Siege of Monteriggioni

The Siege of Monteriggioni was an engagement between the Borgia, under the command of Cesare Borgia, and the Order of Assassins, which took place in 1499. Determined to rid themselves of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the Knights Templar attacked the city of Monteriggioni with an overwhelming force, whilst the city's defenders, led by both Ezio and his uncle – Mario Auditore – held them off.

The Assassins were caught by surprise. Ezio himself was unaware of what was happening, sleeping together with Caterina Sforza. Though when a cannonball hit the room, shattering the wall and central pillar, Ezio jumped out of bed, dressed and armed himself with one Hidden Blade, however his armor was scattered by the attack. He climbed out the window onto the rooftop to observe exactly what was happening. It was then that Ezio realized that Monteriggioni was under attack. Another bomb struck the villa roof and Ezio fell down to the ground. There, his uncle Mario helped him up and told him the attack was led by the Borgia. Mario instructed his nephew to hold off the army until the townspeople could flee. Ezio jumped on a horse to get as fast as possible to the walls of defense. Upon the fortress walls, he used the cannons to destroy as many siege towers as he could.

Despite the destruction of many of the Templar's siege machines, the Templars managed to overwhelm the city's defenders and breach the main gates. A mortally wounded Mario Auditore was forced inside the city by Cesare Borgia who, revealing the Apple to be in his possession, proceeded to "invite" Ezio to come to Rome with a shot of his firearm; the shot killed Mario Auditore, whilst Ezio was also shot by a detachment of Templar arquebusiers upon the city walls. When Ezio eventually regained consciousness, he made his way to Rome, in pursuit of Cesare Borgia.

It would be another four years before he could finally confront Cesare and Rodrigo Borgia in Rome itself.

Gallery

• 
  Monteriggioni under fire.
• 
  Ezio defends Monteriggioni with a cannon.
• Cesare Borgia, holding the Apple of Eden.
  Cesare Borgia, holding the Apple of Eden.
• Mario Auditore is badly wounded.
  Mario Auditore is badly wounded.

Trivia

• Altaïr's armor was seen damaged at the siege of Monteriggioni, however at the end of Dev diary #2 Ezio is seen fighting Cesare Borgia while wearing the armor.
• If you look at the picture with Ezio firing the cannon you can see he is carrying an Old Syrian Sword.