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Antonio Maffei da Volterra (5 July 1450 – 8 January 1478) was a Florentine monk and a member of the Pazzi Conspiracy. He was involved in the failed attempt on Lorenzo de Medici's life in 1478, and he was arrested and executed by the Medici alongside the other captured conspirators.

Biography[]

Maffei was a monk who joined the Knights Templar in 1476 after he witnessed the sacking of Volterra by Florentine mercenaries, and he was a member of the Pazzi Conspiracy against the House of Medici. On 26 April 1478 he attempted to kill Lorenzo de Medici in the town square of Florence, but he failed to kill him, only wounding him. Maffei fled to San Gimignano and took refuge on the tower of the Santa Maria Assunta church, encircled by Templar archers. Mario Auditore's scouts tracked him down, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze headed to kill him after Gambalto told him about Maffei's spouting of scripture and arrows in equal measure.

Death[]

Maffei death

Maffei's death

Ezio climbed the tower as an insane Maffei shouted down to the people of San Gimignano, demanding that they repent and seek forgiveness for their "wicked ways" (summoning the "demon" Ezio and "sacrificing their liberty" to the "wretch" Lorenzo de Medici). Auditore climbed the tower and managed to stealthily approach Maffei, stabbing him in the back with his hidden blades. Maffei told Ezio to go away, thinking that he was a demon, and Auditore told him to have respect for death; Antonio passed away in his arms shortly after.

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