Bonfire of the Vanities
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- "You should be cleansing your homes. Cleansing your SELVES! There are bonfires to feed! Prayers to be said! Penance to be done!"
- ―Savonarola ordering Florentine citizens to return to their medieval lifestyles.[src]
The Bonfire of the Vanities was a political movement in Florence during the years 1497 and 1498 in which the Italian-Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola preached for Florentine civilians to return to medieval lifestyles.
Following the expulsion of Florence's former rulers, the Medici, Savonarola assumed control of the city after acquiring the Apple of Eden in 1488.
Ascension to power
- "It's not the city he's enthralled, but its leaders: men possessed of influence and power. They, in turn, oppress the citizens and ensure his will is done."
- ―Niccolò Machiavelli discussing Savonarola's new system of power[src]
In the year 1497, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze returned to Florence to find controlled by Savonarola and his nine lieutenants.
Ezio met with Niccolò Machiavelli on one of the Arno bridges, and Machiavelli confirmed that Savonarola had taken control of Florence with the aid of the Apple of Eden. Eager to reclaim the Apple, Ezio declared that they should work on retrieving it, though Machiavelli rebuked this statement.
Machiavelli then explained to Ezio that Savonarola's control began to take shape a few weeks prior, when the man widely reviled became the one they "worshipped."
However, Machiavelli revealed this was only part of Savonarola's tyranny, as Savonarola had taken control of the city leaders who held such influence over Florence's districts. These leaders in turn oppressed the people and ensured Savonarola's will was done.
Savonarola's lieutenants
- "If we can silence his lieutenants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted and I will have a chance to strike."
- ―Ezio explaining his plan to assassinate Savonarola's lieutenants[src]
Reaching the end of the bridge, the two passed into the Oltrarno District of the city and discovered the bodies of a contingent of soldiers bearing the emblem of the Borgia, indicating that Rodrigo Borgia was also aware Savonarola held the Apple.
Learning that the Apple only held sway over the minds of Savonarola's nine lieutenants, with most of the city's populace simply controlled by fear, Ezio elected to assassinate the nine lieutenants, whilst La Volpe and Paola helped arouse the districts and the people.
The Painter
- "My own self-doubt let him hold me as he did. I am sorry."
- ―The Painter's final words to Ezio[src]
The first of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio targeted was the Painter, who was leading a burning of piles of artwork behind the Palazzo Pitti. Unaware of Ezio's closing presence, the man spoke of how, when he first became a painter, he thought he would become closer to God.
However, the Painter went on to say that he found he was only deceived by Satan. As he told the crowd to burn all their pieces of artwork in fires, Ezio abruptly assassinated him with his hidden blade. As the Painter died, he apologized to Ezio and claimed that his actions were not his own. Despite being pursued by guards, Ezio escaped and La Volpe and Paola led the crowd away from the fires.
The Preacher
- "Not all of us required deception to be convinced. I already believe. All I said is true."
- ―The Preacher confessing his belief in Savonarola's cause[src]
The second lieutenant Ezio hunted was the Preacher. Locating him outside Santo Spirito, he addressed a crowd in front of the church, surrounded by guards. The preacher invoked that everyone must repent or they would go to Hell.
However, Ezio was able to close in on the preacher and assassinate him. As the man died, he claimed that he was not deceived by the Apple of Eden, and that his actions were his own. Following the Preacher's death, Ezio escaped to continue his hunt.
The Condottiero
- Ezio: "You wear a noble's clothes. How is it Savonarola charmed you?"
- Condottiero: "Wealth and power do not ensure contentment. I wanted even more..."
- —The Condottiero explaining his desire for control[src]
The third lieutenant was the Condottiero, who guarded and monitored passage across the Ponte Vecchio. He spoke of Savonarola's cause to the people below and said he wanted to lead the people into a new future and that resistance was futile.
However, Ezio was able to navigate past the guards and eventually assassinate the Condottiero. As he died, Ezio questioned the Condottiero about how Savonarola was able to charm him, and the Condottiero admitted he wanted wealth and power far beyond what he currently possessed.
The Merchant
- "We'll see just how tough the holdouts are when they're forced to go without food. If they want to eat, they'll accept Savonarola as their leader."
- ―The Merchant describing his plan to starve those who oppose Savonarola[src]
The fourth lieutenant was a Merchant, who Ezio found on a boat in the Arno River. The merchant had his guards load food supplies onto the ship, withholding it from the people in the hopes they would submit to Savonarola.
Ezio was able to sneak aboard the ship and evade the guards before reaching the merchant and assassinating him. In his dying words, the merchant showed regret, but admitted he believed people must be told what to think sometimes.
The Farmer
- "Your orders are simple - keep watch over these fields and ensure no harm comes to the bundles of fieno (hay). It may seem a mundane task, but it's critical nonetheless!"
