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Rodrigo Borgia

2012-04-30T07:30:21Z

121.220.90.31: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|PL|ACB|Renaissance|Bbook|ACL|Ascendance|Templars|Featured}}
{{WP-REAL|Pope Alexander VI}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Quote|He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].|[[Mario Auditore]] to his nephew, Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rodrigo Borgia
|image = char_rodrigo.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Valencia, Crown of Aragon
|death = 18 August 1503 (aged [[72]]) [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' (novel)]] ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{mo}} [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' (novel)]] {{mo}}'' [[Assassin's Creed: Embers]] {{mo}}
|actor = [[Manuel Tadros]]
|voice = [[Manuel Tadros]]}}
'''Rodrigo Borgia''' (1431 – 1503), born '''Roderic Llançol''', later '''Roderic de Borja i Borja''', was a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Cardinals|Cardinal]] and the [[Grand Master|leader]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Renaissance]]. He was the father of [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]], [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], and [[Jofré Borgia]], as well as grandfather to [[Giovanni Borgia]].

Rodrigo was [[Papacy|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503, and was known as '''Alexander VI'''. He was one of the most controversial Popes of the Renaissance, and his surname became synonymous for the corrupt standards of the Papacy in that era.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Roderic Llançol was born at Xàtiva in the Kingdom of Valencia, one of the component states of the Crown of Aragon, present-day Spain. His parents were Jofré Llançol i Escrivá, and his wife and relative Isabel de Borja. His family name is written Llançol in Valencian and Lanzol in Spanish. After the elevation of Roderic's maternal uncle Alonso de Borja to the Papacy as Calixtus III in 1455, Roderic was adopted into his mother's family name of Borja.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI">''[[wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Wikipedia – Pope Alexander VI]]''</ref>

===As a Cardinal===
Rodrigo de Borgia studied law at Bologna, and was successively made bishop, cardinal, and vice-chancellor of the church, all of which were nepotistic appointments characteristic of the age. He served in the Roman Curia under five Popes (his uncle, Pius II, Paul II, [[Sixtus IV]] and Innocent VIII) and acquired much administrative experience, influence, and wealth, though not great power.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI"/>

By the time Rodrigo was under Pope [[Sixtus IV]], he had become the Grand Master of the Templar Order in 1458. In this position, he aspired to unite all of [[Italy]] under the Templar banner. In order to achieve that goal, he made plans to take down the leaders of Italy's main cities, and place his own men in power.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

===Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza===
Rodrigo devised a plan to eliminate [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], the Duke of Milan, in which [[Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani]], [[Carlo Visconti]] and [[Gerolamo Olgiati]] would kill Sforza on the day of Santo Stefano.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

One night in December of 1476, Rodrigo was on his way to leave [[Florence]] accompanied by several of his men. Suddenly, [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]], a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], intercepted him. Rodrigo fled immediately as the Assassin battled his men.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Hidden behind a corner, Rodrigo witnessed Giovanni capture one of his men, who later revealed the planned assassination of Galeazzo Sforza, a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent the assassination, though he arrived too late to do so. Rodrigo's plan had succeeded, thus he began to devise his next scheme.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

===Auditore execution===
[[File:Tadros.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo walking in Rome.]]
Giovanni Auditore learned that Rodrigo's plans would lead him to the city of [[Venice]], after looting a Venetian ducat from Giovanni Lampugnani. Upon traveling there, he intercepted a message from [[Marco Barbarigo|Marco]] and [[Silvio Barbarigo]] to their master, Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

After [[Uberto Alberti]] and [[Antonio Maffei|Father Maffei]] "failed" to decode the intercepted letter, the [[House of Medici|Medici]] and Uberto sent Giovanni to carry a copied version of the message to [[Rome]], in order to discover who was behind the plot. Arriving in the city, Giovanni handed the message to a man, and followed the letter as it passed through several hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo Borgia.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Rodrigo then left to see Pope Sixtus IV, hoping to obtain military support in order to conquer Florence. After gaining Sixtus' favor, Rodrigo headed out of the [[Vaticano District|Vatican]], and into the streets of Rome once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Giovanni was still on Rodrigo's trail, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]. However, he fell into an ambush set by Rodrigo, who had known of the Assassin following him. Rodrigo tried to offer Giovanni a position among the Templars, but the Assassin refused, stating that Rodrigo would be dead before he could see the Templars' fantasy become reality.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Disappointed, Rodrigo had his men attack Giovanni, but the Assassin routed all of them. Rodrigo, who had been watching from the sidelines, threw a [[Throwing knives|knife]] at Giovanni, which hit him in the chest. Rodrigo then took the chance to flee the Basilica. Afterwards, he discussed the next step in his plan with his Templar brothers, and all agreed that they had to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>
[[File:LMS_10_v.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo giving orders to Uberto at the Auditore execution.]]
In order to get rid of Giovanni, Rodrigo conspired with Uberto Alberti and the [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]]. After careful planning, the Templars were able to frame Giovanni for the crimes of treason, and had him and two of his sons arrested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

The night before the trial of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], Rodrigo was at Uberto's house. [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], Giovanni's remaining son, came by to give Uberto his father's letters that would prove him innocent. Ezio noticed Rodrigo behind Uberto, but paid no further attention to him. The following morning, Rodrigo attended the judgment and execution of Giovanni, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio Auditore]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Pazzi Conspiracy===
{{Quote|Gentlemen. Tomorrow, a new sun rises over Firenze.|Rodrigo encouraging the Pazzi Conspirators.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Burgerking.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo discussing the Pazzi Conspiracy.]]

