Bernardo Baroncelli

Bernardo di Bandino Baroncelli (1453-1480) was a banker for the Pazzi, and one of the Pazzi conspirators who attempted to murder Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother Giuliano.

Biography

Pazzi conspiracy

Bernardo was an accountant of the Medici bank, under Jacopo de' Pazzi, and he was lead to the Templar organization through Jacopo's Templar ties. In 1478, he supplied weapons and a willing blade for the planned murder of Lorenzo de' Medici's family, meeting with the rest of the conspirators in the catacombs beneath Santa Maria Novella. Bernardo joked easily about the willingness of Lorenzo's brother to make final plans for his daily activities and uttered the phrase 'May the Father of Understanding guide us,' the Templar motto.

The following morning, the conspirators attacked Lorenzo and his brother before the Duomo during High Mass. Bernardo was one of the first attackers and delivered the first knife wound to Giuliano de' Medici, his attack fueled with hate born from the Medici's exile of his cousins. Bernardo fled immediately after the attack, but was recaptured in his flight to Constantinople.

Escape and death

"Yes, yes, safer for me... and then, then we'll be protected, meet when it's time and then... I'll leave this place, free... in time... in time."

―A paranoid Bernardo Baroncelli

Trying to flee and enter Constantinople, Bernardo was soon captured and soon escaped while being brought back and took refuge in San Gimignano. While there, Bernardo became extremely paranoid, walking with the guards at all times. One day while walking in San Gimignano with his bodyguards, Ezio Auditore, an Assassin, located Bernardo and slithered his way through the crowd, blending in and remaining undetected. Bernardo's paranoia was soon the death of him, he kept walking without stops and made sure to search all nearby hiding spots. But they did not spot the Assassin and soon, he was assassinated and was at deaths door.

Personality and characteristics

Bernardo was a cowardly man at best, much like his co-conspirators he tried to hide himself from the Assassin but like the others, he soon fell to the flick of a blade. He hid himself behind guards but while doing that aroused suspicion and made him easy to spot, just not an easy target. He often talked to himself and his paranoia was often reflected through that. But although he may be cowardly, he was also hard to contain proven by his escape and he certainly had wealth because how else would he afford the protection.

Final Words

Baroncelli: I knew you would come...

Ezio: Where is Jacopo?

Baroncelli: So you could do to him what you've done to me?

Ezio: There's still time for you to clear your conscience.

Baroncelli: We gather at the church when a meeting is called.

Ezio: Mi duole dover giungere a tanto. (I am sorry that it came to this.) Requiescat in Pace. (Rest in peace.)

Trivia

• In real life, Baroncelli tried to flee to Constantinople after the Pazzi Conspiracy failed. However, he was arrested, sent back to Florence, and later hanged. A record of his execution can be found in a sketch of his hanging made by Leonardo da Vinci. In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, this is what happens to him.
• During his "final words" sequence, if closely examined, it is shown that he has no pants nor undergarments on.
• Oddly, if you hire Mercenaries to attack Baroncelli's bodyguards, he will pay no attention and just keep walking.

Gallery

• Bernardo gives out his insight on the Duomo attack.
  Bernardo gives out his insight on the Duomo attack.
• Bernado impales Giuliano.
  Bernado impales Giuliano.
• Bernado listens to Stefano.
  Bernado listens to Stefano.
• Bernardo stabs Guiliano de' Medici.
  Bernardo stabs Guiliano de' Medici.
• 
  Bernardo, moments before his death.