- ―The Farmer's orders to his men.[src]
The fifth lieutenant was a Farmer in Florence's countryside. The Farmer ordered his men to protect the hay and continued to patrol the area with other guards. As he walked, the farmer spoke of how he withheld other farmers' provisions for their livestock, thereby cutting their source of income and Florence's food supply, in the hopes they would submit to Savonarola.
Using the hay bundles to his advantage and remaining hidden, Ezio was able to assassinate the farmer. As he died, Ezio interrogated him about his actions, and the Farmer admitted he did withheld provisions to gain respect from the people.
The Nobleman
- Nobleman: "I was a victim! It's not my fault!"
- Ezio: "No. You made a choice."
- Nobleman: "He charmed me. With that...thing..."
- —Ezio talking to the Nobleman before death.[src]
The sixth lieutenant was a Nobleman, who Ezio located on top of the Mercato Vecchio. Upon sight of Ezio, the Nobleman began fleeing towards Savonarola, shouting that Florence must be cured and claimed that Ezio would not interfere.
Ezio pursued the nobleman over the rooftops and quickly assassinated him. As he died, the Nobleman claimed he was "charmed" by the Apple. Before the Nobleman died, Ezio explained that he killed him for the people's benefit.
The Priest
- "I led my flock astray... It's just... I wanted so badly to believe..."
- ―The Priest confessing.[src]
The seventh lieutenant was a Priest praying atop Santa Maria del Fiore. As the priest preached to the people in favor of Savonarola and his cause, Ezio silently climbed the church, dispatching the guards he encountered.
Reaching the top, Ezio stabbed the priest with his hidden blade. As he died, the priest admitted he accepted the illusion, wanting to believe in God so desperately.
The Captain Guard
- "Or was it that I tasted power and found myself intoxicated? I wish I had been strong."
- ―The captain guard to Ezio.[src]
Eventually, Ezio was able to locate the Captain Guard at the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Arriving in the courtyard and noticing no civilians around, the Captain Guard revealed himself from the scaffolding above.
Calling out to Ezio, he revealed he had devised a trap. Ezio was promptly surrounded by dozens of guards and archers; however he was able to fight them off, climb the building, and assassinate the Captain Guard. As he died, the Captain was disgusted by his actions, wishing he was stronger.
The Doctor
- Doctor: "You have spilled the blood of a healer."
- Ezio: "No. I have spilled the blood of a tyrant."
- Doctor: "To command such power over the body, between this world and the next. It seems, I grew intoxicated."
- —The Doctor before he died.[src]
The last of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to assassinate was the Doctor, who was found in the Ospedale degli Innocenti. He was protected by several guards and offered free medical care to those who swore allegiance to Savonarola.
Infiltrating the courtyard, Ezio avoided the guards' gaze. Reaching him, Ezio quickly assassinated the Doctor. Before dying, the Doctor admitted to Ezio he had been intoxicated by power.
Savonarola's demise
- "We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path."
- ―Ezio Auditore's speech.[src]
The citizens rallied by Niccolò Machiavelli, La Volpe and Paola massed in front of the Palazzo Pitti, to confront Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola confronted the enraged mob, demanding to know why they were not cleansing themselves. However, Savonarola's rage forced him to use the Apple's power, weakened by the loss of his lieutenants. Savonarola attempted to use the Apple to subdue the crowd, exclaiming that they would submit.
Ezio, however prevented Savonarola from using the artifact by throwing a knife and injuring his hand. As soon as the artifact left Savonarola's grip, the crowd carried him away. A Borgia guard suddenly tried to steal the fallen artifact, only to be killed after a lengthy chase by Ezio. Ezio then discovered that the people, now freed from the grip of the Apple, were burning Savonarola at the stake outside the Palazzo della Signoria. While the crowd screamed in rage, Ezio concluded that no one should die in so much pain.
Making his way through the crowd, Ezio lunged at Savonarola, and mercifully assassinated the crazed monk with his hidden blade. With Savonarola dead at last, ending his tyranny, Ezio then made a speech, claiming that the citizens should be free to make their own choice, not to follow the Medici, Savonarola, or him, but to choose their own path. As Ezio concluded his speech, he departed from the city once again, with Mario Auditore, Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, ready to face his nemesis.
Aftermath
- "There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose - whatever you think is true - that makes us human."
- ―Ezio's proud speech towards the people.[src]
The Assassins secured the Apple once more, and Savonarola's tyranny ended, once again freeing the city of Florence, and allowing the people to fully embrace the Renaissance movement. The Assassins retrieved the last pages of the Codex which they would soon assemble on the Codex Wall to locate the Vault and soon, confront the last of their targets in Italy, Rodrigo Borgia.
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