In 1478, Rodrigo conspired to take down the leader of Florence, Lorenzo de' Medici, and his brother [[Giuliano de' Medici|Giuliano]]. Thus, Rodrigo left for [[San Gimignano]], where he held a meeting with [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]], [[Jacopo de' Pazzi|Jacopo]], and [[Vieri de' Pazzi]]. Rodrigo left the town just before the [[mercenaries]], led by [[Mario Auditore]] and his nephew Ezio, attacked. Their attack resulted in the death of Vieri de'
Pazzi.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Not long after that, Rodrigo met with Francesco and Jacopo de'Pazzi, Antonio Maffei, [[Bernardo Baroncelli]], [[Stefano da Bagnone]] and [[Francesco Salviati]] in a catacomb under the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Novella]]. As the Pazzi Conspirators confirmed their plan to Rodrigo, he reminded them to beware of the Assassins, and stated that the next day would be ''"a new dawn" ''for Florence<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Ezio thwarted the Templars' attempted takeover in Florence and killed off the remaining conspirators Rodrigo was arranged to meet with in San Gimignano, where the Pazzi originally intended to request asylum with Rodrigo in either Venice or Rome. Jacopo was the only one to arrive at the meeting and claimed that the blame for the failure rested with his nephew, for his impatience, and with [[Emilio Barbarigo]], for supplying the Pazzi troops with sub-standard weaponry. Enraged by Jacopo's sniveling excuses, Rodrigo lectured his subordinate on his failure, then stabbed him in the abdomen, aided by an eager Emilio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him a second time in the neck with his sword, then called out to Ezio who had tailed Jacopo to the meeting. Grabbed by Borgia guards, Ezio was brought into Rodrigo's sight. Sarcastically apologizing for killing Jacopo for him, Rodrigo mocked Ezio, saying that he had been doing this for far longer than the [[novice]] Assassin. He then ordered his men to kill him, and left without bothering to ensure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Venetian Conspiracy===
{{Quote|I feel the need to involve myself more directly. The Pazzi disappointed us in Firenze. I pray you will not do the same.|Rodrigo, about personally attending the meeting.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:BoF 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo on the [[Ponte di Rialto]] with the other Templars.]]

Soon after the Florentine attempt failed, Rodrigo returned his attention to conducting his plans for Venice. In 1485, he met with [[Carlo Grimaldi]] and the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo family]] to plan the murder of the current Doge, [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], in order for them to seize control of Venice. During the meeting, Rodrigo chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inane prattle"'' as they argued over who would be the new Doge after they took Venice. He then silenced their debates by appointing Marco Barbarigo as the next Doge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

During this meeting, Marco questioned Rodrigo's presence in Venice, as Ezio was also there, but Rodrigo only replied that he felt he should see out their plans personally, particularly after the failure of the Pazzi conspiracy. Warning the Venetian tyrants of the Assassin that haunted their city, he then made his departure from Venice to Rome, allowing them to carry out his plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Shipping the Apple of Eden===
{{Quote|You claim not to be a believer. And yet, here you are... Don't you see him? The Prophet is already here... I AM the Prophet. Now give me the Apple.|Rodrigo upon confronting Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Play along 2.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]

By 1486, Rodrigo had found out that the Piece of Eden he sought was [[Ezio's Apple|the Apple]], which was hidden on [[Cyprus]]. He thus sent a battalion of his men to retrieve it. Two years later, the men returned to [[Arsenale di Venezia|L'Arsenale]] with the artifact, and Rodrigo met with the courier who was to deliver it to him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, prior to this, Ezio had intercepted the delivery and had disguised himself as the carrier of the artifact, in order to find and kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo was not surprised, and readied himself to deal with Ezio personally. The two exchanged a brief conversation, in which Rodrigo claimed himself to be the Prophet, who was said to be the only one who could open the fabled [[Vatican Vault|Vault]]. The two then began an intense battle, in which Ezio ultimately emerged as the victor.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Realizing that he could not defeat Ezio on his own, Rodrigo called in a supply of guards to overwhelm him. Suddenly, many of Ezio's allies appeared, all of whom revealed themselves to be Assassins. They held off the guards to allow Ezio to re-challenge Rodrigo, who then escaped from them before Ezio could kill him, leaving the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple]] in the hands of the Assassins.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

That same year, Rodrigo found out that the late [[Girolamo Riario]] had created a map marking where all the [[Codex]] pages could be found, thus he hired the [[House of Orsi|Orsi brothers]] to retrieve it from Riario's city of [[Forlì]]. The Orsi discovered that Riario's wife, [[Caterina Sforza]], also had the Apple, and thus laid [[Battle of Forlì|siege]] to the city and took the artifact by force, planning to present it to Rodrigo for an extra pay-off.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Unfortunately for Rodrigo, Ezio managed to kill both of the Orsi brothers, though the Apple eventually came into the hands of [[Girolamo Savonarola]], a later arch-enemy of Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Deceiving Torquemada===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|Rodrigo Borgia is an unbeliever like me, and yet you lavish him with favors.|Torquemada|Borgia is one of three Papal candidates this year. And he is as devoted to God as I am.|Ezio and Torquemada talking about Rodrigo.|Assassin's Creed II: Discovery}}
In 1491, Rodrigo fooled the Spanish Inquisitor General [[Tomás de Torquemada]] into capturing and killing Assassins in Spain. Tomás, who thought Rodrigo was as much as a believer of God as he was, blindly followed his orders.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref>

