Assassin's Creed has been a series that has told legendary tales from periods throughout all of time with Ezio Auditore da Firenze's being the most iconic of them all. Ezio was the second assassin from the past introduced into the series and is arguably the best character the series has put out so far. With lots of talk surrounding which Assassin's Creed character may replace Ezio, it is good to catch up on Ezio's story from a vengeful child to a wise and powerful master assassin.
Ezio's story spans throughout three games in the series, as well as an animated short film. Hailing from Italy during the Renaissance era, Ezio traveled around the world, unraveling Templar plots and finding ancient Isu artifacts of immense power. He was critical to the main storyline of the first few games in the series, even speaking to Desmond, the game's modern day protagonist, from the past at one point during Revelations.
The Assassin's Creed franchise is known for its stealth and parkour focused gameplay and its complex narratives in historically accurate settings. There has been a lot of news surrounding the future of the series, with a new Assassin's Creed focused on Valhalla's Basim being reported to be in development. Ezio's story takes up a whopping three games in the series, and is the only character in the history of the franchise to star in his very own trilogy.
Ezio's Story Begins With Tragedy In Assassin's Creed II
Ezio was a just a teenager when his life turned over its head. Living in Florence as a noble of the Auditore family, Ezio spent his days with his family, jumping off rooftops with his older brother, and courting a young woman named Cristina. On one day however, the young Ezio came home to his family's villa ransacked. Rushing to the prison where his family was being kept, his father told him to find a chest where Ezio found some assassin robes and a broken hidden blade. After attempting to stop his father and brothers' execution, Ezio watched in horror as his family hung at the gallows by the Templar, Uberto Alberti. This was the beginning of Ezio's quest for vengeance in Assassin's Creed and rite of passage into the Assassin Brotherhood.
After his family's execution, Ezio flees to a family home in Monteriggioni, where his uncle, Mario, explains to him the Auditore's legacy within the Assassin Brotherhood. Ezio goes on to hunt down the men who killed his father and brothers, gaining allies like Leonardo da Vinci, Caterina Sforza, and Lorenzo de Medici. With the help of his allies, Ezio unravels a Templar plot by the Rodrigo Borgia to take over Italy under Templar rule using the Apple of Eden. After a final battle with Borgia, he escapes without the Apple and Ezio is formally inducted into the Brotherhood by his uncle.
Ezio Rebuilds The Assassin Order In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Following the events of Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood continues Ezio's story in Monteriggioni, which is unfortunately ransacked by Cesare Borgia, Rodrigo Borgia's son. Ezio's uncle Mario is killed in this battle and Cesare retakes the Apple for the Templars. Donning the iconic assassin's robes once more, Ezio narrowly escapes, fleeing to Rome to finish the job he started in Assassin's Creed 2, where he attempts to rebuild the Assassin Order and cripple Borgia control over the capital. It is also during this time when Claudia, Ezio's sister, is officially made an assassin.
After rebuilding the Brotherhood in Rome, Ezio is deemed as Mentor, making him the leader of the Assassin Brotherhood in Italy. Ezio goes on to defeat Cesare Borgia, who is arrested by Pope Julius II's army for multiple crimes, including the murder of his own father, Rodrigo Borgia. A few years later, Cesare breaks free from prison to siege the city of Viana, where Ezio ultimately kills him. After the battle, Ezio leaves the Apple of Eden in an Isu temple under the Colosseum in Rome.
Assassin's Creed: Revelations Continues Ezio's Story In Constantinople
The final game in Assassin's Creed's Ezio Collection, depicts a much wiser Ezio traveling around the world to reclaim the secrets of the assassins. Ezio travels to Masyaf in Syria where he fights an army of Templars. After escaping execution, Ezio heads to Constantinople to find the five keys which lock the underground library of Masyaf, which contains the secrets he has been looking for. He meets some new allies there, like Yusuf Tazim, the leader of the Ottoman Assassins, and Sofia Sartor, who later becomes his wife.
Ezio's quest for the five keys leads him to uncover a grand Templar plot within both the crumbling Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Sultanate. Upon retrieving each of the keys, Ezio is revealed small glimpses into the life of Altair Ibn La Ahad, protagonist of Assassin's Creed, uncovering more Brotherhood secrets along the way. After the tragic death of Yusuf and saving Sofia from the Templars, Ezio and Sofia leave to Masyaf. There Ezio opens the hidden library, discovering that the crypt was made by Altair to house his body and seal the Apple of Eden from the world. Ezio decides to leave the Apple there and officially retires from the Brotherhood, stating that he has seen enough for one life. It is in this moment when he speaks directly to Desmond.
Ezio Briefly Comes Out Of Retirement To Help The Assassin Shao Jun
Although Assassin's Creed: Revelations was the final game starring Ezio as the lead, the legend's story comes to a close in an animated short film titled Assassin's Creed: Embers. The film depicts Ezio's final adventure, meeting Chinese assassin Shao Jun, a protagonist in Assassin's Creed: Chronicles. At the beginning of this film, Ezio lives in Tuscany with his wife Sofia and his daughter Flavia. Approached by Shao Jun, Ezio reluctantly decides to help her, training her in the ways of the Brotherhood so that she can lead the fight against the Chinese Zhengde Emperor. Upon giving Jun the last of his teaches, Ezio sends her on her way. A few days later, Ezio rests on a bench as his wife and daughter shop for groceries in the market. It is here when Ezio takes his final breathe, among the people of Italy he swore to protect.
Ezio's story is one of tragedy, perseverance, and maturity. It's no wonder why he is loved by many fans in the Assassin's Creed community. Being the only assassin to have a whole trilogy dedicated to him, Ezio is an iconic and beloved character in the franchise, whose influence continues to be seen in even the most recent Assassin's Creed games in the timeline. Fans can play through his exciting story in Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection.