Girolamo Savonarola



"Why are you here?! Why do you disturb me?! You should be cleansing your homes, cleansing your SELVES!"

- Savonarola to a mob of people at the Palazzo Pitti.

Girolamo Savonarola is an antagonist that appears in Assassin's Creed II, being the central antagonist of the "Bonfire of the Vanities" downloadable content pack. After taking the Apple of Eden from Ezio Auditore, he has used it to take control of Florence following the fall of the Medici. He's later killed by Ezio.

Biography
After the King of France drove Piero de' Medici from Florence in 1494, Savonarola used the Apple he had stolen to take over Florence. After uniting the city under his banner, he started to destroy all Renaissance art pieces and books, due to his desire to revert to Medieval times.

When Pope Alexander VI, the Grand Master of the Templar Order, found out that Savonarola had the Apple of Eden in his possession, he sent several troops of his Papal army to retrieve it, though with no success.

The Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze concluded that Savonarola's rule was being forced upon the people by his nine lieutenants, who were suppressing the Florentines. Ezio killed all nine of Savonarola's lieutenants, who were all either lured into serving Savonarola, or were being controlled by the Apple. As Ezio successfully assassinated each of the lieutenants, who were spread all over Florence, his fellow Assassins, La Volpe and Paola, began to encourage the people to fight for themselves. Eventually, Savonarola's grip over Florence was lost.

An angry mob gathered in front of Savonarola's residence, the Palazzo Pitti, to stand up against him. Savonarola tried to control the mob with the Apple of Eden, but Ezio threw a knife at Savonarola's hand, which caused him to drop the Apple. With Savonarola powerless, the mob took him to his execution: being burned alive in the Piazza della Signoria. Ezio ultimately decided that nobody should die in such agony, and pushed through the crowd towards Savonarola. He stabbed him in the neck with his hidden blade before the flames could reach him, and mercifully ended his life.

Savonarola's death greatly upset the Borgia family, as they were desperate to take the Apple of Eden for themselves.

Trivia

 * Historically, Pope Alexander VI tolerated Savonarola's criticisms against the church, but after constant defiance, he had Savanarola hanged and burned at the stake.
 * In Assassin's Creed II, Savonarola is the only target of Ezio that is not a member of the Templar Order nor affiliated with them. Also, when looked at the conspirators circle in the main menu of the game, Savonarola is out of the circle.