At around this time, Rodrigo also found out about [[Christoffa Corombo]]'s plans to sail west; however he, knowing of the presence of the [[wikipedia:Americas|Americas]] and the treasures that lay there, wished to stop anyone from finding it before he could. Thus, Rodrigo arranged a meeting with Christoffa in Venice, and lay a trap for him there.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

However, Christoffa's friend, [[Luis de Santángel]], was suspicious of the arrangement, and called for the aid of his fellow Assassin, Ezio. Ezio rushed to Christoffa's aid, successfully rescuing him from an assassin and thwarted Rodrigo's plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

===Papal Rule===
{{Quote|The Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia, has been elected Pope. He rules the Vatican and Rome as the Supreme Pontiff, Alexander VI! [...] The Conclave of Rome has only just ended - this month. The rumour is that Rodrigo simply bought most of the votes. Even [[Ascanio Sforza]], who was the most likely candidate standing against him, voted for him! Four mule-loads of silver was his bribe, they say.|[[Sister Teodora]] talking about Rodrigo becoming Pope.|Assassin's Creed: Renaissance}}
Rodrigo was elected Pope in 1492, and established his power in Rome. Rodrigo's true intent, however, was simply to get into [[Vatican Vault|the Vault that lay under the Vatican]], where he believed God rested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

In 1494, with the death of Lorenzo de' Medici, and with the power of the Apple he had obtained, Savonarola [[Bonfire of the Vanities|took control]] over Florence. Rodrigo repeatedly sent his men to Florence in the hopes of acquiring the Apple, though all of his attempts failed. In 1498, Savonarola was assassinated by Ezio, causing the Borgia family to fall into a state of chaos upon losing track of the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>
[[File:IBAL 4.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo confronted by Ezio.]]
In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio for yet another assassination attempt. Ezio sneaked into the [[Cappella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], where Rodrigo was holding Mass, and attacked him from above. However, after turning to leave, Ezio witnessed Rodrigo rise from the ground and use his Piece of Eden, [[Staff of Eden|the Papal Staff]], to strike him down, along with everyone else in the room.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Rodrigo was surprised to see that Ezio was able to resist the power of his Staff, as Ezio had brought his own Piece of Eden: the Apple. Ezio then summoned four clones of himself to assist in his battle against Rodrigo, eventually defeating him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Rodrigo knocked Ezio aside with the Staff, and snatched the Apple from his hands. He then combined it with the Staff to open up the door to The Vault, and as Ezio tried to stop him, Rodrigo lifted him into the air with the power of the two combined Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
[[File:IBAL 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo lifting Ezio into the air.]]
As the Assassin hung helpless, Rodrigo stabbed Ezio with a dagger, and left him to die on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. Though injured, Ezio eventually followed Rodrigo to the Vault, and found the Pope furiously pounding upon the door to the inner chambers, which refused to open.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ezio then dropped down into the pit where Rodrigo was, and challenged him to one last fist fight, with no more weapons, plots, or decoys. Rodrigo accepted, and the two had one last duel. During the battle, Rodrigo stated that he had never believed in the Bible or in God, and had only become Pope to gain access to the Staff and the Vault, and to unify Italy under Templar rule. Ezio defeated Rodrigo, holding the Pope at blade-point and telling him he was not the Prophet, and had never been.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Broken by this revelation and accepting defeat, Rodrigo told Ezio to kill him and put an end to it. However, Ezio refused, saying that killing him would not bring back his family. Additionally, the knowledge that he was not the Prophet, as he had believed, was an even sorer blow than anything else that Ezio could have thought of.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

When Rodrigo's son Cesare learned of this, he led a [[Fall of Monteriggioni|siege]] on [[Monteriggioni]], though without Rodrigo's approval, in order to reacquire the Apple of Eden and kill the last of the Assassins. By this time, Rodrigo was reduced to nothing but a figurehead, with Cesare ultimately taking over Rome.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Later life and death===
{{Quote|You risk upsetting the delicate balance of control we have worked so hard to tighten.|Rodrigo talking about the consequences of his son's actions.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:In And Out2.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Cesare talking at the Pagan party.]]

Following his defeat in the Vault, Rodrigo had given up on fighting the Assassin Order and instead chose to preserve the balance of power in Rome he had managed to obtain. However, Cesare was eager to take over all of Italy, a plan that Rodrigo did not approve of. As the Captain General of the Papal armies, however, Cesare held control over Rodrigo's military, and was thus able to carry out his plans without his father's consent.

A string of bad luck followed Rodrigo after the events in the Vault: in June 1500, an iron steeple from the roof of St. Peter's fell a few feet away from where he was walking. The next day, he was in a room in the Vatican that collapsed and killed everyone around him: only a piece of canopy wedged above him saved his life. A few weeks later, he grew ill from fever, and at the end of year, he was charged by a stag during a hunting trip.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

