Francesco de' Pazzi
Francesco de' Pazzi (1444 – 1478) was the father of Vieri de' Pazzi, and one of Florence's wealthiest nobles. He was a member of the wealthy Florentine Pazzi family, and a secret member of the Templar Order, assigned with their plans to take over Florence.
Under the guidance of the Grand Master of the Templar Order, Rodrigo Borgia, Francesco de' Pazzi was tasked with instigating the Pazzi Conspiracy, an effort to remove the de facto leader of Florenze, Lorenzo de' Medici, from power, and replace the Medici family with the Pazzi family as both the leaders of Florence as well as the primary Florentine banking family.
However, Francesco was only successful in killing Giuliano de' Medici, as Lorenzo de' Medici was able to escape with the help of the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Continuing to lead the Pazzi forces against the Medici in Florence, Francesco was eventually found and chased by Ezio through the streets of Florence, until Francesco was assassinated by the young Assassin.
Biography
Templar Associate
In 1476, Francesco was accused of murder by Giovanni Auditore. Giovanni was ready to present his evidence in court, however, he was betrayed by Uberto Alberti, who was a secret ally of the Templars.
Subsequently, Giovanni and his sons Federico and Petruccio were charged for treason, and later executed. With Giovanni dead, Francesco was cleared of all charges.
Pazzi Conspiracy
- "Your day is done, Lorenzo! Your entire family dies by my sword!"
- ―Francesco mocking Lorenzo de' Medici, 1478.[src]
In 1478, Francesco met with a group of Templars consisting of Jacopo de' Pazzi, his son Vieri, and the Grand Master Rodrigo Borgia in San Gimignano to discuss their plan to overthrow the Medici family.
Soon after Francesco left, Vieri was killed by Ezio Auditore during an attack on the city by Mario Auditore and his mercenaries.
Later that same year, Francesco met with another group of Templars, this time consisting of Bernardo Baroncelli, Stefano da Bagnone, Jacopo and Rodrigo in the catacombs under Santa Maria Novella in order to finalize their plans to gain control of Florence. The next morning, during High Mass at the Duomo, Francesco and his co-conspirators attacked the Medici family, killing Giuliano de' Medici and injuring Lorenzo de' Medici, however Ezio fought them off before they could finish off Lorenzo.
Death
- "You again? Why aren't you dead? Men! Slaughter him!"
- ―Francesco upon sighting Ezio.[src]
After transporting Lorenzo to safety, Ezio set off to kill Francesco who, he was told, was leading a battalion around the back of the Palazzo della Signoria.
After Ezio had arrived at the prison, Francesco greeted him from atop the prison walls, and ordered his men to kill him. Making his way to the top of the Signoria, Ezio confronted Francesco, who cursed the Assassin and jumped off the top of the walls, and into a bale of hay.
Ezio followed Francesco, eventually catching up to him and assassinating him. Later, Francesco's body was hung from the top of the Palazzo della Signoria by the Medici supporters, scaring his uncle from the city.
Final words
- Ezio: Now Firenze will judge you for what you've done.
- Francesco: It's over... It's all over...
- Ezio: Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima. (Better to be content in this life, than aspire to it in the next) Requiescat in pace. (Rest in peace.)
Characteristics and personality
Francesco de' Pazzi has a deep hatred for any middle-class people who attempted to make their way to the top, leading to his disgust at the quick ascension of Lorenzo de' Medici.
There is also a hint that Francesco often ignored his son, Vieri, who only wished for his father's approval. It is stated in the letter of Fra Giocondo that Vieri often acted brashly and competed in competitions he had rigged in his favor merely to gain Francesco's attentions.
Trivia
- It is peculiar that Vieri is Francesco's son, as the latter had to have been 10 when Vieri was born.
- Francesco de' Pazzi had a daughter as well. Hinted in the memory "Boys Will Be Boys", Ezio comments to Vieri that his "sister seemed quite satisfied with the handling I gave her earlier."
- In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, Ezio specifically stated her name to be Viola.
- In real life, Francesco de' Pazzi was reputed to have stabbed himself in the thigh accidentally, while killing Giuliano de' Medici in a frenzy. He was dragged from the Palazzo Pazzi, and then hung naked from the tower of the Palazzo della Signoria on April 26, 1478. His body was then cut down and desecrated.
- When being pursued by Ezio, Francesco falls off the Palazzo della Signoria into a haystack for a quick escape. This was the only known example of a non-Assassin committing a form of a Leap of Faith until Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
- The voice actor for Francesco, Andreas Apergis, also voices Checco Orsi, and Cesare Borgia.
Gallery
-
Francesco in the Santa Maria Novella catacombs.
-
Francesco attacks Lorenzo de' Medici.
-
Francesco on top of the Signoria.
Source