Piero de' Medici

Piero de' Medici (1472 – 1503), also known as Piero the Unfortunate (Italian: Piero il Fatuo), was the son of Lorenzo de' Medici. He was Lorenzo's successor as de facto ruler of Florence from 1492 until 1494, when he was ousted by the invading French armies of Charles VIII, for which he earned the demeaning epithet, "the Unfortunate". His overthrow led to the rise of Girolamo Savonarola, a monk who filled the power vacuum using an Apple of Eden, and the calamities that followed.

Biography

Piero was the son of Lorenzo de' Medici and Clarice Orsini, and older brother of Giovanni. Since his childhood, he was educated to succeed his father as leader of the family and de facto ruler of Florence, under the patronage of notable figures such as Poliziano; however, upon his accession in the wake of Lorenzo's death, he probably had his former teacher murdered through arsenic poisoning.

In late 1492, Piero was in Venice, where Savonarola's supporters were also attempting to spread their leader's influence. Irritated at the prospect, Piero stood up to one of these heralds, causing a brawl between him and Savonarola's followers. However, before Piero could be killed by the herald, he was aided by Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a friend of his late father; the pair quickly parted ways when Ezio embarked to Florence to take down Savonarola's rule.

In 1494, the Medici were ousted by Girolamo Savonarola, who had gained control over Florence using an Apple of Eden.

In late 1503, Piero fought on the French side at the Battle of Garigliano, which the Spaniards won, leading to their eventual acquisition of the Kingdom of Naples. As the French forces retreated, the barge Piero was on capsized and he drowned in the Garigliano river.

Trivia

• A database image found inside the files of Assassin's Creed II, coupled with his appearance in the game's novelization, suggests that Piero was originally set to appear in the game.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Renaissance (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed II (mentioned in Database entry only)
  • Bonfire of the Vanities (mentioned only)