In 1503, at [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]]'s [[Incident at the Pagan Party|pagan party]], Rodrigo spoke to Cesare and reprimanded him, only to have his son brush aside his concerns and remind him of who was ''truly'' in charge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Later that year, Rodrigo had grown heavily displeased with Cesare's ambition and entitlement, believing his son to be out of control. Fearing Cesare would jeopardize his own balance of power, Rodrigo decided that his best option would be to remove Cesare.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>
[[File:Apple.png|thumb|left|250px|Cesare killing his father.]]
To achieve this, he seized the Castel's supply of [[cantarella]] - the same poison that had been used for Doge Mocenigo - and poisoned a few apples for Cesare to unwittingly eat. However, Rodrigo's daughter Lucrezia discovered the presence of the poison, and warned Cesare about it before he could ingest enough to be mortally wounded.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Enraged, Cesare promptly spat out what he had eaten, before shoving the remaining apple down Rodrigo's throat. Rodrigo perished before Ezio arrived to kill him, but Ezio nevertheless gave Rodrigo his final blessing.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==Legacy==
During the 21st Century, members of the Templar inner circle thought of Rodrigo Borgia as a debased tyrant instead of a respected Grand Master. Instead of spreading knowledge to enlighten his fellow man and break down the boundaries that keep men divided, Rodrigo used his power and position as Grand Master to corrupt the Templar purpose into gaining infinite power by any means. True Templar motives are questionable but they intended to serve the greater good; Rodrigo however wanted power for the sake of it and saw total domination over all as his prize. The Borgia's leadership over the Order would later be known as the "Dark Age of the Order."<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

==Personality==
{{quote|It's not approval I'm after. Just power.|Rodrigo, while dueling with Ezio beneath the Vatican vault.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Rodriog Borgia ACII.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rodrigo challenging Ezio in the Vatican vault.]]
Initially an ambitious middle-aged man, Rodrigo was intent, as Cesare later would be, on taking Italy in the name of the Templar Order and exterminating the Assassins. After becoming Pope, his obsession not only with conquering Italy but also of realizing what he believed to be his true calling as the Prophet intensified. He actively sought to take the Apple from Savonarola, as demonstrated when he sent battalions of his family's soldiers to Florence to take it.

After his duel with Ezio in the Vault, and the shattering revelation that he was not the Prophet, Rodrigo was reduced to being an empty shell, and instead of continuing to pursue his dreams of infinite power and the extermination of the Assassin Order, he focused on maintaining his monopoly over Rome.

==Final words==
After Ezio's first assassination attempt.
*'''Ezio:''' ''I thought... I thought I was beyond this. But I'm not. I've waited too long, lost too much...'' Requiescat in pace ''(Rest in peace), you bastard.''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''I don't think so.''

After Ezio's and Rodrigo's confrontation at the Vault.
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''You can't! You can't! It's MY destiny. MINE! I am the Prophet!''
*'''Ezio:''' ''You never were...''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''Get it over with then.''
*'''Ezio''': ...''No. Killing you won't bring my family back... I'm done.'' Nulla è reale, tutto è lecito. Requiescat in pace. ''(Nothing is true, everything is permitted. Rest in peace.)''

==Trivia==
[[File:Blason_famille_it_Borgia01_svg.png|thumb|The [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of the Borgia, which can be seen on Rodrigo's personal guards (who wear black outfits striped with red).]]
*Rodrigo was called "the Spaniard" by the Assassins due to his Spanish origins.
* During some of Rodrigo's appearances, a dim red lighting effect can be seen on Rodrigo's hood and upper body, even though there is no source for this light.
* Historically, Alexander VI (Spaniard) ordered the execution of Savonarola, the mad monk of Florence.
* In all of his appearances throughout the games he is seen wearing either a hood or a cap.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', while Ezio is disguised as a minstrel, he sings a song about Rodrigo before and after he became Pope.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations Novel|Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel]], ''Giovanni briefly mentions Rodrigo in his letter as "the greatest power" Giovanni and Mario would ever know, indicating that Rodrigo became Grand Master in 1458.

;Combat
*As Ezio enters the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Rodrigo, he is proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. Ironically, Borgia later states he does not believe the concept of the Nicene Creed, which confesses the wholeness of the Roman Catholic doctrine.
* It is possible to kill Rodrigo while in the Sistine Chapel if you [[Poison blade|poison]] him. After this, you can wield the Staff of Eden, although you cannot use any of its powers.
* Occasionally, during the fight with Rodrigo in the Sistine Chapel, he can be seen wielding a spear instead of the Staff.
* Although Ezio did not kill Rodrigo, he is listed as dead in the [[Animus]]' Conspirator Web after the player completes the main memories of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and re-enters the Animus.

;Papacy
[[File:Papal_Arms_of_Alexander_VI.svg|thumb|Papal coat of arms of Alexander VI, which can be seen on his [[Papal Guard]].]]
* Rodrigo was the first Pope to be elected from a conclave in the Sistine Chapel.
* In Rodrigo's assassination target video, there is a scene with Rodrigo in his Papal robes standing next to his fellow Templars, who are seated at a table. This is impossible, because by the time Rodrigo became Pope, Ezio had killed all the other Templars present. The Pazzi, the Barbarigo and Carlo Grimaldi, for example, are shown at the table.
* In the assassination target video for the Orsi brothers set in 1488, in the [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|''Battle of Forlì'' DLC]], Rodrigo is again shown in his Papal robes, even though he was elected Pope in 1492.
* Rodrigo appears only a few times in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' and is never aware of Ezio's presence.

;Death
[[File:Rborgia_portrait.jpg|thumb|Rodrigo Borgia's Portrait.]]
* Rodrigo's fate in the novel, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', differs from that shown in ''Assassin's Creed II''. In the game, after Ezio defeated and spared him, Borgia was left alone to come to terms with his misery as Ezio entered the Vault. In the novel, however, when Ezio emerged from the Vault, Borgia committed suicide with poison. His last act was to ask Ezio what he saw in the Vault, to which Ezio replied ''"Nothing. No one,"'' leading Borgia to die believing everything he had done in life was for nothing.
**In the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novelization of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], however, Rodrigo evidently survives this suicide attempt, and Mario Auditore suggested that he had not taken enough poison, or that he had been faking.
* Rodrigo died in 1503 at the age of [[72]].

