Skirmish in the Campagna District

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"Cesare persuaded King Louis to lend him an entire army to defeat me. I'm flattered."

―Bartolomeo d'Alviano, regarding the French.

In 1503, subsequently following the death of Juan Borgia the Elder, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze intended to assassinate Octavian de Valois to weaken Cesare's influential control over Rome, and to lower the morale of guards positioned at the Castel Sant'Angelo. Ezio visited the military barracks to check on his old friend Bartolomeo d'Alviano, who was battling the French forces of Cesare Borgia, led by Octavian de Valois.

Hostility

Bartolomeo: "It's only a matter of time before I have Valois by the throat. We have them in retreat [...] The situation is under control."

Mercenary: "Close the gates!"

Bartolomeo: "Bene (Good). So maybe I could use a little help."

—Bartolomeo and his men, moments before the French arrive.

Arriving at the barracks, Ezio was greeted by a paranoid Bartolomeo, who pointed his sword to him in a panicking manner. When he saw that it was only Ezio, his paranoia subsided, and segued into a more cheerful side. He told Ezio that he was expecting his wife, which does not surprise him. Ezio then asked who was this Baron de Valois. Bartolomeo informs him that Cesare persuaded King Louis to lend him an army to combat against Bartolomeo, a fact that flatters him.

File:BartEzioBarr.jpg

Bartolomeo and Ezio, conversing at the Barracks.

Ezio asked where the Baron was, to which Bartolomeo informed that he nearly has Valois by the throat, and assured that the French are in retreat. As they conversed, however, a French arquebusier shot at the two from a distance, but missed. Despite this, Bartolomeo still assured that the fight was going well, until a mercenary loudly announced that French troops were moving in for a direct assault. Bartolomeo then admitted he may need some help containing the situation.

Ezio and Bartolomeo fought against the French forces, driving back the first wave of soldiers; however, more reinforcements attacked the barracks and overwhelmed the mercenaries. Ezio and the mercenaries then had all three of the gates into the barracks closed, to prevent any reinforcements from entering. Although the barracks was safely defended, The Baron, Octavian de Valois and his troops called for Bartolomeo's attention. Octavian, speaking in French, asked Bartolomeo if he was ready to surrender. Bartolomeo angrily told the Baron to come closer and say that to him. Octavian then told him that he must learn to speak French, in order to mask the condotteiro's barbaric sensibilities. Bartolomeo mockingly agrees, asking the Baron to teach him in French, while he teaches the Baron in fighting, since he does very little of it.

After exchanging insults, Octavian asked for Bartolomeo's unconditional surrender before sunrise. Bartolomeo then told him off, telling him that his "lady, Bianca" will whisper to the Baron's ear. Octavian then revealed that his troops had managed to capture Pantasilea Baglioni, Bartolomeo's wife, and promised to release Pantasilea, should Bartolomeo come into his camp unarmed and alone.

Enraged, Bartolomeo and Ezio rode on horseback to the French camp for a rescue attempt, however they discovered that the camp was impenetrable. After Bartolomeo shouted and angrily barked insults at the gates of the camp, Ezio told him that it is best to regroup and fight through the gates like they did at the L'Arsenale in Venice. Bartolomeo told him that the camp is thicker with Frenchmen than the streets of Paris. Ezio then told him that they scale the walls, but Bartolomeo told him that they cannot be scaled. Bartolomeo, devoid of any tactic due to his wife's absence, was ready to surrender unarmed, bearing gifts for the Baron, hoping that Valois will spare Pantasilea. Hearing this, Ezio thought of a plan, ordering Bartolomeo to call off the attacks and return to the barracks. After Bartolomeo ordered his men to fall back, Ezio returned to the Barracks to discuss his plan.

Trojan horse

Bartolomeo: "You speak French?"

Ezio: "There were a few French girls in Firenze."

—Ezio and Bartolomeo after their safe access to the French camp thank to Ezio's proficiency to speak French, Rome 1503.

File:Bartolomeo.jpg

A "captured" Bartolomeo.

Ezio stealthily inflitrated several camps throughout the Campagna district, and successfully killed the French troops stationed there, leaving the mercenaries to strip the bodies of their armor. By dawn, Ezio met Bartolomeo and his mercenaries at the rendezvous. With all of them disguised as the French troops, aside from Bartolomeo who acted as their "prisoner," they marched to the French camp. Ezio ran ahead to clear the path of any suspicious French guards, and allow their own force to pass the district undetected. Eventually, upon reaching the camp entrance, they were given access, thanks to Ezio's proficiency in speaking French; which, as he explained, was because there were "a few French girls in Firenze."

The death of the Baron

Once inside, Octavian greeted Bartolomeo, however, he drew his rifle and intended to kill Pantasilea regardless of Bartolomeo's "surrender." Realizing the danger on her life, Ezio then fired his own pistol into the air, startling the Baron and signaling the mercenaries to begin the attack. Octavian fled deeper into the camp with Pantasilea as his hostage, sending several of his men to intercept the mercenaries. Ezio pursued him, killing French captains and Papal guards along the way.

Locating the Baron in a small courtyard, Ezio stealthily killed off his arquebusiers, and assassinated Octavian from above to free Pantasilea.

Aftermath

After Octavian's death, the French troops abandoned their stations in Rome and returned to France, weakening Cesare's balance of power. The mercenaries guild continued to further the Assassins' cause, without annoyance from the French army.