Siege of Monteriggioni

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The Fall of Monteriggioni was a series of events that led up to an engagement between the Borgia, under the command of Cesare Borgia, and the Auditore mercenaries, led by Mario Auditore. The siege took place in January, 1500.

Return from the Vatican

"Steel yourself, Ezio. They will have many questions."

―Mario to Ezio, before returning to the villa.

The Master Assassin Ezio Auditore encountered Minerva, one of Those Who Came Before, who, through Ezio, delivered the mysterious prophecy to his future descendant Desmond Miles in the Vatican Vault. Ezio emerged from the inner Vault into the main camber, however, he found Rodrigo Borgia missing, and the Staff still secured to the chamber floor. As he attempted to force the Staff from the ground, Ezio evidently triggered a mechanism that took the Staff down into the heart of the Vault. Subsequently, the whole chamber plummeted down, to which Ezio was then greeted by his uncle, Mario Auditore.

Leaving Basilica di San Pietro, Ezio and Mario made their escape through Rome, until they reached a nearby tower. Upon climbing, it Ezio held the Apple over the Tiber River, however, he hesitated to get rid of such a powerful artifact. Mario took the Apple from him, saying that he would hold onto it until Ezio had decided its fate; thus the two quickly peformed a Leap of Faith, leaving Rome to return to Monteriggioni.

On the road home, Ezio and Mario conversed about what Ezio had learned in the Vault, though Mario assured him that many of the things that the mysterious figure had mentioned would occur in the future, thus they need not worry about it. As they came within sight of the town, Ezio was slightly startled by a cannon ball impacting the ground near them, and Mario explained that his mercenaries were merely testing out the cannons they had installed during Ezio's absence. Entering Monteriggioni, Ezio and Mario were joyously greeted by the townspeople for their return.

Arriving at the foot of the Villa Auditore, the two were welcomed by Claudia Auditore, Ezio's sister, who told Ezio of Caterina Sforza's presence in Monteriggioni. Claudia then asked if what Ezio had started was finally finished, to which Ezio replied that he would explain everything to both her and the others later in Mario's study. As Claudia left, Mario warned Ezio to prepare himself for many questions, before going back into the villa.

Ezio and Mario, riding back to Monteriggioni.

Before entering the Villa, Ezio helped some of the townspeople; and while doing so, he learned of Claudia's birthday party that would take place the next day in the Villa. After helping the townspeople and some of Mario's mercenaries by delivering flowers to the Villa Auditore and testing out the new cannons himself, Ezio returned to the villa. Caterina Sforza stood waiting for Ezio in the main hall, and she happily greeted him, before explaining that she had come to Monteriggioni to seek the assistance of their mercenaries, in order to defend Forli against the Papal army. Ezio told Caterina that they would discuss those matters after the meeting at Mario's study, to which she agreed.

Reunion

File:Vlcsnap-2010-11-12-17h26m26s59.jpg

Ezio and Caterina, in Ezio's room.

Ezio arrived at the study, where Claudia, his mother, Mario, and Niccolò Machiavelli were waiting. Ezio told them of what he had seen in the Vault, and of his confrontation with the Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia. He spoke of the "moving painting" of the goddess Minerva, who had told Ezio about a disaster that would occur in the distant future, as well as the existence of the Temples that could aid humanity. After her message, she had called out to a phantom named Desmond, much to Ezio's confusion. After this, the goddess had disappeared.

The others were astounded by Ezio's discoveries, and Claudia asked if the goddess had appeared human. Ezio told her that she had, though her words proved otherwise. Mario asked who Desmond was, and where the Temples that Minerva had mentioned were. Ezio could not provide the answer to either. Machiavelli asked Ezio how it had ended with Rodrigo, if he had begged for mercy or had offered him power. Ezio told him that none of these had happened, for he had allowed Rodrigo to live. Enraged, Machiavelli told Ezio that sparing him was a mistake. Ezio attempted to explain why he had spared Rodrigo, saying that they should forget the past and focus more on the future, but Machiavelli disagreed vehemently with him, and abruptly left for Rome.

As Machiavelli departed, Mario tried to comfort Ezio with his decision, stating that he trusted his decisions. After this, Ezio left the study and returned to his room. There, he undressed and bathed, and was soon joined by Caterina, who had come to comfort him. After the bath, Ezio and Caterina continued their "activities" in bed, which lasted until dawn.

Siege

Monteriggioni under fire.

"We've had too much bloodshed. I think a cleansing is in order. So, consider this as an invitation from my family... to yours!"

―Cesare, moments before killing Mario.

As they finish, Caterina asked Ezio if he wanted to "go again," to which he replied that she need not to ask. As they were about to begin, cannon fire could be heard from the outside. When Caterina wondered aloud what it was, Ezio assured her that it was just the mercenaries training with the new cannons. This was proven wrong, as a cannon ball tore through the windows of Ezio's room, hitting the armor of his ancestor and scattering it. Surprised, Ezio got out of bed and dressed himself for combat. Taking up a common sword and his left hidden blade Ezio headed out of the villa through the wall blown open by the cannon fire. Caterina left the room by the stairs, calling to Ezio that she would use her men to flank their enemies. After this, the two parted ways.

