Bonfire of the Vanities

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"You should be cleansing your homes. Cleansing your SELVES! There are bonfires to feed! Prayers to be said! Penance to be done!"

―Savonarola ordering Florentine citizens to return to their medieval lifestyles

The Bonfire of the Vanities was a political movement in Florence during the years 1497 and 1498 in which the Italian-Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola preached for Florentine civilians to return to medieval lifestyles.

Following the expulsion of Florence's former rulers, the Medici, Savonarola assumed control of the city after acquiring an Apple of Eden in 1488.

Ascension to power

"It's not the city he's enthralled, but its leaders: men possessed of influence and power. They, in turn, oppress the citizens and ensure his will is done."

―Niccolò Machiavelli discussing Savonarola's new system of power

Ezio and Machiavelli discussing Savonarola

In the year 1497, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze returned to Florence to find controlled by Savonarola and his nine lieutenants.

Ezio met with Niccolò Machiavelli on one of the Arno bridges, and Machiavelli confirmed that Savonarola had taken control of Florence with the aid of the Apple of Eden. Eager to reclaim the Apple, Ezio declared that they should work on retrieving it, though Machiavelli rebuked this statement.

Machiavelli then explained to Ezio that Savonarola's control began to take shape a few weeks prior, when the man widely reviled became the one they "worshipped."

However, Machiavelli revealed this was only part of Savonarola's tyranny, as Savonarola had taken control of the city leaders who held such influence over Florence's districts. These leaders in turn oppressed the people and ensured Savonarola's will was done.

Assassination of Savonarola's lieutenants

"If we can silence his lieutenants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted and I will have a chance to strike."

―Ezio explaining his plan to assassinate Savonarola's lieutenants

Ezio and Machiavelli discussing the liberation plan

Reaching the end of the bridge, the two passed into the Oltrarno District of the city and discovered the bodies of a contingent of soldiers bearing the emblem of the Borgia, indicating that Rodrigo Borgia was also aware Savonarola held the Apple.

Learning that the Apple only held sway over the minds of Savonarola's nine lieutenants, with most of the city's populace simply controlled by fear, Ezio elected to assassinate the nine lieutenants, whilst La Volpe and Paola helped arouse the districts and the people.

The Painter

"My own self-doubt let him hold me as he did. I am sorry."

―The Painter's final words to Ezio

Ezio assassinating the painter

The first of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio targeted was the Painter, who was leading a burning of piles of artwork behind the Palazzo Pitti. Unaware of Ezio's closing presence, the man spoke of how, when he first became a painter, he thought he would become closer to God.

However, the Painter went on to say that he found he was only deceived by Satan. As he told the crowd to burn all their pieces of artwork in fires, Ezio abruptly assassinated him with his hidden blade. As the Painter died, he apologized to Ezio and claimed that his actions were not his own. Despite being pursued by guards, Ezio escaped and La Volpe and Paola led the crowd away from the fires.

The Preacher

"Not all of us required deception to be convinced. I already believe. All I said is true."

―The Preacher confessing his belief in Savonarola's cause

Ezio assassinating the Preacher

The second lieutenant Ezio hunted was the Preacher. Locating him outside Santo Spirito, he addressed a crowd in front of the church, surrounded by guards. The preacher invoked that everyone must repent or they would go to Hell.

However, Ezio was able to close in on the preacher and assassinate him. As the man died, he claimed that he was not deceived by the Apple of Eden, and that his actions were his own. Following the Preacher's death, Ezio escaped to continue his hunt.

The Condottiero

Ezio: "You wear a noble's clothes. How is it Savonarola charmed you?"

Condottiero: "Wealth and power do not ensure contentment. I wanted even more..."

—The Condottiero explaining his desire for control

Ezio assassinating the Condottiero

The third lieutenant was the Condottiero, who guarded and monitored passage across the Ponte Vecchio. He spoke of Savonarola's cause to the people below and said he wanted to lead the people into a new future and that resistance was futile.

However, Ezio was able to navigate past the guards and eventually assassinate the Condottiero. As he died, Ezio questioned the Condottiero about how Savonarola was able to charm him, and the Condottiero admitted he wanted wealth and power far beyond what he currently possessed.

The Merchant

"We'll see just how tough the holdouts are when they're forced to go without food. If they want to eat, they'll accept Savonarola as their leader."

―The Merchant describing his plan to starve those who oppose Savonarola

Ezio assassinating the Merchant

The fourth lieutenant was a Merchant, who Ezio found on a boat in the Arno River. The merchant had his guards load food supplies onto the ship, withholding it from the people in the hopes they would submit to Savonarola.

Ezio was able to sneak aboard the ship and evade the guards before reaching the merchant and assassinating him. In his dying words, the merchant showed regret, but admitted he believed people must be told what to think sometimes.

The Farmer

"Your orders are simple - keep watch over these fields and ensure no harm comes to the bundles of fieno (hay). It may seem a mundane task, but it's critical nonetheless!"

