Cristina Vespucci: Difference between revisions
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From an early age, Cristina caught the eyes of many boys who wanted to become intimate with her.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> | From an early age, Cristina caught the eyes of many boys who wanted to become intimate with her.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> | ||
One of those boys was [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], who was encouraged to go speak with Cristina by [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|his brother]] one night in 1476. However, Cristina had no interest in him, and walked away. Ezio, who was not used to being turned down by a woman, followed | One of those boys was [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], who was encouraged to go speak with Cristina by [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|his elder brother]] one night in 1476. However, Cristina had no interest in him, and walked away. Ezio, who was not used to being turned down by a woman, shadowed Cristina from the rooftops. He eventually followed her to her home, where he saw her being confronted by [[Vieri de' Pazzi]].<ref name="Brotherhood" /> | ||
Vieri, who had already attempted to impress Cristina on previous occasions, grew impatient when Cristina turned him down yet again. Saying that he was "tired of waiting for her to open her legs on her own," he began to sexually assault her.<ref name="Brotherhood" /> | Vieri, who had already attempted to impress Cristina on previous occasions, grew impatient when Cristina turned him down yet again. Saying that he was "tired of waiting for her to open her legs on her own," he began to sexually assault her.<ref name="Brotherhood" /> | ||
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Ezio visited Cristina in her home quite frequently and was described to be "[[Freerunning|unbelievably dexterous]]," as the [[guards]] knew that he visited her, but were never able to catch him trespassing.<ref name="AC2"/> | Ezio visited Cristina in her home quite frequently and was described to be "[[Freerunning|unbelievably dexterous]]," as the [[guards]] knew that he visited her, but were never able to catch him trespassing.<ref name="AC2"/> | ||
On one occasion that Ezio slept with Cristina, and was discovered by her enraged father the next morning, her father set the guards on him, demanding | On one occasion that Ezio slept with Cristina, and was discovered by her enraged father the next morning, her father set the guards on him, demanding his head; however, he was able to escape.<ref name="AC2"/> | ||
[[File:Eziocristina002.jpg|thumb|250px|Cristina with Ezio before his departure from Florence.]] | [[File:Eziocristina002.jpg|thumb|250px|Cristina with Ezio before his departure from Florence.]] | ||
In 1476, directly after the [[Auditore execution]], Cristina helped Ezio give his father and brothers the proper | In 1476, directly after the [[Auditore execution]], Cristina helped Ezio give his father and brothers the proper death rites by burning and setting their bodies adrift in the Arno.<ref name="Renaissance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''</ref> | ||
Afterwards, Ezio asked Cristina to come with him, as he needed to leave for [[Monteriggioni]] with his family. However, Cristina refused, saying that she could not leave her family. Understanding her decision, Ezio gave her a crest-shaped pendant to remember him by, before they parted.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | Afterwards, Ezio asked Cristina to come with him, as he needed to leave for [[Monteriggioni]] with his family. However, Cristina refused, saying that she could not leave her own family. Understanding her decision, Ezio gave her a crest-shaped pendant to remember him by, before they parted.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | ||
===Engagement and Married life=== | ===Engagement and Married life=== | ||
In 1478, | In 1478, on the insistence of her father, Cristina was engaged to be married to Manfredo Soderini. The day before their wedding, Ezio returned to Florence for the first time in two years, and Cristina was the first person he visited.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | ||
[[File:Picture1.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio visiting Cristina in 1478.]] | [[File:Picture1.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio visiting Cristina in 1478.]] | ||
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[[File:Persona Non Grata 4.png|thumb|250px|right|Cristina storming away from Ezio.]] | [[File:Persona Non Grata 4.png|thumb|250px|right|Cristina storming away from Ezio.]] | ||
