Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza
The assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza was an act committed by the Templars in an effort to destabilise relations between Milan and Florence.
Revelation
As Rodrigo Borgia and his men leave Florence on foot by night, they are attacked by the Assassin Giovanni, who was stalking them from the rooftops. Rodrigo himself retreats and his men easily easily dispatched by Giovanni. Giovanni captures one and takes the prisoner to the home of Lorenzo de Medici (Giovanni's employer) for questioning.[1]
Tortured with a rack by Uberto Alberti and the Medici's men, the prisoner revealed their plans: Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan and a powerful ally of the Medici, was to be murdered the day after Christmas, during the Feast of Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen). Lorenzo immediately ordered Giovanni to leave for Milan to thwart their plans.[1]
The Feast of Santo Stefano
- "At the altar, when the echo of the choir, becomes loud, and the bell rings for the twelfth and last time, the Duke of Milan, will die!"
- ― Rodrigo's ally, after being tortured by the Medici.[src]
A crowd of onlookers watches as Duke Sforza enters church, surrounded by his own men. Giovanni watches from the crowd, then enters the church via the rooftops to avoid attention.[1] Once inside Giovanni observes the killers: Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani, Gerolamo Olgiati and Carlo Visconti.[2]
Once the Duke completes his prayers, Lampugnani approaches and kisses the duchal ring before plunging a dagger into the Duke's stomach. Olgiati and Visconti also attack the Duke, as the conspirators' own men do battle with the Duke's bodyguards. Giovanni assists the Duke's men in the battle, but the Duke himself was already dead at the altar. Lampugnani is captured at the scene but immediately tries to escape, only to be killed by one of the Duke's bodyguards despite Giovanni's plea for mercy.[1][2]
Aftermath
When Giovanni inspects Lampugnani's effects, he discovers ducats (the currency of Venice) in Lampugnani's coin purse. Giovanni then left Milan to investigate the Duke's murder and bring all the conspirators to justice.[1]
With the loss of Duke Sforza, the Florentine Medici had lost a powerful ally. This left the city more vulnerable to a Templar takeover.
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Assassin's Creed: Lineage film
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wikipedia article on Galeazzo Sforza
Images
