Rosa
Rosa (born 1460) was a member of the Venetian thieves guild led by Antonio de Magianis. In 1504, she also became the Madame of the Rosa in Fiore.
Biography
Early life
Rosa was born in 1460. Nine months before, a Venetian nobleman paid a prostitute for her services and Rosa was the result of this event. As the prostitute could not raise her child, Rosa survived in the streets of Venice alone.[1]
At the age of fifteen, Rosa tried to steal from Antonio de Magianis, a stranger to her at the time, though she was caught. As the chief of the Venetian Thieves Guild, Antonio decided to raise Rosa as his pupil, rather than send her to the guards.[1]
Throughout her apprenticeship, Antonio noted many of Rosa's talents, especially her high level of agility. Antonio also seemed to maintain a very parental relationship with Rosa, and would often call her piccola (sweetheart) or little darling.[1]
Assisting Ezio
In 1480, Rosa and several of her fellow thieves attempted an attack on the Palazzo della Seta, where the corrupt Emilio Barbarigo ruled over Venice's merchants. While her allies led away the guards, Rosa began to scale the building, but was hit in the leg by an arrow.[1]
As she was too injured too run, she demanded help from Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who had been standing nearby, and who she had pickpocketed earlier that day. Despite this, Ezio consented, and protected her as they hurried towards the canals.[1]
Along the way, though Rosa proudly held her own, she eventually collapsed and was unable to continue. Ezio thus carried her the rest of the way, until they met with Rosa's fellow thief Ugo, who put her into a boat. Ugo managed to get Rosa to the guild, while Ezio took out the archers pursuing them.[1]
As she recovered from her wounds, Rosa taught Ezio how to grab higher ledges. After Ezio's first successful climb-leap attempt, Rosa challenged him to race up the Santa Maria dei Frari within a set time.[1]
Years later, in 1485, Rosa aided Ezio and the other thieves in a second assault on the Palazzo della Seta. After Ezio had killed the archers guarding the palazzo, Rosa was one of those who disguised themselves in their place. After Ezio successfully assassinated Emilio Barbarigo, Rosa and the other thieves shot down the rest of the guards, and she and Ezio opened the palazzo doors for Antonio.[1]
In 1488, on Ezio's birthday, Rosa gifted him with a shipping manifest from l'Arsenale, which detailed the return of a Templar boat the following day.[1]
Madam of the Rosa in Fiore
In 1504, Claudia Auditore da Firenze, the Madame of the Rosa in Fiore brothel in Rome, stepped down after being assaulted by Borgia fanatics.[2]
Soon after, Antonio was contacted by his fellow Assassin La Volpe, who asked him if Rosa would like to replace Claudia as the brothel's Madame. Rosa agreed and moved to Rome.[2]
Personality and characteristics
Rosa, as the only female of the Venetian Thieves Guild, had a very aggressive, and tough personality to match the male-dominated group, overall making her a tomboy. Antonio once noted that the thieves who tried to kiss Rosa were badly beaten up by her afterwards.[1]
Rosa was also not afraid to give orders or speak her mind to her fellow thieves (Ugo, for example, received only insults from her, despite assisting in her rescue). Often, she would yell or insult them to their faces.[1]
Rosa also cursed frequently, particularly after being injured. Even after Antonio had treated her wound, she swore at him profusely, calling him bastardo and porca puttana, as well as insulting his mother.[1]
Romantic life
After being rescued, Rosa's attitude towards Ezio changed drastically, where she became extremely flirtatious and more intimate, such as looking excited when Ezio stated that he needed her, only to become disappointed when he clarified that he wanted to learn her climbing technique. She also seemed to revert to her true self when around him, instead of the tough thief image she maintained most of the time.[1]
Over the years, Ezio maintained a close, intimate friendship with Rosa, and the two were often seen flirting whenever in each other's company, implying a relationship during that period of their lives.[1][3]
Trivia
- Rosa fights with a Sultan's Knife.
- In Eagle Vision, Rosa will turn red for a split-second after you have assassinated Emilio Barbarigo.
- It is possible to assassinate Rosa. After the mission "Everything Must Go," you may see her walking past Ezio in the guard armor she wore during the memory. Here, you can assassinate her, however it will not affect gameplay or storyline.
- The arrow that hit Rosa's leg disappears during gameplay, but reappears afterwards.
- In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, Rosa is said to be one of the best free-runners in the Venetian Thieves Guild.
- In Renaissance, Ezio and Rosa clearly have an intimate relationship, constantly flirting, with many cases of kissing. Some passages also imply a sexual relationship.
- Rosa is not seen as the Madame of the Rosa in Fiore in The Da Vinci Disappearance of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, despite it taking place in 1506, and Claudia having stepped down in 1504.
Gallery
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Ezio protecting Rosa from archers.
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Ezio speaking with Rosa.
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Ezio carrying Rosa.
References