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center">
Borgia lineage.jpg|Rodrigo Borgia hiding from Giovanni Auditore in Florence.
Rodrigo Borgia V.png|Rodrigo Borgia, before becoming Pope.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgia, Rodrigo}}
[[de:Rodrigo Borgia]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Grand Masters]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]
[[Category:Popes]]

Rodrigo Borgia

2012-04-30T07:28:18Z

121.220.90.31: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|PL|ACB|Renaissance|Bbook|ACL|Ascendance|Templars|Featured}}
{{WP-REAL|Pope Alexander VI}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Quote|He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].|[[Mario Auditore]] to his nephew, Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rodrigo Borgia
|image = char_rodrigo.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Valencia, Crown of Aragon
|death = 18 August 1503 (aged [[72]]) [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' (novel)]] ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{mo}} [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' (novel)]] {{mo}}'' [[Assassin's Creed: Embers]] {{mo}}
|actor = [[Manuel Tadros]]
|voice = [[Manuel Tadros]]}}
'''Rodrigo Borgia''' (1431 – 1503), born '''Roderic Llançol''', later '''Roderic de Borja i Borja''', was a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Cardinals|Cardinal]] and the [[Grand Master|leader]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Renaissance]]. He was the father of [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]], [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], and [[Jofré Borgia]], as well as grandfather to [[Giovanni Borgia]].

Rodrigo was [[Papacy|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503, and was known as '''Alexander VI'''. He was one of the most controversial Popes of the Renaissance, and his surname became synonymous for the corrupt standards of the Papacy in that era.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Roderic Llançol was born at Xàtiva in the Kingdom of Valencia, one of the component states of the Crown of Aragon, present-day Spain. His parents were Jofré Llançol i Escrivá, and his wife and relative Isabel de Borja. His family name is written Llançol in Valencian and Lanzol in Spanish. After the elevation of Roderic's maternal uncle Alonso de Borja to the Papacy as Calixtus III in 1455, Roderic was adopted into his mother's family name of Borja.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI">''[[wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Wikipedia – Pope Alexander VI]]''</ref>

===As a Cardinal===
Rodrigo de Borgia studied law at Bologna, and was successively made bishop, cardinal, and vice-chancellor of the church, all of which were nepotistic appointments characteristic of the age. He served in the Roman Curia under five Popes (his uncle, Pius II, Paul II, [[Sixtus IV]] and Innocent VIII) and acquired much administrative experience, influence, and wealth, though not great power.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI"/>

By the time Rodrigo was under Pope [[Sixtus IV]], he had become the Grand Master of the Templar Order in 1458. In this position, he aspired to unite all of [[Italy]] under the Templar banner. In order to achieve that goal, he made plans to take down the leaders of Italy's main cities, and place his own men in power.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

===Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza===
Rodrigo devised a plan to eliminate [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], the Duke of Milan, in which [[Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani]], [[Carlo Visconti]] and [[Gerolamo Olgiati]] would kill Sforza on the day of Santo Stefano.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

One night in December of 1476, Rodrigo was on his way to leave [[Florence]] accompanied by several of his men. Suddenly, [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]], a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], intercepted him. Rodrigo fled immediately as the Assassin battled his men.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Hidden behind a corner, Rodrigo witnessed Giovanni capture one of his men, who later revealed the planned assassination of Galeazzo Sforza, a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent the assassination, though he arrived too late to do so. Rodrigo's plan had succeeded, thus he began to devise his next scheme.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

===Auditore execution===
[[File:Tadros.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo walking in Rome.]]
Giovanni Auditore learned that Rodrigo's plans would lead him to the city of [[Venice]], after looting a Venetian ducat from Giovanni Lampugnani. Upon traveling there, he intercepted a message from [[Marco Barbarigo|Marco]] and [[Silvio Barbarigo]] to their master, Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

After [[Uberto Alberti]] and [[Antonio Maffei|Father Maffei]] "failed" to decode the intercepted letter, the [[House of Medici|Medici]] and Uberto sent Giovanni to carry a copied version of the message to [[Rome]], in order to discover who was behind the plot. Arriving in the city, Giovanni handed the message to a man, and followed the letter as it passed through several hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo Borgia.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Rodrigo then left to see Pope Sixtus IV, hoping to obtain military support in order to conquer Florence. After gaining Sixtus' favor, Rodrigo headed out of the [[Vaticano District|Vatican]], and into the streets of Rome once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Giovanni was still on Rodrigo's trail, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]. However, he fell into an ambush set by Rodrigo, who had known of the Assassin following him. Rodrigo tried to offer Giovanni a position among the Templars, but the Assassin refused, stating that Rodrigo would be dead before he could see the Templars' fantasy become reality.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Disappointed, Rodrigo had his men attack Giovanni, but the Assassin routed all of them. Rodrigo, who had been watching from the sidelines, threw a [[Throwing knives|knife]] at Giovanni, which hit him in the chest. Rodrigo then took the chance to flee the Basilica. Afterwards, he discussed the next step in his plan with his Templar brothers, and all agreed that they had to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>
[[File:LMS_10_v.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo giving orders to Uberto at the Auditore execution.]]
In order to get rid of Giovanni, Rodrigo conspired with Uberto Alberti and the [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]]. After careful planning, the Templars were able to frame Giovanni for the crimes of treason, and had him and two of his sons arrested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

The night before the trial of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], Rodrigo was at Uberto's house. [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], Giovanni's remaining son, came by to give Uberto his father's letters that would prove him innocent. Ezio noticed Rodrigo behind Uberto, but paid no further attention to him. The following morning, Rodrigo attended the judgment and execution of Giovanni, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio Auditore]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Pazzi Conspiracy===
{{Quote|Gentlemen. Tomorrow, a new sun rises over Firenze.|Rodrigo encouraging the Pazzi Conspirators.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Burgerking.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo discussing the Pazzi Conspiracy.]]