Eight years later, | Eight years later, Cristina travelled to [[Venice]] to attend [[Carnevale]] with her husband. Noticing her there, [[Leonardo da Vinci]] remembered that she and Ezio had been close, and informed the latter of her presence.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | ||
However, Ezio worried that Cristina would not agree to see him after all the years, thus he slipped a letter to her, posing as her husband and requesting her to meet him alone in an alley. Cristina obliged and the two kissed, with Cristina believing Ezio to be Manfredo, as he was wearing a mask.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | However, Ezio worried that Cristina would not agree to see him after all the years, thus he slipped a letter to her, posing as her husband and requesting her to meet him alone in an alley. Cristina obliged and the two kissed, with Cristina believing Ezio to be Manfredo, as he was wearing a mask.<ref name="Brotherhood"/> | ||
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* Even though Cristina was married for around sixteen years, and saw Ezio only for a few short minutes once every several years, she admitted that she still loved him more than her own husband. | * Even though Cristina was married for around sixteen years, and saw Ezio only for a few short minutes once every several years, she admitted that she still loved him more than her own husband. | ||
* In ''Assassin's Creed: Renaissance'', Cristina's surname is "Calfucci," rather than "Vespucci." | * In ''Assassin's Creed: Renaissance'', Cristina's surname is "Calfucci," rather than "Vespucci." | ||
* Cristina features in several [[Cristina Memories|repressed memories]] during ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', which are unlocked when the player achieves certain | * Cristina features in several [[Cristina Memories|repressed memories]] during ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', which are unlocked when the player achieves certain levels of [[Synchronization]] with Ezio. | ||
* Though Ezio witnesses Cristina's death in ''Brotherhood'', in ''Renaissance'', he is only later informed of her death by [[Niccolò Machiavelli]]. | * Though Ezio witnesses Cristina's death in ''Brotherhood'', in ''Renaissance'', he is only later informed of her death by [[Niccolò Machiavelli]]. | ||
* Cristina's eye color appears to have changed from blue to brown in ''Brotherhood'', although in some missions her eyes remain blue. | * Cristina's eye color appears to have changed from blue to brown in ''Brotherhood'', although in some missions her eyes remain blue. | ||
Revision as of 11:14, 2 April 2012
Cristina Vespucci (1459–1498) was a well-known Florentine beauty, and a favorite of painters; most notably Botticelli, who used her as a model for several of his paintings.
Biography
Early life
Cristina was born in Florence, Italy, circa 1459.[2]
She was somewhat responsible for starting her cousin Amerigo's career. Cristina attended a dinner party, where she had a conversation with Lorenzo de' Medici and Manfredo Soderini about her cousin.[2]
There, she exaggerated Amerigo's brilliance, saying: "Try Amerigo out. I bet after several years you'll have your shipping company named after him." Lorenzo, charmed by Cristina's beauty, took her advice to heart, and several years later, Amerigo was the first to map out the New World, and had it named after him.[2]
Beauty of Firenze
- Cristina: "I told you. I'm not interested."
- Vieri: "Sì. But I am."
- Cristina: "Get in line."
- —Cristina turning away Vieri, one of her many suitors.[src]
From an early age, Cristina caught the eyes of many boys who wanted to become intimate with her.[3]
One of those boys was Ezio Auditore, who was encouraged to go speak with Cristina by his elder brother one night in 1476. However, Cristina had no interest in him, and walked away. Ezio, who was not used to being turned down by a woman, shadowed Cristina from the rooftops. He eventually followed her to her home, where he saw her being confronted by Vieri de' Pazzi.[3]
Vieri, who had already attempted to impress Cristina on previous occasions, grew impatient when Cristina turned him down yet again. Saying that he was "tired of waiting for her to open her legs on her own," he began to sexually assault her.[3]
However, he was interrupted by Ezio, who came to Cristina's rescue. The two engaged in a fistfight, and Ezio emerged the victor. Cristina was thankful of Ezio's actions, and thus began a relationship between the two.[3]
Ezio visited Cristina in her home quite frequently and was described to be "unbelievably dexterous," as the guards knew that he visited her, but were never able to catch him trespassing.[2]
On one occasion that Ezio slept with Cristina, and was discovered by her enraged father the next morning, her father set the guards on him, demanding his head; however, he was able to escape.[2]