―The Farmer's orders to his men

Ezio assassinating the Farmer

The fifth lieutenant was a Farmer in Florence's countryside. The Farmer ordered his men to protect the hay and continued to patrol the area with other guards. As he walked, the farmer spoke of how he withheld other farmers' provisions for their livestock, thereby cutting their source of income and Florence's food supply, in the hopes they would submit to Savonarola.

Using the hay bundles to his advantage and remaining hidden, Ezio was able to assassinate the farmer. As he died, Ezio interrogated him about his actions, and the Farmer admitted he did withheld provisions to gain respect from the people.

The Nobleman

Nobleman: "I was a victim! It's not my fault!"

Ezio: "No. You made a choice."

Nobleman: "He charmed me. With that...thing..."

—Ezio talking to the Nobleman before the latter's death

Ezio assassinating the Nobleman

The sixth lieutenant was a Nobleman, who Ezio located on top of the Mercato Vecchio. Upon sight of Ezio, the Nobleman began fleeing towards Savonarola, shouting that Florence must be cured and claimed that Ezio would not interfere.

Ezio pursued the nobleman over the rooftops and quickly assassinated him. As he died, the Nobleman claimed he was "charmed" by the Apple. Before the Nobleman died, Ezio explained that he killed him for the people's benefit.

The Priest

"I led my flock astray... It's just... I wanted so badly to believe..."

―The Priest confessing his failure

Ezio assassinating the Priest

The seventh lieutenant was a Priest praying atop Santa Maria del Fiore. As the priest preached to the people in favor of Savonarola and his cause, Ezio silently climbed the church, dispatching the guards he encountered.

Reaching the top, Ezio stabbed the priest with his hidden blade. As he died, the priest admitted he accepted the illusion, wanting to believe in God so desperately.

The Captain Guard

"Or was it that I tasted power and found myself intoxicated? I wish I had been strong."

―The Captain Guard speaking to Ezio

Ezio assassinating the Captain Guard

Eventually, Ezio was able to locate the Captain Guard at the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Arriving in the courtyard and noticing no civilians around, the Captain Guard revealed himself from the scaffolding above.

Calling out to Ezio, he revealed he had devised a trap. Ezio was promptly surrounded by dozens of guards and archers; however he was able to fight them off, climb the building, and assassinate the Captain Guard. As he died, the Captain was disgusted by his actions, wishing he was stronger.

The Doctor

Doctor: "You have spilled the blood of a healer."

Ezio: "No. I have spilled the blood of a tyrant."

Doctor: "To command such power over the body, between this world and the next. It seems, I grew intoxicated."

—The Doctor to Ezio prior to the former's death

Ezio aiming the Hidden Gun at the Doctor

The last of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to assassinate was the Doctor, who was found in the Ospedale degli Innocenti. He was protected by several guards and offered free medical care to those who swore allegiance to Savonarola.

Infiltrating the courtyard, Ezio avoided the guards' gaze. Reaching him, Ezio quickly assassinated the Doctor. Before dying, the Doctor admitted to Ezio that he had been intoxicated by power.

Savonarola's demise

"We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it...Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else."

―Ezio's speech to the crowd at the Palazzo della Signoria

The crowd gathering in front of the Palazzo Pitti

The citizens, rallied by Niccolò Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, massed in front of the Palazzo Pitti to confront Savonarola.

Emerging from the Palazzo, Savonarola demanded to know why the mob had gathered and were not "cleansing themselves." Weakened by the loss of his lieutenants, he quickly reverted to using the Apple's power to subdue the crowd.

However, Savonarola's attempt to use the Apple was prevented as Ezio threw a knife and injured his hand. As soon as the Apple fell from Savonarola's grip, the crowd carried him away.

Picking up the Apple, a Borgia guard attempted to flee with the artifact, but was subdued after a lengthy chase by Ezio. Ezio then headed to the Palazzo della Signoria, where the crowd, now freed from the control of the Apple, were burning Savonarola at the stake.

Ezio addressing the crowd

Making his way through the crowd, Ezio lunged at Savonarola and assassinated the tyrannical monk with his hidden blade. With Savonarola finally dead, Ezio made a speech to the crowd, telling them that they were free to make their own choice, and directing them to choose their own path.

As Ezio concluded his speech, he departed from the city with Mario Auditore, Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, with the group heading to the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni.

Aftermath

With the Assassins securing the Apple once more and Savonarola's tyranny ended, the people of Florence could finally fully embrace the Renaissance movement. Following Savonarola's demise, the city remained in tatters for several years, before Piero Soderini became Florence's effective ruler in 1502. The Assassins also retrieved the last pages of the Codex, which they would eventually assemble on the Codex Wall to locate the Vault and confront the Templar Grand Master, Rodrigo Borgia.

Reference

• Assassin's Creed II - Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)