In Assassin’s Creed II, which Florentine nobleman becomes the playable Assassin?

In Assassin’s Creed II, Ezio Auditore da Firenze becomes the playable Assassin.

Ezio begins the game as a young Florentine nobleman in 15th-century Italy. After his father and brothers are executed, he discovers his family’s connection to the Assassin Brotherhood and pursues the people responsible. His journey takes him through Florence, Monteriggioni, Venice, and the Vatican.

Ezio is not the same character as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the protagonist of the first game. He is also distinct from Desmond Miles, whose modern-day storyline frames Ezio’s memories. Leonardo da Vinci supports Ezio with inventions and translations, but he is not the player character.

Ezio’s story continues in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Together, the three games form a trilogy covering his development from a revenge-seeking teenager to a senior Assassin.