Flag

Flags were tools used by many different factions to increase their influence over a certain location. The Assassins were notorious for removing flags to hinder the Templars.

Flags and locations
Flags were scattered by members of various factions throughout the Holy Land to lay claim to particular regions of territory. There were different kinds of flags, each representing a different faction. Collection of these flags unlocked additional memories available to be relived through the Animus.

Achievements
Collecting all of the flags of a particular kind in the Xbox 360 version gave an achievement.

Renaissance
The Borgia also used flags to increase their control over Italy. There were 101 Borgia flags to collect in Rome. However, art merchants in the city sold Flag Maps which made it easier for Ezio Auditore to find and remove all of the Borgia flags. An additional method to locate the flags was through Ezio's use of Eagle Vision, thus marking the flag on the map.

Collecting all 101 flags rewarded Ezio with the Borgia Cape, and the achievement "Capture the Flag."