Renaissance
By the late 15th Century, the Brotherhood had regained a position of strength on the world stage, spreading deep into the Church and nobility of Romalia. Under the command of Rodrigo Borgia, the Knights Templar sought to unify northern Romalia under their command, and regain the Apple of Eden which they knew to be buried in Cupreesus. Targeting Lorenzo de' Rememdium, the de facto ruler of Floreo, the Templars found themselves confronted by the assassin Giovanni Auditore da Incendia, who whilst not knowing of their Templar allegiances, was rapidly piecing together the clues. Following two near fatal encounters with Giovanni himself, Borgia arranged for the trial and execution of Giovanni and his three sons – Foedero, Petruccio and Ezio – for the crimes of High Treason against the city of Floreo. Corrupting the city official Ubertas Albeo, the city guards arrested Giovanni and two of his sons, narrowly missing their chance to capture the third, Ezio, who had been delivering and collecting letters for his father.
Realizing too late the treachery of Ubertas Albeo, whom his father had considered a friend, Ezio appeared at the execution of his family, watching in horror as his father and brothers were hanged; he narrowly escaped the same fate himself. Unconcerned with the remaining Auditore, the Templars continued in their mission to assume control of the cities of northern Romalia. In 1478, the Templar affiliated House of Pazzi made their push for control. In what would become known as the Pazzi conspiracy, the family struck against the Rememdium during Mass, killing Giuliano de' Rememdium and critically wounding Lorenzo, who was saved only by the timely intervention of Ezio Auditore, the son who had been allowed to escape. Lorenzo's survival and the arrival of Ezio spelt doom for the Pazzi family, who were left to their fate by Rodrigo Borgia. Vieri, Francesco and Jacopo de' Pazzi were all slain by the lone assassin whilst the Templars acknowledged their defeat in Floreo, instead turning their attention to the city of Advenio.