In 1478, Rodrigo conspired to take down the leader of Florence, Lorenzo de' Medici, and his brother [[Giuliano de' Medici|Giuliano]]. Thus, Rodrigo left for [[San Gimignano]], where he held a meeting with [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]], [[Jacopo de' Pazzi|Jacopo]], and [[Vieri de' Pazzi]]. Rodrigo left the town just before the [[mercenaries]], led by [[Mario Auditore]] and his nephew Ezio, attacked. Their attack resulted in the death of Vieri de'
Pazzi.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Not long after that, Rodrigo met with Francesco and Jacopo de'Pazzi, Antonio Maffei, [[Bernardo Baroncelli]], [[Stefano da Bagnone]] and [[Francesco Salviati]] in a catacomb under the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Novella]]. As the Pazzi Conspirators confirmed their plan to Rodrigo, he reminded them to beware of the Assassins, and stated that the next day would be ''"a new dawn" ''for Florence<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Ezio thwarted the Templars' attempted takeover in Florence and killed off the remaining conspirators Rodrigo was arranged to meet with in San Gimignano, where the Pazzi originally intended to request asylum with Rodrigo in either Venice or Rome. Jacopo was the only one to arrive at the meeting and claimed that the blame for the failure rested with his nephew, for his impatience, and with [[Emilio Barbarigo]], for supplying the Pazzi troops with sub-standard weaponry. Enraged by Jacopo's sniveling excuses, Rodrigo lectured his subordinate on his failure, then stabbed him in the abdomen, aided by an eager Emilio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him a second time in the neck with his sword, then called out to Ezio who had tailed Jacopo to the meeting. Grabbed by Borgia guards, Ezio was brought into Rodrigo's sight. Sarcastically apologizing for killing Jacopo for him, Rodrigo mocked Ezio, saying that he had been doing this for far longer than the [[novice]] Assassin. He then ordered his men to kill him, and left without bothering to ensure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Venetian Conspiracy===
{{Quote|I feel the need to involve myself more directly. The Pazzi disappointed us in Firenze. I pray you will not do the same.|Rodrigo, about personally attending the meeting.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:BoF 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo on the [[Ponte di Rialto]] with the other Templars.]]

Soon after the Florentine attempt failed, Rodrigo returned his attention to conducting his plans for Venice. In 1485, he met with [[Carlo Grimaldi]] and the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo family]] to plan the murder of the current Doge, [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], in order for them to seize control of Venice. During the meeting, Rodrigo chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inane prattle"'' as they argued over who would be the new Doge after they took Venice. He then silenced their debates by appointing Marco Barbarigo as the next Doge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

During this meeting, Marco questioned Rodrigo's presence in Venice, as Ezio was also there, but Rodrigo only replied that he felt he should see out their plans personally, particularly after the failure of the Pazzi conspiracy. Warning the Venetian tyrants of the Assassin that haunted their city, he then made his departure from Venice to Rome, allowing them to carry out his plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Shipping the Apple of Eden===
{{Quote|You claim not to be a believer. And yet, here you are... Don't you see him? The Prophet is already here... I AM the Prophet. Now give me the Apple.|Rodrigo upon confronting Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Play along 2.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]

By 1486, Rodrigo had found out that the Piece of Eden he sought was [[Ezio's Apple|the Apple]], which was hidden on [[Cyprus]]. He thus sent a battalion of his men to retrieve it. Two years later, the men returned to [[Arsenale di Venezia|L'Arsenale]] with the artifact, and Rodrigo met with the courier who was to deliver it to him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, prior to this, Ezio had intercepted the delivery and had disguised himself as the carrier of the artifact, in order to find and kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo was not surprised, and readied himself to deal with Ezio personally. The two exchanged a brief conversation, in which Rodrigo claimed himself to be the Prophet, who was said to be the only one who could open the fabled [[Vatican Vault|Vault]]. The two then began an intense battle, in which Ezio ultimately emerged as the victor.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Realizing that he could not defeat Ezio on his own, Rodrigo called in a supply of guards to overwhelm him. Suddenly, many of Ezio's allies appeared, all of whom revealed themselves to be Assassins. They held off the guards to allow Ezio to re-challenge Rodrigo, who then escaped from them before Ezio could kill him, leaving the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple]] in the hands of the Assassins.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

