Francesco de' Pazzi

Francesco de' Pazzi (1444 – April 26, 1478) was a member of the Templar Order and a wealthy Florentine noble.

Francesco belonged to the wealthy Florentine nobility, and was a member of the Pazzi family. He was the father of Vieri de' Pazzi, and the nephew of Jacopo de' Pazzi.

Biography

Templar association

In 1476, Francesco was accused of murder by Giovanni Auditore da Firenze. Giovanni was ready to present his evidence in court, however, he was betrayed by Uberto Alberti, who was a secret ally of the Templars. Uberto had Giovanni and two of his sons, Federico and Petruccio, executed for the crime of treason. With Giovanni dead, there was no longer any evidence against Francesco, leading him to be cleared of all charges.

Pazzi Conspiracy

"Your day is done, Lorenzo! Your entire family dies by my sword!"

―Francesco taunting Lorenzo de' Medici at the Duomo.

In 1478, Francesco met with a group of Templars at the southern gate of San Gimignano. The group consisted of his uncle Jacopo de' Pazzi, his son Vieri de' Pazzi, and the Templar Grand Master Rodrigo Borgia. The group discussed their plan to overthrow the Medici dynasty, and to instate the Templars as the government of the city. However, after the meeting ended and Francesco and Rodrigo had left, Vieri was killed by Ezio Auditore during an attack on the city by Mario Auditore and his mercenaries.

Francesco about to stab Giuliano.

Later that same year, Francesco met with another group of Templars in Florence in the catacombs under Santa Maria Novella. This time the group consisted of Bernardo Baroncelli, Stefano da Bagnone, Jacopo, and Rodrigo. The Templar conspirators talked about finalizing their plans to gain control of Florence. Once their discussion had finished, Rodrigo claimed that a new sun would rise over Florence the next morning.

As planned, during high mass the next morning at the Duomo, Francesco and his co-conspirators attacked the Medici family. Francesco and Bernardo charged at Giuliano de' Medici, and stabbed him multiple times, killing him. Stefano also stabbed Lorenzo de' Medici, however, he only was able to injure Lorenzo, as the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze entered the battle. Ezio fought off Francesco and his men, and successfully defended Lorenzo, and later escorted him back to his home.

Death

"You again? Why aren't you dead? Men! Slaughter him!"

―Francesco upon seeing Ezio on the rooftops.

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Francesco's body hung from the Palazzo della Signoria.

After bringing Lorenzo to safety, Ezio set off to kill Francesco who was leading a battalion around the back of the Palazzo della Signoria.

After Ezio had arrived at the Palazzo della Signoria, Francesco greeted him from up on the prison ramparts, and ordered his men to kill the Assassin. However, Ezio evaded Francesco's men and made his way to the rooftops of the Palazzo. Once there, Ezio assassinated Francesco's guards while climbing up the top level Franesco resided on. Ezio then confronted Francesco, who cursed the Assassin and jumped off the top of the rampart, and landed safely in a bale of hay.

Ezio followed Francesco, and began chasing him through the Florentine streets. Ezio eventually caught up to Francesco, though, and assassinated him. Later, Francesco's body was hung from the top of the Palazzo della Signoria by Medici supporters, which scared Jacopo de' Pazzi, and caused him to flee from the city, knowing that their plans had failed.

Final words

• Ezio: Now Firenze will judge you for what you've done.
• Francesco: It's over... It's all over...
• Ezio: Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima. (Better to be content in this life, than aspire to it in the next) Requiescat in pace. (Rest in peace.)

Characteristics and personality

Francesco's last moments.

Francesco de' Pazzi had a deep hatred for any middle-class civilians who attempted to make their way to the top, leading to his disgust at the quick ascension of Lorenzo de' Medici. He also was confident and had much pride in himself and his fellow conspirators, claiming the Medici were too arrogant and too stupid to notice the plans being made for their conspiracy. However, Francesco backed up this confidence by informing Rodrigo that no mistakes would be made in their plans against the Medici.

Francesco was also violent and sadistic, stabbing Giuliano de' Medici multiple times after he was dead, demonstrating his desire to kill. Despite his violent behavior, however, he fled when confronted by Ezio Auditore, and chose to attempt to run from the Assassin, rather than stay and fight.

There is also a hint that Francesco often ignored his son, Vieri, who only wished for his father's approval. It is stated in the letter from Fra Giocondo that Vieri often acted brashly and competed in competitions he had rigged in his favor merely to gain Francesco's attentions.

Trivia

• It is notable that Vieri is Francesco's son, as Francesco would have been ten years old when Vieri was born.
• Francesco had a daughter, Viola, as hinted when Ezio comments to Vieri that his "sister seemed quite satisfied with the handling I gave her earlier."
• In real life, Francesco de' Pazzi was reputed to have stabbed himself in the thigh accidentally, while killing Giuliano de' Medici in a frenzy. He was dragged from the Palazzo Pazzi, and then hung naked from the tower of the Palazzo della Signoria on April 26, 1478. His body was then cut down and desecrated.
• When confronted by Ezio, Francesco jumped off the Palazzo della Signoria into a haystack for a quick escape. This is one of the only known examples of a non-Assassin committing a form of a Leap of Faith.

Gallery

• 
  Francesco and his fellow Templars taking the pledge.
• Francesco in the Santa Maria Novella catacombs.
  Francesco in the Santa Maria Novella catacombs.
• Francesco attacks Lorenzo de' Medici.
  Francesco attacks Lorenzo de' Medici.
• 
  Francesco on top of the Signoria.
• 
  Ezio assassinating Francesco.