Template:WPAssassins
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- "I find that men are more... open, to religious change when it comes to women like me."
- ―Sister Teodora
Teodora Contanto, also known as Sister Teodora, (1450 - ?) was the leader of the Venetian courtesans and a member of the Assassin Order.[1]
Biography
Early life
- "Like many young women, I was drawn to the church, but grew disillusioned by the "believers" of this city"."
- ―Teodora on joining the church.[src]
Teodora was born in Venice to the a family of jewelers that owned their own shop. Teodora was apprenticed to her mother as a shop girl. Visitors to the shop noticed Teodora's beauty and charm, in 1462, one man buying diamond earrings for his wife, Margarita, noticed the twelve year old Teodora and left wishing he had never married. Five years later in 1467, court records show that on 26th of November she was caught having an affair with a married man at the age of 17. The man's wife found out and alerted the authorities. To avoid legal action her parents sent her to a convent as punishment to live out the rest of her days in peace and prayer. Later that year, Teodora entered the Santa Maria degli Angeli convent.[1]
Becoming a courtesan
- "Men hold God as an idea in their heads, not in the depths of their hearts and bodies. Men must know how to love in order to reach salvation. My girls and I provide that to our congregation."
- ―Teodora[src]
Teodora with Antonio de Magianis at La Rosa Della Virtù.
However after five years, 1473, at the age of 23, Teodora grew tired of convent life due to her own personal beliefs. She left leaving a statement nailed to the door in which she talked about life as a nun being "earthly" and sterile. She concluded her letter with a brief description of her own belief "only in partnership with another can one truly enter the arms of God".[1]
That very same year, Teodora opened La Rosa Della Virtù (The Rose of Virtue), a bordello situated in Venice's Dorsodoro district, the festival center of Venice, it was staffed solely by former nuns with similar ideals to Teodora. The Pope would frequently try to force the Venetian Council to shut it down, but it would remain open until 1516. Although she was no longer a part of the Catholic Church, Teodora considered herself a nun, in her own brand of faith. Additionally, Teodora was somehow introduced to and inducted into the Assassin Order.[1]
Helping Ezio
- "You'll need a golden mask for entry. And before you think of forging one, keep in mind, each mask is numbered. Fortunately for you, I have an idea. Let's see if we can't win you a mask. "
- ―Teodora informing Ezio of their situation.[src]
Teodora explaining her plan to obtain the golden mask.
In 1486, Teodora was introduced by fellow Assassin Antonio de Magianis to Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the son of another inducted Assassin called Giovanni Auditore da Firenze. Teodora guided Ezio in his objective to kill the Templar Doge Marco Barbarigo, by informing him that he could win a golden mask, which would grant him access to Marco's personal carnevale party. Ezio participated in the contest to win the mask, but, even though Ezio clearly won all the matches, the mask was given to Marco's bodyguard Dante Moro. Teodora and Antonio instructed Ezio to use Teodora's courtesans to distract Dante, which gave Ezio an opportunity to steal the mask. Ezio entered the party and met with Teodora, who offered her girls to help Ezio staying out of the guards' sight, who had been informed of Ezio's presence. After Marco appeared, Ezio assassinated him and returned to La Rosa Della Virtù, where he tried to win himself a night with Teodora, but she cut him short and commands her girls to attend to him.[1]
Acquiring the Apple of Eden
- "Do you really, now? Or are you here for another reason, my son?"
- ―Teodora's response when Ezio wasnt to follow Rodrigo.[src]
Ezio's induction
In 1488, Teodora joined the other Assassins in Venice, where they hoped to acquire the Apple of Eden from the Templar Grand Master Rodrigo Borgia. However, when they arrived, they found Ezio already fighting the Templar and his guards. Paola, Teodora and Niccolò Machiavelli remained on the sidelines as the other Assassins assisted Ezio in the fight. When the guards were killed and Rodrigo had fled, leaving the Apple behind, they revealed themselves to be Assassins, which had previously been unknown to Ezio. Ezio was then inducted in the Assassin Order, a ceremony where Teodora was also present, after which they all took a Leap of Faith from the tower.[1]
Finding the Vault
- Mario: "Now I understand! It's not the Vault alone he's gained access to - but the staff as well!"
- Teodora: "What staff?"
- —The Assassins discussing the Pieces of Eden.[src]
Bartolomeo suggesting the Assassins to cause trouble in Rome
In 1499, Ezio had acquired the remaining Codex pages, and Teodora and the other Assassins met again, this time in Monteriggioni. They hoped to locate the Vault that the prophecy spoke of. Once it had been determined that the Vault was in Rome, she agreed to "cause trouble in the city", along with the others, while Ezio infiltrated the Vatican. After this, she returned to Venice, where she remained at the head of the Courtesans.[1]
Later life
In 1516, La Rosa Della Virtù was burned in a fire started by a disgruntled bishop who wished to lie with one of the girls for free. The Roman Catholic Church publicly cited that the fire was an act of God. Teodora's fate remained unknown, although she would have been 66 at this time.[1]
Trivia
- The name Teodora is Italian for Theodora, the feminine for Theodore, which in Greek means "God's Gift"
- Teodora's design bears a strong resemblance to the Ridolfo Ghirlandaio painting, The Nun.
- During the mission "Having a Blast", if you kill Marco before Teodora leaves, you can get guards to go after her and kill her and you can then loot her.
References