Antonio de Magianis

"When I was a child, we were taught that the nobles were just and kind. I believed it, too. Though my father was only a cobbler and my mother a scullery maid, I aspired to be much more. I studied hard, I persevered, but the nobles would never have me."

―Antonio to Ezio, as they near the Basilica

Antonio de Magianis was a member of the Assassin Order and leader of the Thieves Guild located in the Italian city of Venice during the 15th century.

Raised in poverty from birth, Antonio was unable to attain a wealthy lifestyle, which eventually resulted in his founding of the Venetian Thieves Guild. Targeting the rich and wealthy of Venice's population, Antonio also worked his way up the Assassin Order, realizing that the Templars had dug their way into Venice's corrupt nobility.

Eventually meeting with Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an Assassin-in-training, the pair worked together to thwart the Templars' plans to take over Venice. After a failed attempt to infiltrate the Palazzo della Seta by the Thieves, Ezio eventually managed to do so with their help, resulting in the successful assassination of Emilio Barbarigo. The Thieves then took over the Palazzo for themselves, turning it into their new base of operations.

Ezio later discovered out that the Templars planned to kill Doge Giovanni Mocenigo, and requested Antonio's aid. After scouting the Doge's Palazzo, Ezio and Antonio rushed to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop, requesting the use of his flying machine. Antonio ordered his Thieves set fires around Venice, allowing Ezio to gain altitude whilst using the machine, he glided onto the Palazzo rooftop and eventually succeeded in killing Carlo Grimaldi.

During the next few years, Antonio once again assisted Ezio with taking down high-ranking Venetian Templars, introducing him to Sister Teodora whilst plotting the assassination of the Templar Doge Marco Barbarigo, and later introducing Ezio to the Doge's successor Agostino Barbarigo before directing him to the mercenary Bartolomeo d'Alviano to gain support in taking down Silvio Barbarigo.

Biography

Early life

Born in 1443 to a poor family, Antonio lived with his father, a cobbler, and his mother, a maid for an upper-class family. As he aged, he increasingly developed a want for a richer life, but no matter how hard he studied, the schools would not accept him, and no matter how hard he worked he could not change his circumstances. Realizing that hard labor would not get him what he wanted, Antonio decided to steal it instead.

Eventually, Antonio found his way into the Order of Assassins, and subsequently set up the Thieves guild of Venice. Antonio and his fellow thieves consented only to theft of property from the largely immoral Venetian nobility, not ordinary citizens, making him something like an Italian Robin Hood. He considered his guild more of a "business" than a crime syndicate.

Infiltrating the Palazzo

"You may not share our motive, but I know you share our goal"

―Antonio to Ezio.

Antonio welcoming Ezio into his home.

When Ezio Auditore arrived in Venice and had helped one of Antonio's thieves who was injured during the failed attempt at murdering Emilio Barbarigo, Antonio knew of Ezio's deeds through Florence and Tuscany and told him it was good work, if a little unrefined. Antonio also knew of Ezio's intentions of killing Emilio, but they would need to draw up new plans and get everything prepared. Antonio told Ezio that there were three traitors delivering information to Emilio and that they had to be disposed of. Ezio agreed to do the deed and killed the three traitors. Antonio waited for Ezio to assist in their other duties, and soon they were once again ready to attempt the assassination of Emilio.

Antonio revealing the next step to enter the Palazzo.

Ezio was to dispatch of the archers patrolling the rooftops and once completed, he met up with Antonio, Rosa and Ugo. Once Ezio had taken the life of Emilio and all the guards in the Palazzo della Seta were killed, Ezio and Rosa opened the door for Antonio. Antonio told his thieves to give back what Emilio had stolen from the people, and gave Ezio money for the role he performed in the killing. Ezio told Antonio that Emilio had been speaking with a man, after which Antonio gave Ezio the name Carlo Grimaldi. Antonio then asked what Ezio was up to, to which he responded that he had a "meeting to attend". Ezio said his goodbyes and left the Palazzo.

Infiltrating the Basilica

Ezio: "Carlo Grimaldi and the Barbarigo are in league with the one they call The Spaniard. They're going to murder the Doge and replace him with one of their own. They will have all of Venezia, her entire fleet, in their grasp."

Antonio: "And they call ME a criminal!"

—Antonio learns of the Templars' plan to execute the Doge of Venice from Ezio Auditore.

Ezio found out that Carlo Grimaldi planned to kill Giovanni Mocenigo and replace him with Marco Barbarigo. Ezio quickly went to Antonio and told him what the Templars planned. Antonio and Ezio sought a way into the Basilica di San Marco, but even though they had looked at all the possible ways to get in, they could not find a way. Antonio exclaimed that it was hopeless and that only birds could get inside, which gave Ezio the idea to seek out his friend Leonardo da Vinci.

Antonio discussing with Ezio and Leonardo.

Antonio later visited Ezio and was introduced to Leonardo. Antonio told Ezio that Carlo had the poison and that they had to hurry if they were going to catch Carlo in time. Ezio tried to fly with Leonardo's flying machine, but ended up crashing almost immediately. Leonardo didn't know how to extend the machine's flight duration, until he threw a piece of paper into the fireplace, giving him an idea. Ezio had to clear some of the areas in Venice of guards and Antonio would send his men to make a sequence of fires spread across the city.

