Wagon
A wagon is a four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draft animals. The primary purpose of horse-drawn wagons is to transport large quantities of items or human occupants from one location to a set destination.
During the Renaissance, armed horsemen would escort wagons in the outskirts of cities, near forests and around mountainous regions, due to the dangers posed by bandits and other dubious individuals.
Usage
Wagons were commonly used by travel stations, which transported civilians between cities for a fee.[1]
The famed polymath Leonardo da Vinci also made use of a personal wagon, during his travels to Forlì in 1480 with the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The wagon was loaded with designs and inventions, including a machine capable of flight.[1]
Upon arriving at the Apennine Mountains, Ezio discovered Leonardo attempting to fix the wagon's broken wheel. Ezio helped by briefly lifting the wagon, allowing his friend to make the necessary repairs.[1]
During their ride to Forlì, they were ambushed by Borgia soldiers. Ezio took control of the horses' reins to shake off their attackers, forcing Leonardo to take cover within the wagon. The pair survived attempted hijackings, flaming arrows and successfully crossed burning bridge to safety.[1]
Ezio instructed Leonardo to continue on alone as they drew near Forlì, and jumped off the wagon to face the attackers himself in a small village, dispatching them with relative ease.[1]
In 1511 and 1512, Ezio was forced to commandeer a wagon on two occasions, first to pursue the Byzantine captain Leandros, and later, Prince Ahmet.[2]
Ezio defended himself from other guards on wagons by smashing into them, or forcing them onto rocky terrain to destroy their wheels.[2]
Trivia
- In Assassin's Creed II, a miniature replica of the wagon can be found in the Villa Auditore after completing the memory "Romagna Holiday".
- In the novel Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, Leonardo is initially accompanied by four men during his journey; not all of whom survive the attack.
- Also in Renaissance, after the ambush, Leonardo drives the wagon to escape further pursuit, while Ezio rides on horseback to eliminate the remaining assailants.