As early as the 13th century, Venice had a notable Assassin presence; the area surrounding Venice was home to an Assassin and his son – Domenico Auditore. Both enjoyed the patronage of the famed explorer Marco Polo, an ally of the Assassins. Assassins remained present in the city up into the 15th century, occupying positions of command amongst the thieves, mercenaries, and courtesans of the city.
After the Templar orchestrated assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza in 1476, Giovanni Auditore da Firenze departed for Venice after finding a Venetian coin in Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani's possession. Arriving in Venice, Giovanni Auditore assassinated a guard at the Doge's residential palace, the Palazzo Ducale, and made his way inside the building. Once inside, Giovanni spied on a meeting between two members of the Barbarigo family, and a courier, who was set to carry a letter to their master. Giovanni tailed the courier through the city streets, eventually attacking him in a deserted square. Giovanni fought fiercely with the courier, and eventually pressed his hidden blade to the courier's neck, demanding to know what his masters were plotting. However, the courier claimed that his life was not Giovanni's to take, and that his secrets would be gone with himself. He then told Giovanni to "go to Hell", before being impaled by the latter's blade. Giovanni then took the letter the courier had in his possession, and departed from the city.
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