La Volpe
- "They call me many things: Murderer. Tagliagole (Cutthroat). Thief. But you may call me La Volpe."
- ―La Volpe introducing himself to Ezio Auditore.[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.
In 1477, La Volpe assisted Ezio Auditore in locating an important Templar meeting, which resulted in Ezio preventing the Pazzi Conspiracy from succeeding. Many years later, La Volpe was present in Venice, where the Assassins reclaimed the Apple of Eden from Rodrigo Borgia.
After the fall of Monteriggioni, La Volpe moved to Rome, where he fought the Borgia influence in the city. However, he refused to work with the Assassins because of his suspicions towards Niccolò Machiavelli. Later, after Ezio had helped him by saving some of his thieves, La Volpe agreed to assist the Assassins again.
Biography
Early life
Very little is known about La Volpe's early life, though there were multiple myths regarding him 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 sitting inside.[2]
In 1467, during a night in Florence, 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 was said that he was immortal and could see through buildings.[2] It was also said that his eyes were purple.[3]
Helping Ezio Auditore
- "It is my business to know everything in this city. Isn't that why you're here?"
- ―La Volpe to Ezio.[src]
In 1477, La Volpe learned that Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the son of the late Assassin Giovanni Auditore da Firenze, had returned to Florence to assassinate the Templar Francesco de' Pazzi. Ezio was told that La Volpe would be able to assist him by his friend, Leonardo da Vinci. Upon hearing this, Ezio sought La Volpe out in the Mercato Vecchio.[2]
Whilst looking for the legendary rogue, a thief quickly pickpocketed Ezio and fled. Ezio was able to catch up with him, but as he demanded his money back, La Volpe appeared and returned the stolen money, saying that he would be willing to aid him if the Assassin could keep up with his freerunning skills. La Volpe then led Ezio to the Santa Maria Novella, where the Pazzi conspirators were to convene later that day.[2]
La Volpe waited for Ezio near the sewers, from where Ezio would later emerge after eavesdropping on the Templar meeting. Ezio informed him that they were planning to kill the Medici during High Mass, in order to claim Florence for themselves, and place their own politicians in charge. La Volpe replied 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 the Templars to kill him.[2]
Acquisition of the Apple of Eden
- "A cuccia, tu. You mess with the fox, you get the sword."
- ―La Volpe when joining the fight with the Borgia guards.[src]
In 1488, La Volpe and the other Assassins 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 to help Ezio defeat him and his men. Eventually, Rodrigo fled, and left the Apple behind for the Assassins. After answering many queries from Ezio, they proceeded to induct him into the Assassin Order, with each member, including La Volpe, performing a Leap of Faith afterwards.[2]
Bonfire of the Vanities
- "Find the Apple, Ezio! It can't be far."
- ―La Volpe when the Assassins lose sight of the Apple[src]
In 1494, Florence was taken over by Girolamo Savonarola, who had stolen the Apple from Ezio after an incident in Forlì.[2]
In 1497, La Volpe and Paola, a fellow Assassin and the leader of the Florentine courtesans, were contacted by Niccolò Machiavelli to help him liberate the citizens, after Ezio assassinated 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. However, Savonarola tried to control the crowd with the Apple, but it was quickly knocked out of his hand by a knife thrown by Ezio.[2]
La Volpe and the others 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 in front of a crowd. Thus he hurried towards the flames, and assassinated him before the flames reached him. He then gave a speech, and, looking towards the other Assassins, approvingly spoke of how he had been guided to his own path by "a few strangers."[2]
Finding the Vault
In 1499, La Volpe gathered with the Assassins, the ones that had been present during Ezio's induction 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 it was in fact the true reason that Rodrigo Borgia had become Pope, which allowed him to obtain the Staff of Eden. They then traveled to Rome, where they created a distraction for the Borgia forces, while Ezio infiltrated the Sistine Chapel.[2]
Liberating Rome
- "The guild will be run from here. Visit me whenever you like. There might be objectives to pursue that will help our cause in the city."
- ―La Volpe, on La Volpe Addormentata.[src]
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, traveled to Rome to dispose of the Borgia's influence there. When Ezio found him in Rome, he was the leader of the Thieves Guild, just as he had been in Florence, but unlike in Florence, he refused to cooperate with Niccolò Machiavelli, calling him a traitor to the Assassin cause.[4]
La Volpe believed that Machiavelli had betrayed them and sided with the Borgia, since Machiavelli had left Monteriggioni the night before the siege, as well as later stating that he suspected him of being behind an attack on the Roman Thieves Guild. However, he was willing to assist the Assassins after Ezio had helped him in saving some of his thieves from the Borgia guards. Ezio later found the real traitor at the Colosseum, who happened to be a thief that remained behind at the siege of Monteriggioni, and quickly rushed off to keep La Volpe from killing Machiavelli. Ezio arrived just in time to inform him of the situation, and when La Volpe realized he was mistaken, he immediately concealed his weapon and grew warmer to an oblivious Machiavelli, greeting him as a friend and ally.[4]
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.[4]
Personality and characteristics
- Ezio: "Then, join me."
- La Volpe: "In aiding Machiavelli? No thank you. That man is a traitor to our Order."
- —Ezio and La Volpe.[src]
La Volpe was a very agile man, able to beat Ezio in freerunning despite being quite older. He was the epitome of an Assassin, working in the shadows so much that his existence was considered to be a myth.[2]
La Volpe seemed to be quite wary of those who had not earned his full trust, immediately suspecting his fellow Assassin Niccolò Machiavelli of treachery as soon as he began working suspiciously. However, he completely trusted Ezio, deeming him worthy of such faith after working at his side on several occasions.[4]
La Volpe was shown to be very fond of his thieves, often going off to defend them should they be in danger, and even asking Ezio to aid them through several assignments.[4]
Trivia
Name
- 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 in-universe, 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.
- It is only in the novels Assassin's Creed: Renaissance and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood that his name is revealed to be Gilberto. Nevertheless, he tells Ezio that he would prefer to be called "La Volpe."
- In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, he is referred to as Gilberto the fox.
Equipment
- La Volpe is shown using a butcher's knife as his primary weapon during the fight against Rodrigo.
- In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, La Volpe uses 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.
- In Assassin's Creed II, 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.
- Despite possessing it for a long time until given to Ezio, La Volpe is never seen using his sword in combat, favouring his dagger over it.
Skill
- 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 than a young man like Ezio.
- La Volpe has accomplished a feat that Ezio cannot, in being seen atop the Palazzo Medici, one of the few rooftops that cannot be reached.
- La Volpe is believed to have an advanced form of Eagle Vision, having the ability to "see through walls."
Other
- Il Lupo shares certain characteristics with La Volpe; such as the style of his cloak and hood, and the format of his name.
- In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, La Volpe does not seem to have aged at all, and in fact, 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, after Ezio rescues Claudio, La Volpe can be found sitting on a bench next to La Volpe Addormentata; 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.
Gallery
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La Volpe's database image. -
La Volpe with other Assassins and recruits.
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La Volpe talking to Ezio and one of his thieves about Machiavelli. -
La Volpe confers with one of his thieves.
References
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