In 1476, directly after the Auditore execution, Cristina helped Ezio give his father and brothers the proper death rites by burning and setting their bodies adrift in the Arno.[4]
Afterwards, Ezio asked Cristina to come with him, as he needed to leave for Monteriggioni with his family. However, Cristina refused, saying that she could not leave her own family. Understanding her decision, Ezio gave her a crest-shaped pendant to remember him by, before they parted.[3]
Engagement and Married life
In 1478, on the insistence of her father, Cristina was engaged to be married to Manfredo Soderini. The day before their wedding, Ezio returned to Florence for the first time in two years, and Cristina was the first person he visited.[3]
After a short talk, she sadly told him that she had not expected him to return; before revealing her engagement, and breaking Ezio's heart.[3]
After being informed that Manfredo was being confronted by people to whom he owed a gambling debt, Ezio rushed to save Cristina's fiance. Upon killing the gamblers, Ezio hung Manfredo over a bridge and demanded to know if he truly loved Cristina, to which Manfredo sincerely replied yes.[3]
Ezio demanded that he stop gambling, and that he be a good husband to Cristina, otherwise he would hunt him down and kill him. Afterwards, Ezio returned to Cristina and kissed her, telling her that he had made sure that Manfredo would be a good husband to her.[3]
Though she was heartbroken for losing Ezio, Cristina nevertheless married Manfredo, and the two of them began living together in Florence.
Eight years later, Cristina travelled to Venice to attend Carnevale with her husband. Noticing her there, Leonardo da Vinci remembered that she and Ezio had been close, and informed the latter of her presence.[3]
However, Ezio worried that Cristina would not agree to see him after all the years, thus he slipped a letter to her, posing as her husband and requesting her to meet him alone in an alley. Cristina obliged and the two kissed, with Cristina believing Ezio to be Manfredo, as he was wearing a mask.[3]
After discovering the truth, she yelled at Ezio for kissing her, both because she was already married and because she had not seen Ezio in so long. Cristina told Ezio that, before, she had loved him and would rather have married him, but it was now too late. She angrily told him to never look for her again and left.[3]
Death
- "I wish...we could have had...a second chance."
- ―Cristina's final words to Ezio.[src]
In 1494, Girolamo Savonarola took control of Florence after Lorenzo de' Medici's death. Savonarola claimed that all Renaissance material was evil, and that they should go back to the medieval times, instigating the Bonfire of the Vanities.[2]
In 1498, Savonarola's fanatics infiltrated Cristina's and Manfredo's home to kill Manfredo. He attempted to fend them off, however, this was a vain effort as there were too many attackers, and he was gravely injured. Cristina managed to escape, but was soon cornered by the fanatics.[3]
At this point, Ezio, after hearing about what had happened from a dying Manfredo, came to her aid. The fanatics, who were taunting Cristina for the rich fineries she owned, were startled as Ezio came up behind them and yelled for Cristina to run. Though he killed all of the soldiers, Cristina had already been mortally wounded, and was slowly dying.[3]
After showing him the pendant that she had kept with her the past twenty-two years, and telling him that she wished they could have had another chance together, Cristina died in Ezio's arms.[3]
Trivia
- Even though Cristina was married for around sixteen years, and saw Ezio only for a few short minutes once every several years, she admitted that she still loved him more than her own husband.
- In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, Cristina's surname is "Calfucci," rather than "Vespucci."
- Cristina features in several repressed memories during Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, which are unlocked when the player achieves certain levels of Synchronization with Ezio.
- Though Ezio witnesses Cristina's death in Brotherhood, in Renaissance, he is only later informed of her death by Niccolò Machiavelli.
- Cristina's eye color appears to have changed from blue to brown in Brotherhood, although in some missions her eyes remain blue.
- To start each repressed Cristina memory, the player must talk to a woman who closely resembles Cristina. Each time, the woman is doing something that Cristina was most likely doing before each memory.
- Ezio briefly mentions Cristina in a letter to Claudia in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. He writes that "After the death of Cristina, something inside me withered."
References