In Assassin's Creed II, what is the name of the protagonist who succeeds Altaïr?

In Assassin's Creed II, Ezio Auditore is the protagonist who follows Altaïr as the series' central playable Assassin.

Ezio begins the story as a young nobleman in Renaissance Italy. After his family is betrayed and executed, he becomes involved with the Assassin Brotherhood and spends years pursuing those responsible. His journey takes him through Florence, Venice, Forlì, and other Italian locations while he learns combat, stealth, investigation, and parkour.

Ezio is not Altaïr's direct historical successor in the story. Instead, the two characters are connected through the modern-day Animus narrative and the wider Assassin lineage. Ezio's trilogy includes Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations, making him the most extensively developed protagonist in the early series.

The game was released in 2009 and introduced a larger Renaissance setting, economic systems, property upgrades, and a more expansive supporting cast. Leonardo da Vinci appears as an important ally, although the game's conspiracy plot is fictionalized.