Jacopo de' Pazzi

Jacopo de' Pazzi (1421 - 1480) was an affluent Florentine noble and a member of the Templar Order.

Jacopo belonged to the noble Pazzi family, and maintained a chief role in family affairs, operating the Pazzi banking enterprise. He was the great-uncle of Vieri de' Pazzi and also the uncle of Francesco de' Pazzi.

An associate of Lorenzo de' Medici, Jacopo had nothing against the Prince personally, and so he commissioned four Templar assassins to murder Lorenzo and resolve the situation for him in 1478.

Biography

Pazzi Conspiracy

"Libertà! Libertà! Libertà! Popolo e libertà! (Liberty! Liberty! Liberty! People and liberty!)"

―Jacopo endeavors to ease the civilians at the Palazzo della Signoria.

In 1478, Jacopo met with fellow Templar conspirators Francesco and Vieri de' Pazzi, alongside Templar Grand Master Rodrigo Borgia, within San Gimignano. The group discussed the details of their plot to takeover Florence, and Jacopo was given the responsibility of calming the Florentine citizens once the deed was done.

The meeting was soon concluded after the group took the Templar pledge together, and all of the Templars departed from the city, except Vieri. Vieri remained in the city, where he was killed by the Assassin Ezio Auditore, who had been eavesdropping on the meeting. Ezio had infiltrated San Gimignano alongside his uncle and his uncle's mercenaries, and together, they were able to kill Vieri and his guards.

Later that same year, Jacopo convened with Templar loyalists inside the catacombs beneath Santa Maria Novella, the meeting once again being conducted by Rodrigo. During the meeting, Jacopo vocalized his concerns regarding the underestimated capabilities of their enemies. However, his concern was swiftly brushed aside by Francesco, who gave Rodrigo his word that the operation would succeed.

File:FrancesodeathJacopo.png

Jacopo rallies the Pazzi supporters.

The following morning, once Francesco and the others conspirators had attacked the Medici at a Florentine church, Jacopo rallied Pazzi supporters in front of the Palazzo della Signoria, chanting for liberty.

To Jacopo's astonishment, Francesco's body was flung over a side of the Palazzo during the rally, while Medici supporters cheered from above on the roof of the building. Paranoid, Jacopo immediately fled the city on horseback, seeking sanctity in San Gimignano.

Refuge in San Gimignano and death

Ezio: "I've been sent from Firenze by Il Magnifico to attend to some unfinished business. I'm looking for Jacopo de' Pazzi."

Mario: "Ha... Who isn't? We've been at it for days."

—Ezio and Mario discuss Jacopo's escape.

Upon fleeing Florence, Jacopo took refuge in San Gimignano along with his co-conspirators Bernardo Baroncelli, Stefano da Bagnone, Francesco Salviati, and Antonio Maffei. Maintaining a vast range of resources, Jacopo concealed himself well within the city; however, his co-conspirators lacked his assets, and were ultimately hunted down and assassinated by Ezio Auditore. Through these assassinations, Ezio ascertained the location of a Templar meeting Jacopo was preparing to attend.

In 1480, Ezio used that information to locate Jacopo in front of a church within the city. Jacopo traveled to an ancient Roman theater, while the Assassin tailed there. Eventually arriving at the meeting, Ezio remained towards the back of the theater and observed as Jacopo met with Rodrigo and Emilio Barbarigo, a formidable Venetian merchant and Templar.

Jacopo attempts to reason with Rodrigo.

Tentative, Jacopo attempted to convey an explanation regarding their failure in Florence, claiming Francesco had acted rash and impulsively. Despite his attempts though, Rodrigo disregarded Jacopo's words and stabbed him in the abdomen with a stiletto. Observing the wound with a petrified look, Jacopo pleaded for his life to Emilio.

Cackling, Emilio angrily shoved Jacopo to the ground, and subsequently Rodrigo brandished his blade and thrust it through Jacopo's neck, leaving him to perish. Turning away from Jacopo's dying figure, Rodrigo called on his men to capture and kill Ezio, before departing from the theater with Emilio. Despite opposition, however, Ezio broke free of his hold and vanquished the guards. Now unopposed, the Assassin made his way to the stage, where he ended Jacopo's suffering using his hidden blade.

Personality and characteristics

Jacopo: "It's Francesco's fault! His impatience made him reckless! I tried to be the voice of reason...."

Emilio: "More like the voice of cowardice."

—Jacopo quarrels with Emilio at a Templar meeting.

As a member of the Templar Order and a conspirator against the Medici, Jacopo was pragmatic in his planning. He was not conceited and was practical when he spoke of his enemies, reminding Francesco to view the Assassins as a viable threat after Vieri's assassination. He also was rational when he fled to San Gimignano, and chose to remain hidden until he needed to attend the meeting in the countryside.

Jacopo reprimanding Francesco for underestimating the Assassins.

Although Jacopo exhibited sensible behavior, his conduct was often regarded as cowardice by his fellow Templars, as well as the Medici. However, upon being hailed as a coward by Emilio, Jacopo immediately began arguing with the Venetian merchant, blaming him for their failure in Florence.

Jacopo was also an apologetic man, who respected his superiors, despite occasionally letting his behavior get out of hand. He spoke softly and was shy towards Rodrigo, remaining loyal and obedient to the Grand Master even on his death bed, telling Rodrigo he could fix the fiasco in Florence.

Trivia

• Historically, Jacopo was hurled through a window by an enraged Florentine mob after the failed Pazzi conspiracy. He was then dragged nude through the streets, and then flung into the Arno River.
• Jacopo was voiced by Arthur Grosser, who also provided the voice of Pope Sixtus IV.

Gallery

• 
  Jacopo takes the Templar pledge.
• Jacopo listens to Stefano during the meeting.
  Jacopo listens to Stefano during the meeting.
• Jacopo at the meeting.
  Jacopo at the meeting.
• Jacopo impaled in the neck by Rodrigo.
  Jacopo impaled in the neck by Rodrigo.
• 
  Ezio ending Jacopo's suffering.
• 
  Jacopo's final moments.

Source

• Assassin's Creed II

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