Naples

Naples (Italian: Napoli) is a major city located in southern Italy, lying at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. During the Renaissance, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, the largest Italian state before the unity.

History

Being over 2,800 years old, Naples has its roots in Greek settlements that were founded during the 8th century BCE. Throughout its existence, ownership of the city changed numerous times and went from Romans to Goths and back.

In the Middle Ages, the Normans took control of the city and managed to remain in power for 300 years despite the leaders and nobles fighting over the ownership amongst themselves. French rule over Naples started in 1501 under King Louis XII, though it only lasted until 1505, when Spain, led by King Ferdinand, seized power. Under Spanish monarchy, Naples became one of Europe's biggest cities.

In the early 1500s, Cesare Borgia used the facilities in the Porto di Napoli to construct a naval cannon small enough to be placed on a gondola, as designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The designs and the prototype cannon were later destroyed in 1502 by the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, before they could be put to use.

Behind the scenes

Naples features in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in the War Machine memory "Loose Cannon". Outside of this mission, players cannot visit the city, and it cannot be freely explored.

In the mission, the arms of the Kingdom of France under the House of Bourbon were flown from the bridges of the Castel dell'Ovo despite the fact that the design was not yet in use. The House of Bourbon did not rule in France or Naples until long after the events of the game, and the arms used by the Kingdom of Naples were distinct from those of France anyway.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (first appearance)