Once Ezio had disposed of the guards and the fires had been lit, he met Antonio and Leonardo on a rooftop. Antonio told the others he hoped it would work, as they were running out of time. Ezio then flew off with the flying machine.

Aiding in the Doge's murder

"Perhaps it was wrong of me to doubt so readily, now we shall see where all the pieces fall"

―Antonio to Ezio.

Antonio introducing Teodora to Ezio.

Over time, Antonio and Leonardo had developed a mutual friendship, and at one point Leonardo told Ezio the whereabouts of Antonio. Antonio was in the brothel called La Rosa Della Virtù (The Rose of Virtue) and Ezio was to seek out Teodora Contanto. Ezio arrived and took off his mask to reveal his identity to Antonio, after which Antonio introduced Ezio to Sister Teodora and then discussed the plans to kill the new Doge, Marco Barbarigo. However, before they had the time to discuss anything, a man ran out, having killed a courtesan and taken her money. Teodora sent Ezio to kill the man while Teodora and Antonio awaited Ezio's return.

Once Ezio had returned Antonio discussed with Ezio and Teodora about killing the new Doge, while the girls mourned the loss of one of their own. They came to the conclusion that Ezio would try to win a golden mask which would grant him entry to the Doge's party. Ezio, Antonio and Teodora engaged in conversation along the walk to the area where the games to win the mask would be held and when they arrived, Ezio took part in the games. Once Ezio was done, Teodora and Antonio knew of the bribe that was given to the judge by Silvio Barbarigo while Ezio was fighting Dante Moro. A courtesan came in telling them that Dante was heading for the party.

Ezio planned on killing Dante to get the mask but Antonio told him not to because Marco would cancel the party right away. He recommended stealing the mask instead. Ezio then left and Antonio waited for the news of the deed. Once it was done, Ezio returned and Antonio admitted that he had judged Ezio too readily.

Acquisition of the Apple

"We have our prize, but there is much to be done."

―Antonio to Ezio regarding the Piece of Eden.

Ezio once again visited in hopes of finding Silvio and Dante, and Antonio introduced Ezio to Marco's brother Agostino Barbarigo. Antonio told Ezio that Silvio and Dante had fled into Arsenale di Venezia. Ezio asked if Agostino could make Silvio's men stand down but the Council of Ten had to confirm his ascension first. Ezio then wanted to build an army of his own, to which Antonio responded by telling him to seek out Bartolomeo d'Alviano.

Antonio branding Ezio's finger.

While Ezio was fighting Rodrigo Borgia for the Piece of Eden, the other Assassins, including Antonio came to Ezio's aid. Together, the Assassins took down Rodrigo and his guards and though Rodrigo fled, the Assassins had acquired the Piece of Eden. Ezio did not know what all those people were doing there until Niccolò Machiavelli revealed to him that they were all Assassins. Ezio was given a map that leads to a tower and told to meet them that night for his initiation into the Order. The ceremony was completed and Ezio was given a mark on his finger, ending with all of the Assassins performing a Leap of Faith off the tower.

Visit from Spain

"Santangel contacted the thieves' guild from España. When we met, he explained his plight and that's when I contacted you."

―Antonio to Ezio, about Luis' sudden appearance.

Antonio, with Luis and Ezio.

In 1491, Antonio was contacted by Luis de Santángel to do a job for him. Antonio contacted Ezio, whom he mentioned as the "deadliest man in Italia". Antonio explained that Luis was seeking protection for him and his friend Christoffa Corombo. Ezio refused at first, but accepted when told that they were to meet with Rodrigo Borgia in Venice. Ezio left to help out Christoffa and when he returned to Antonio, he revealed that it was a trap.

Antonio told Ezio the location of Luis, and Ezio then left to speak with him in the Garden District, in case anything went wrong. He also put them in contact with the Thieves guild in Barcelona before Ezio traveled there to deal with the Spanish Inquisition.

Journey to Rome

Mario: "For years... No, decades... We have sought these answers."

Antonio: "But so too could the Spaniard... And if he does... if he finds a way into the Vault... Its contents will make the Apple seem a trifling thing."

—Antonio giving his input at the meeting.

File:Confront1.jpg

Antonio at the meeting in Monteriggioni.

Antonio met with the Assassins at Monteriggioni in 1499 as they formulated a plan to prevent Rodrigo from accessing the Vault in Rome. Ezio used the power of the Apple to show the location of the Vault on the map that was hidden underneath the Codex pages. Once they found out it was in Rome, the other Assassins agreed to create distractions throughout Rome in order to give Ezio an opportunity to infiltrate the Capella Sistina and kill Rodrigo Borgia.

Personality and characteristics

"Ezio: who are the true nobles of Venezia? Men like Carlo Grimaldi and Marco Barbarigo? No! I say we are; the thieves, and mercenari (mercenaries) and whores."

―Antonio expresses his feelings towards the social classes.

Antonio showed respect to the lower class, and has a "soft spot" for Rosa. He disliked the corrupt nobles and believed that the true heroes are the mercenaries, courtesans and thieves. Antonio judged quickly and respected the people he worked with.

Trivia

• The "courier disguise" in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy is identical to Antonio's attire.