of Pythagoras
  50. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Identity – Niccolò Machiavelli's journal – Entry #6: "A Storm of Crows"
  51. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Identity – Niccolò Machiavelli's journal – Entry #10: "Saviors of Roma"
  52. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Italian Wars: Chapter 2 – Francesco Vecellio
  53. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Mediterranean Defense
  54. ↑ Assassin's Creed – Issue #13
  55. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: Zhu Jiuyuan
  56. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Embers
  57. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Database: Giuliano de' Medici
  58. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Divine Science: Chapter 1 – Maria Amiel
  59. ↑ Assassin's Creed DNA – Timeline
  60. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Path He Walks
  61. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rogue – War Letters: "Lawrence of America"
  62. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 2
  63. ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy – Chapter 9
  64. ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy – Chapter 12
  65. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyphs
  66. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "The Mole"
  67. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Breakdown"
  68. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Farewell To Florence"
  69. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Hacker Massacre"
  70. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "The Hound"
  71. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Kaboom!"
  72. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Only One Left"
  73. ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Return to Abstergo
  74. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book – Chapter 6: Stopping the Cult

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