Octavian de Valois

Octavian de Valois (1448 - August 1503) was the Baron of Valois and a general in the French and Papal armies and was in service to Cesare Borgia, whom he aided in with his French army which allowed Cesare to consolidate his influence in Rome.

Rise to power
In 1498, Octavian's distant cousin Louis XII was crowned king. Following this, Louis XII assigned Octavian to lead his Italian campaign. Octavian, however, had no real experience in war and just received formal training. Nonetheless, Octavian accepted the responsibility.

The following year, Octavian met Cesare and Juan Borgia at the French court. The latter two were there to court Cesare's future wife Charlotte of Albret. After spending a month together, Octavian went with the Borgias to Italy, thinking he'd be given Italy when they'd have destroyed all opposition.

Siege of Monteriggioni
In January of 1500 Octavian accompanied Cesare, the latter's sister, Lucrezia Borgia, and his Templar cohorts to Monteriggioni where they laid siege to the town in an attempt to eliminate the Assassin Order and Ezio Auditore. When the Borgia infantry breached the city walls Cesare Borgia, Octavian and the others walked into the town, with Caterina Sforza as their prisoner and Mario Auditore, barely alive. Cesare took a wheel-lock firearm from Octavian, fashioned by Ezio's ally – Leonardo da Vinci – and shot Mario in the head.

The French general of Rome
In 1500 Octavian was first seen in Rome at the stable of the Castel Sant'Angelo where Cesare, Juan Borgia the Elder and Micheletto Corella held a brief meeting. Octavian questioned Cesare's orders, asking of the Vatican, Cesare simply told him not to worry and soon they would have no need of it.

In 1503 Ezio Auditore came to the conclusion that Valois had to die in order for Cesare to lose his French army. After killing Juan on August 1st, he sought aid from Bartolomeo d'Alviano, the leader of the mercenaries in Rome and a secret member of the Assassin Order. However the Baron's French troops attacked the barracks. After the mercenaries drove the French back Octavian de Valois, and his troops called for Bartolomeo's attention.

With Bartolomeo listening from behind the gates of the barracks, Octavian asked for Bartolomeo's unconditional surrender. Bartolomeo angrily refused. Octavian then told him that he must learn to speak French, in order to mask the condotteiro's barbaric sensibilities. Bartolomeo mockingly agrees, asking the Baron to teach him in French, while he instructs the Baron in fighting, since he appeared to take so little action in battle.

After exchanging insults, Octavian once again requested for Bartolomeo's unconditional surrender before sunrise. Bartolomeo, finding such a request amusing warned the Baron that his "lady, Bianca" will whisper to the Baron's ear. Octavian then revealed that his troops had managed to capture Bartolomeo's wife, Pantasilea, and promised to release Pantasilea, should Bartolomeo come into his camp unarmed and alone. The Baron and his men then left the vicinity.

However subsequently Ezio and Bartolomeo devised a plan to steal the suits of several French soldiers, including a guard captain, and walk into the enemy camp with Bartolomeo acting as the prisoner. Once inside the camp Bartolomeo faced Octavian.

Nobility in death
The Baron, with Pantasilea beside him, greeted Bartolomeo in a mockingly manner. Bartolomeo, enraged with the Baron's tactics, demanded that his wife be released. The Baron tried to press on with his insults, telling Bartolomeo that his entitlements were too much for a man of his low caliber. Bartolomeo then claimed that his name was worth it's currency, unlike the Baron's, which he stated was counterfeit, in response the Baron was deeply offended by this.

Bartolomeo then spoke of nobility and how it's gained; through battling beside men, and not through kidnapping women in order to cheat out of battle. He once again demanded his wife be released, in an enraged demeanor. The Baron, with his rifle at hand, points it to the head of Pantasilea. Seeing the danger, Ezio fired his hidden gun, signaling the mercenaries to initiate the attack. Sensing danger, the Baron quickly fled with Pantasilea in tow, while the Papal Guards defend his retreat. Then, Ezio, Bartolomeo, the mercenaries and French soldiers engaged in a fray.

Despite this the Baron escaped with Pantasilea as his hostage. As he set his foot in the Baron's courtyard, Ezio was nearly shot by the Baron, whilst effortlessly dragging Pantasilea with him. Inside the barracks, he angrily threatened to kill Pantasilea should he notice the slightest hint that Ezio is near. However Ezio was able to avoid his foot soldiers and kill the Baron from above. Before he died, the Baron told Ezio that he only wanted respect. Ezio then told him that it is earned, not inherited or purchased. The Baron then realized the error of his ways, as Ezio spoke words of respect before he died.

Final words
Octavian: I only wanted respect.

Ezio: Respect is earned, not inherited or purchased.

Octavian: ''Perhaps you are right... I need more time...''

Ezio: Che tu sia parte nella morte (May you be equal in death). Requiescat in Pace (Rest in Peace).

Trivia

 * In the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel Octavian shoots Ezio during the Siege of Monteriggioni, whereas in the game, Ezio is shot by arquebusiers.
 * In the novelization, his name is spelled Octavien, with an "e".
 * When trying to assassinate Octavian, if you send your Assassins into the fray, desynchronisation will follow immediately (using Arrow Storm, though, will not result in desynchronisation).
 * In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, he is never referred to by his real name (Octavian). When a character mentions him, it's only by his title and his last name (Baron, Baron de Valois, Valois).
 * The Valois is a real french noble family.
 * Oddly enough, Octavian can easily be assassinated by simply running straight at him, ignoring the guards entirely, and quickly shooting him with either the hidden gun or the crossbow. The amount of time it would take for either him or the guards to notice you approach is enough for a single shot; given the proper timing, of course.
 * Arthur Holden, the voice actor for Octavian, also voiced Sibrand in the first Assassin's Creed.

Videos
250px|thumb|left|Assassination of Octavian.