That same year, Rodrigo found out that the late [[Girolamo Riario]] had created a map marking where all the [[Codex]] pages could be found, thus he hired the [[House of Orsi|Orsi brothers]] to retrieve it from Riario's city of [[Forlì]]. The Orsi discovered that Riario's wife, [[Caterina Sforza]], also had the Apple, and thus laid [[Battle of Forlì|siege]] to the city and took the artifact by force, planning to present it to Rodrigo for an extra pay-off.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Unfortunately for Rodrigo, Ezio managed to kill both of the Orsi brothers, though the Apple eventually came into the hands of [[Girolamo Savonarola]], a later arch-enemy of Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Deceiving Torquemada===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|Rodrigo Borgia is an unbeliever like me, and yet you lavish him with favors.|Torquemada|Borgia is one of three Papal candidates this year. And he is as devoted to God as I am.|Ezio and Torquemada talking about Rodrigo.|Assassin's Creed II: Discovery}}
In 1491, Rodrigo fooled the Spanish Inquisitor General [[Tomás de Torquemada]] into capturing and killing Assassins in Spain. Tomás, who thought Rodrigo was as much as a believer of God as he was, blindly followed his orders.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref>

At around this time, Rodrigo also found out about [[Christoffa Corombo]]'s plans to sail west; however he, knowing of the presence of the [[wikipedia:Americas|Americas]] and the treasures that lay there, wished to stop anyone from finding it before he could. Thus, Rodrigo arranged a meeting with Christoffa in Venice, and lay a trap for him there.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

However, Christoffa's friend, [[Luis de Santángel]], was suspicious of the arrangement, and called for the aid of his fellow Assassin, Ezio. Ezio rushed to Christoffa's aid, successfully rescuing him from an assassin and thwarted Rodrigo's plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

===Papal Rule===
{{Quote|The Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia, has been elected Pope. He rules the Vatican and Rome as the Supreme Pontiff, Alexander VI! [...] The Conclave of Rome has only just ended - this month. The rumour is that Rodrigo simply bought most of the votes. Even [[Ascanio Sforza]], who was the most likely candidate standing against him, voted for him! Four mule-loads of silver was his bribe, they say.|[[Sister Teodora]] talking about Rodrigo becoming Pope.|Assassin's Creed: Renaissance}}
Rodrigo was elected Pope in 1492, and established his power in Rome. Rodrigo's true intent, however, was simply to get into [[Vatican Vault|the Vault that lay under the Vatican]], where he believed God rested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

In 1494, with the death of Lorenzo de' Medici, and with the power of the Apple he had obtained, Savonarola [[Bonfire of the Vanities|took control]] over Florence. Rodrigo repeatedly sent his men to Florence in the hopes of acquiring the Apple, though all of his attempts failed. In 1498, Savonarola was assassinated by Ezio, causing the Borgia family to fall into a state of chaos upon losing track of the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>
[[File:IBAL 4.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo confronted by Ezio.]]
In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio for yet another assassination attempt. Ezio sneaked into the [[Cappella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], where Rodrigo was holding Mass, and attacked him from above. However, after turning to leave, Ezio witnessed Rodrigo rise from the ground and use his Piece of Eden, [[Staff of Eden|the Papal Staff]], to strike him down, along with everyone else in the room.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Rodrigo was surprised to see that Ezio was able to resist the power of his Staff, as Ezio had brought his own Piece of Eden: the Apple. Ezio then summoned four clones of himself to assist in his battle against Rodrigo, eventually defeating him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Rodrigo knocked Ezio aside with the Staff, and snatched the Apple from his hands. He then combined it with the Staff to open up the door to The Vault, and as Ezio tried to stop him, Rodrigo lifted him into the air with the power of the two combined Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
[[File:IBAL 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo lifting Ezio into the air.]]
As the Assassin hung helpless, Rodrigo stabbed Ezio with a dagger, and left him to die on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. Though injured, Ezio eventually followed Rodrigo to the Vault, and found the Pope furiously pounding upon the door to the inner chambers, which refused to open.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ezio then dropped down into the pit where Rodrigo was, and challenged him to one last fist fight, with no more weapons, plots, or decoys. Rodrigo accepted, and the two had one last duel. During the battle, Rodrigo stated that he had never believed in the Bible or in God, and had only become Pope to gain access to the Staff and the Vault, and to unify Italy under Templar rule. Ezio defeated Rodrigo, holding the Pope at blade-point and telling him he was not the Prophet, and had never been.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Broken by this revelation and accepting defeat, Rodrigo told Ezio to kill him and put an end to it. However, Ezio refused, saying that killing him would not bring back his family. Additionally, the knowledge that he was not the Prophet, as he had believed, was an even sorer blow than anything else that Ezio could have thought of.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

When Rodrigo's son Cesare learned of this, he led a [[Fall of Monteriggioni|siege]] on [[Monteriggioni]], though without Rodrigo's approval, in order to reacquire the Apple of Eden and kill the last of the Assassins. By this time, Rodrigo was reduced to nothing but a figurehead, with Cesare ultimately taking over Rome.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Later life and death===
{{Quote|You risk upsetting the delicate balance of control we have worked so hard to tighten.|Rodrigo talking about the consequences of his son's actions.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:In And Out2.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Cesare talking at the Pagan party.]]

Following his defeat in the Vault, Rodrigo had given up on fighting the Assassin Order and instead chose to preserve the balance of power in Rome he had managed to obtain. However, Cesare was eager to take over all of Italy, a plan that Rodrigo did not approve of. As the Captain General of the Papal armies, however, Cesare held control over Rodrigo's military, and was thus able to carry out his plans without his father's consent.

