La Volpe
- "They call me many things: Murderer. Tagliagole (Cutthroat). Thief. But you may call me La Volpe."
- ―La Volpe, introducing himself.[src]
Gilberto[1], or La Volpe (English: The Fox), as he preferred to be known,[2] was the leader of the Florentine and Roman Thieves, and a member of the Assassin Order. Very little information is known about La Volpe, and any that is, seems mythical.[2]
Biography
Myths
There are multiple myths regarding La Volpe, and his abilities as a thief. He was said to have robbed the Papal carriage without any guards noticing him, including the Pope who was obviously sitting inside. In 1467, during a Florentine night, he was seen on the rooftops of the Palazzo della Signoria, the Palazzo Medici, and the Basilica di Santa Croce, all at the same time. It is said that he was an immortal and could see through buildings.[2] Finally, in the French and Italian versions of the game, his eyes are said to be purple.
Helping Ezio Auditore
In 1477, he was informed that Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the son of the late Assassin Giovanni Auditore da Firenze, was returning to Florence to assassinate the Templar Francesco de' Pazzi. Ezio was told by his friend, Leonardo da Vinci that La Volpe would be able to assist him with this matter. Upon hearing this this, Ezio searched for La Volpe in the Mercato Vecchio. Whilst looking, a thief quickly ran past and stole his money. However Ezio was able to catch up with him, when suddenly, La Volpe appeared, who then returned his money, and said that he was willing to aid him. La Volpe led Ezio to the Santa Maria Novella, where the Pazzi conspirators were to have a meeting later on. He waited for Ezio near the sewers where he would later emerge from, after eavesdropping on the Templars meeting. Ezio told him that they were planning to kill the Medici during High Mass, inorder to claim Florence for themselves, and hence put their politicians in charge. La Volpe informed him that it would be disastrous if Lorenzo de' Medici were to be killed, as he was a powerful ally of the Assassins, though Ezio assured him that he would not allow him to die.[2]
Acquisition of the Apple of Eden
In 1488, La Volpe and the other Assassins from Florence, met in Venice to acquire the Apple of Eden from Rodrigo Borgia, the Grand Master of the Templar Order. When they arrived at Rodrigo's location, they saw him fighting with Ezio Auditore, and promptly intervened so as to help Ezio defeat him and his men. Eventually, Rodrigo fled, and left the Apple behind with the Assassins. After answering many queries from Ezio, they proceeded to induct him into the Assassin Order.[2]
Bonfire of the Vanities
In 1494, Florence was taken over by Girolamo Savonarola, who was in possession of the Apple, after stealing it from Ezio.[2]
In 1497, he and Paola, another Assassin, and the leader of the Florentine courtesans, were contacted by Niccolò Machiavelli to help him liberate the citizens, after Ezio would assassinate each of Girolamo Savonarola's lieutenants. After the lieutenants were eliminated, La Volpe, Paola, Machiavelli, and Ezio gathered in front of the Palazzo Pitti to see the angry mob stand up to Savonarola. Savonarola, however tried to control the crowd with the Apple, but was quickly knocked out of his hand by a knife thrown by the Assassins.[2]
They gathered once more to witness Savonarola's execution, though Ezio reconsidered, and decided that he should not have to suffer the pain and humiliation of being burned alive infront of a crowd of people. Thus he hurried towards the flames, and assassinated him before he began to burn. He then gave a speech, saying that he was guided to his own path by "a few strangers", meaning the other Assassins.[2]
Finding the Vault
In 1499, La Volpe gathered with the same Assassins he met with in Venice, in the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni to unveil the location of the Vault. Through the Codex pages, they discovered that the Vault was located in Rome, and that this was infact the true reason as to why Rodrigo Borgia became Pope. They then travelled to Rome, where they created a distraction to the Borgia forces, while Ezio infiltrated the Sistine Chapel.[2]
Rome
After the Assassins returned from Rome, Monteriggioni was besieged by the Borgia, and as a result, the Assassin Mario Auditore was killed by Cesare Borgia. After this, some members of the Assassin Order, including La Volpe, travelled to Rome to take care of the Borgia's influence there. When Ezio found him in Rome, he was the leader of a Thieves Guild, just as he had being in Florence, but unlike in Florence, he refused to co-operate with Niccolò Machiavelli, calling him a traitor to the Assassin cause.[3]
La Volpe believed that Machiavelli had betrayed them, and had sided with the Borgia, with the reason, that he had just left prior to the Siege of Monteriggioni. As well as this, he later stated that he was behind the attack on the Roman Thieves Guild. However, Ezio later revealed tat he had found the real traitor at the Colosseum and quickly rushed off to stop La Volpe from killing Machiavelli. Ezio arrived just in time to stop him, and when La Volpe realized he was mistaken, he immediately grew warmer to Machiavelli, greeting him as a friend and ally. La Volpe was also present during Claudia Auditore's induction into the Assassin Order, and the battle against Cesare's remaining followers before his arrest.[3]
Trivia
- The "La" in La Volpe's name refers only to the fact that "volpe," the Italian word for fox, is a feminine noun. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean "vixen."
- As there is no record of his actual name, the database files simply note that "La Volpe" is his pseudonym, one he gained since it was said that only a fox could match his cunning.
- In the novel Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, he called himself "Gilberto," but still preferred to be known as "La Volpe."
- He is shown using a butcher's knife as his primary weapon during the fight against Rodrigo. However in Renaissance, La Volpe is seen skillfully using a Crossbow with expert proficiency in both long ranged and melee combat.
- Like all other supporting Assassins in the game, La Volpe does not wear the trademark Hidden Blade.
- La Volpe is the only other Assassin besides Ezio who has a hood on, one of the most iconic features of the Assassins. The hood he wears, however, is neither white nor cut in the shape of an eagle's beak.
- When Ezio travels with him to the Santa Maria Novella, Ezio falls behind and runs out of breath, while La Volpe breathes normally. This seems to suggest that even though he is older, he has far more stamina.
- La Volpe has accomplished a feat that Ezio cannot, being seen atop the Palazzo Medici (one of the few rooftops in the game that cannot be reached).
- The Prowler shares certain characteristics with La Volpe; such as the style of his cloak and hood, and the format of his name, Il Lupo or "the Wolf."
- In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, La Volpe does not seem to have aged at all, and infact, actually seems to have fewer wrinkles on his face than in Assassin's Creed II.
- A glitch occurs in the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, during "The Fighter, the Lover and the Thief" Sequence, wherein La Volpe can be seen in two places at once. At the end of the Thief memory, where Ezio rescues Claudio, La Volpe can be found sitting on a bench next to La Volpe Addormentato; however, he can also be located on the roof of the building from which he and Ezio spied on Machiavelli at the beginning of the memory. This could also be an exclusive PS3 Easter Egg; considering that according to the myths La Volpe is able to appear at multiple locations at the same time.
Gallery
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La Volpe as he appears in Assassin's Creed II.
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La Volpe along with other Assassins and Assassin Apprentices.
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La Volpe talking to Ezio and one of his thieves about Machiavelli.
References
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