Bernardo Baroncelli

"Yes, yes, safer for me... and then, then we'll be protected, meet when it's time and then... I'll leave this place, free... in time... in time."

―A paranoid Bernardo Baroncelli

Bernardo di Bandino Baroncelli (1453 - 1480) was a banker for the Pazzi, and one of the Pazzi conspirators who attempted to murder Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother Giuliano.

Biography

Pazzi conspiracy

"It's all here. Swords. Staves. Axes. Armour. Bows. Our men will want for nothing."

―Bernardo Baroncelli

Bernardo was an accountant of the Medici bank under Jacopo de' Pazzi, and was led to the Templars through Jacopo's ties with the Order. In 1478, he supplied weapons and a willing blade for the planned murder of Lorenzo de' Medici's family, meeting with the rest of the conspirators in the catacombs beneath Santa Maria Novella. Bernardo joked easily about the willingness of Lorenzo's brother to make final plans for his daily activities and uttered the phrase, "May the Father of Understanding guide us", the Templar motto.

The following morning, the conspirators attacked Lorenzo and his brother before the Duomo during High Mass. Bernardo was one of the first attackers and delivered the first knife wound to Giuliano de' Medici, his attack fueled with hate born from the Medici's exile of his cousins. Bernardo fled immediately after the attack, but was recaptured in his flight to Constantinople.

Escape and death

"I knew you would come"

―Bernardo Baroncelli in his final words

As Bernardo attempted to flee Italy and find sanctuary from his enemies in Constantinople, he was rapidly captured by Mario Auditore's men. However, he escaped his captors and took refuge in San Gimignano, unable to be found by the local mercenaries and allies of Ezio Auditore.

Bernardo, moments before his death.

The man's paranoia increased and flourished as he hid from the Assassin, displaying itself in his frequent chattering to himself and assurances that he was safe. His guards walked by his side at all times under his direct order. Bernardo continued in this manner until he decided to visit San Gimignano's markets, still flanked by bodyguards.

In 1480, Ezio Auditore was told of Bernardo's escape and general location with San Gimignano, though the mercenaries could not find the escaped quarry. The Assassin used his eagle vision, to locate Bernardo. Once targeted, Ezio stealthily assassinated Bernardo's guards and made his way to the target's side undetected. He was then struck down by Ezio with the hidden blade.

Personality and characteristics

Much like his fellow co-conspirators, Bernardo was struck into cowardice by his terror of the Assassin and his inevitable demise. He surrounded himself with guards that would lay down their life for him, valuing his life above that of the men, and would have simply run away had the Assassin revealed himself to his target.

However cowardly Bernardo appeared, it was matched by his loyalty to his family; however distant, everything he had done against the Medici family was for his exiled cousins, whom Lorenzo had banished from Italy. Bernardo's hatred was spawned from this act and spurned him into action, though the blame of attempted murder cannot be completely taken from his name.

Bernardo was shackled by paranoia, born from the fear of the Assassin. His paranoia was shown through constant muttering to himself in public, searching each hiding-place in the market for a hidden killer and instantly fleeing upon recognition of Ezio as the Assassin struck.

Bernardo was tubby around his stomach and bore a double-chin with great pride, though the rest of his body did not seem to have been affected by his obesity. His eyebrows, hair, moustache and beard were all black and his eyes were barely visible beneath saggy pouches of eyelid. His head was covered by a small crimson hat with a white and pink feather poking from its small brim. His clothing was all crimson, aside from pure white tights and thick gold jewelry that draped his neck and fingers with finery.

Final Words

Baroncelli: I knew you would come...

Ezio: Where is Jacopo?

Baroncelli: So you could do to him what you've done to me?

Ezio: There's still time for you to clear your conscience.

Baroncelli: We gather at the church when a meeting is called.

Ezio: Mi duole dover giungere a tanto. (I am sorry that it came to this.) Requiescat in Pace. (Rest in peace.)

Trivia

• Historically, Bernardo tried to flee to Constantinople after the conspiracy failed. However, he was arrested, sent back to Florence, and later hanged. A record of his execution can be found in a sketch of his hanging made by Leonardo da Vinci. In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, this is how he dies.
• Oddly, if you hire Mercenaries to attack Baroncelli's bodyguards, he will pay no attention and just keep walking.

Gallery

• Bernardo gives out his insight on the Duomo attack.
  Bernardo gives out his insight on the Duomo attack.
• Bernado impales Giuliano.
  Bernado impales Giuliano.
• Bernado listens to Stefano.
  Bernado listens to Stefano.
• Bernardo stabs Guiliano de' Medici.
  Bernardo stabs Guiliano de' Medici.