As Ezio climbed onto the villa roof, he was greeted by the sight of Monteriggioni heavily damaged by cannon fire, with its buildings and structures burning and falling apart. As his eyes wandered, Ezio caught sight of a cannon ball headed his way, which he barely dodged. Tumbling from the roof, he hit the ground but was quickly helped up by his uncle, who informed Ezio that the Borgia were responsible for the attack. Ezio wondered how they had not seen the attack coming, to which Mario replied that they must have taken a alternative route to the east. As the villa sustained more damage, Mario instructed Ezio to climb the battlements of the city and assist the mercenaries as the villagers fled. Mario told Ezio that he would lead a frontal assault against the Borgia infantry.

Ezio asked his uncle if he had the Apple, to which he replied that he was keeping it safe. As the two parted, Ezio told Mario to be careful, who reassured him that he would be. Ezio, with haste, dropped off the villa's courtyard and landed onto nearby a horse, which he rode through the collapsing city. As Ezio reached the side of the city walls, a nearby tower fell, killing his horse and throwing the Assassin from the saddle. Ezio grabbed onto a nearby scaffolding before he hit the ground, and proceeded up a ladder to the battlements.

Ezio then joined the mercenaries in using the mounted cannons to destroy the Borgia infantry; successfully impacting several Borgia cannons and approaching siege towers. As Ezio and the mercenaries defended the city, the townspeople fled to the villa. After all the townspeople had reached safety, the Borgia were able to breach the city's defenses, as one siege towers successfully reached one of the walls. As a mercenary took his place as the cannoneer, Ezio ran across the ramparts to aid the mercenaries being assaulted by the Borgia men.

File:Cesare with the Apple.jpg

Cesare Borgia, holding the Apple of Eden, alongside his sister.

Ezio killed the commanding soldier from above and disposed of the remaining attackers. As he did, the enemy forces finally breached the city gates, and Mario came through them, barely alive. Following close behind him was Cesare Borgia, accompanied by his sister, Lucrezia, his generals and a large number of soldiers.

Cesare called out for Ezio's attention, stating that he had heard about him and his "little group of Assassins". Ezio rushed to Mario, as Cesare quickly snatched the pistol fashioned by the Assassin's friend from one of his generals, and pointed it to Mario's head. Claiming that a cleansing was in order, Cesare shot Mario with the gun, serving as the invitation of the Borgia to the Auditore to come to Rome. Subsequently, Ezio was shot across the left shoulder and stomach by several of the arquebusiers positioned on the city walls, causing him to fall off the building and lose consciousness.

Escaping the city

The escape passage leading from the Sanctuary.

"Basta (Stop)! I can walk."

―Ezio to the mercanaries dragging him, Monteriggioni 1500

Waking up, Ezio was greeted by the sight of two mercenaries dragging him across the battlefield to safety. Ezio irritably demanded that they let him go, insisting that he could stand on his own. As he did, the Borgia soldiers arrived to finish what they had started, and, knowing that he could not handle them alone, Ezio called for the mercenaries to aid him. Eventually, Ezio and the mercenaries fought their way through the city and reached the villa.

As he made his way through the city rubble, Ezio found Claudia and another group of mercenaries being assaulted by more soldiers. Ezio and his own group of mercenaries assisted them, and successfully fended them off. With haste, the group made their way to the Sanctuary, closely followed by Borgia guards. One of the thieves of Monteriggioni, who had been about to shut the Sanctuary door, told Ezio that they had thought he had been killed. Before Ezio closed the passage, the thief left to aid the troops. After this, Ezio locked the secret door to the hidden passage, before meeting up with Claudia, Maria and the townspeople

In the tunnels below the Sanctuary, Ezio headed the escape through a long, perilous passage constructed behind his ancestor's statue, that led to the outside of the northern walls. After a long journey, navigating through the complex structure and dealing with the guards that managed to catch up with the group, Ezio and the other civilians managed to escape the city. By that time, the Borgia had assumed that Ezio was dead and had begun to recall their invading forces.

Aftermath

Claudia: "You're not coming with us? Where are you riding?"

Ezio: "To Roma."

—Ezio and Claudia, before Ezio rides off to Rome.

While asking for a horse, Ezio instructed Claudia to take their mother back to Florence. Claudia asked where he was headed, to which he replied that he was going to Rome. As the civilians left the area, and as Maria bade her son farewell, Ezio rode off towards Rome.

As Ezio travelled the countryside, he grew steadily weaker from his injuries, before finally falling from his horse and passing out on the road. Some time later, Ezio woke up, dazed and covered in bandages. He was greeted by the sight of a kindly woman, who had evidently nursed him back to health. There, she told him that a man had taken him there and had left new equipment for him to use. After this, the woman instructed Ezio to meet up with Niccolò Machiavelli at the Mausoleo di Augusto.

The liberation of Rome had begun.

Trivia

• In the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel, there are some significant differences during the siege. Mario is shot in the nape, and is later beheaded. Cesare then finds Ezio escaping the Auditore Family Crypt, and reveals the head to him, screaming: "You'll be next!", making their first confrontation during the siege, rather than in 1503 in Rome. Additionally, Ezio is shot by Octavian de Valois instead of the arquebusiers.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood