Skirmish in the Campagna District
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The Skirmish with the French was a military engagement between Cesare Borgia's French army, commanded by Octavian de Valois, and Bartolomeo d'Alviano, an Assassin in secret and the leader of the mercenaries guild active in Rome.
Barracks Assault
In 1503, subsequently following the death of Juan Borgia the Elder, Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze intended to assassinate Octavian de Valois to weaken Cesare's influential control over Rome. Ezio visited the military barracks to gain support from his fellow Assassin, Bartolomeo, who at the time was occupied with attacks from both the French and Papal forces.
Arriving at the barracks, Ezio was greeted by a cheerful Bartolomeo, who informed Ezio that the fight with the French was going as planned. However, suddenly, a French arquebusier shot at the two from a distance. Despite this, Bartolomeo still assured that the fight was going well, until a mercenary loudly announced that French troops were moving in for a direct assault. Bartolomeo then admitted he may need some help containing the situation.
Ezio and Bartolomeo successfully drove back the first wave of French soldiers; however, more reinforcements attacked the barracks and overwhelmed the mercenaries. Ezio, thinking quickly, closed all three of the gates into the barracks to prevent any reinforcing French troops from entering. Although the barracks was safely defended, Octavian and his troops called for Bartolomeo's attention. Octavian revealed that his troops had managed to capture Pantasilea Baglioni, Bartolomeo's wife, and promised to release Pantasilea, should Bartolomeo come into his camp unarmed and alone.
Enraged, Bartolomeo and Ezio rode on horseback to the French camp for a rescue attempt, however they discovered that the camp was impenetrable. Fortunately, Ezio quickly devised a plan, ordering Bartolomeo to call off the attacks and return to the barracks. There, Ezio explained that he would liberate several suits of French armor for himself and the mercenaries, and at dawn they would march directly into the enemy camp.
Trojan Horse
Ezio stealthily inflitrated several camps throughout the Campagna district, and successfully killed the French troops stationed there, leaving the mercenaries to strip the bodies of their armor. By dawn, Ezio met Bartolomeo and his mercenaries at the rendezvous. With all of them disguised as the French troops, aside from Bartolomeo who acted as their "prisoner," they marched to the French camp. Ezio ran ahead to clear the path of any suspicious French guards, and allow their own force to pass the district undetected. Eventually, upon reaching the camp entrance, they were given access, thanks to Ezio's proficiency in speaking French; which, as he explained, was because there were "a few French girls in Firenze."
The Death of the Baron
Once inside, Octavian greeted Bartolomeo, however, he drew his rifle and intended to kill Pantasilea regardless of Bartolomeo's "surrender." Realizing the danger on her life, Ezio then fired his own pistol into the air, startling the Baron and signaling the mercenaries to begin the attack. Octavian fled deeper into the camp with Pantasilea as his hostage, sending several of his men to intercept the mercenaries. Ezio pursued him, killing French captains and Papal guards along the way.
Locating the Baron in a small courtyard, Ezio stealthily killed off his arquebusiers, and assassinated Octavian from above to free Pantasilea.
Aftermath
After Octavian's death, the French troops abandoned their stations in Rome and returned to France, weakening Cesare's balance of power. The mercenaries guild continued to further the Assassins' cause, without annoyance from the French army.