A string of bad luck followed Rodrigo after the events in the Vault: in June 1500, an iron steeple from the roof of St. Peter's fell a few feet away from where he was walking. The next day, he was in a room in the Vatican that collapsed and killed everyone around him: only a piece of canopy wedged above him saved his life. A few weeks later, he grew ill from fever, and at the end of year, he was charged by a stag during a hunting trip.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

In 1503, at [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]]'s [[Incident at the Pagan Party|pagan party]], Rodrigo spoke to Cesare and reprimanded him, only to have his son brush aside his concerns and remind him of who was ''truly'' in charge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Later that year, Rodrigo had grown heavily displeased with Cesare's ambition and entitlement, believing his son to be out of control. Fearing Cesare would jeopardize his own balance of power, Rodrigo decided that his best option would be to remove Cesare.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>
[[File:Apple.png|thumb|left|250px|Cesare killing his father.]]
To achieve this, he seized the Castel's supply of [[cantarella]] - the same poison that had been used for Doge Mocenigo - and poisoned a few apples for Cesare to unwittingly eat. However, Rodrigo's daughter Lucrezia discovered the presence of the poison, and warned Cesare about it before he could ingest enough to be mortally wounded.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Enraged, Cesare promptly spat out what he had eaten, before shoving the remaining apple down Rodrigo's throat. Rodrigo perished before Ezio arrived to kill him, but Ezio nevertheless gave Rodrigo his final blessing.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==Legacy==
During the 21st Century, members of the Templar inner circle thought of Rodrigo Borgia as a debased tyrant instead of a respected Grand Master. Instead of spreading knowledge to enlighten his fellow man and break down the boundaries that keep men divided, Rodrigo used his power and position as Grand Master to corrupt the Templar purpose into gaining infinite power by any means. True Templar motives are questionable but they intended to serve the greater good; Rodrigo however wanted power for the sake of it and saw total domination over all as his prize. The Borgia's leadership over the Order would later be known as the "Dark Age of the Order."<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

==Personality==
{{quote|It's not approval I'm after. Just power.|Rodrigo, while dueling with Ezio beneath the Vatican vault.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Rodriog Borgia ACII.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rodrigo challenging Ezio in the Vatican vault.]]
Initially an ambitious middle-aged man, Rodrigo was intent, as Cesare later would be, on taking Italy in the name of the Templar Order and exterminating the Assassins. After becoming Pope, his obsession not only with conquering Italy but also of realizing what he believed to be his true calling as the Prophet intensified. He actively sought to take the Apple from Savonarola, as demonstrated when he sent battalions of his family's soldiers to Florence to take it.

After his duel with Ezio in the Vault, and the shattering revelation that he was not the Prophet, Rodrigo was reduced to being an empty shell, and instead of continuing to pursue his dreams of infinite power and the extermination of the Assassin Order, he focused on maintaining his monopoly over Rome.

==Final words==
After Ezio's first assassination attempt.
*'''Ezio:''' ''I thought... I thought I was beyond this. But I'm not. I've waited too long, lost too much...'' Requiescat in pace ''(Rest in peace), you bastard.''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''I don't think so.''

After Ezio's and Rodrigo's confrontation at the Vault.
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''You can't! You can't! It's MY destiny. MINE! I am the Prophet!''
*'''Ezio:''' ''You never were...''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''Get it over with then.''
*'''Ezio''': ...''No. Killing you won't bring my family back... I'm done.'' Nulla è reale, tutto è lecito. Requiescat in pace. ''(Nothing is true, everything is permitted. Rest in peace.)''

==Trivia==
[[File:Blason_famille_it_Borgia01_svg.png|thumb|The [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of the Borgia, which can be seen on Rodrigo's personal guards (who wear black outfits striped with red).]]
*Rodrigo was called "the Spaniard" by the Assassins due to his Spanish origins.
* During some of Rodrigo's appearances, a dim red lighting effect can be seen on Rodrigo's hood and upper body, even though there is no source for this light.
* Historically, Alexander VI (Spaniard) ordered the execution of Savonarola, the mad monk of Florence.
* In all of his appearances throughout the games he is seen wearing either a hood or a cap.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', while Ezio is disguised as a minstrel, he sings a song about Rodrigo before and after he became Pope.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations Novel|Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel]], ''Giovanni briefly mentions Rodrigo in his letter as "the greatest power" Giovanni and Mario would ever know.

;Combat
*As Ezio enters the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Rodrigo, he is proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. Ironically, Borgia later states he does not believe the concept of the Nicene Creed, which confesses the wholeness of the Roman Catholic doctrine.
* It is possible to kill Rodrigo while in the Sistine Chapel if you [[Poison blade|poison]] him. After this, you can wield the Staff of Eden, although you cannot use any of its powers.
* Occasionally, during the fight with Rodrigo in the Sistine Chapel, he can be seen wielding a spear instead of the Staff.
* Although Ezio did not kill Rodrigo, he is listed as dead in the [[Animus]]' Conspirator Web after the player completes the main memories of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and re-enters the Animus.

;Papacy
[[File:Papal_Arms_of_Alexander_VI.svg|thumb|Papal coat of arms of Alexander VI, which can be seen on his [[Papal Guard]].]]
* Rodrigo was the first Pope to be elected from a conclave in the Sistine Chapel.
* In Rodrigo's assassination target video, there is a scene with Rodrigo in his Papal robes standing next to his fellow Templars, who are seated at a table. This is impossible, because by the time Rodrigo became Pope, Ezio had killed all the other Templars present. The Pazzi, the Barbarigo and Carlo Grimaldi, for example, are shown at the table.
* In the assassination target video for the Orsi brothers set in 1488, in the [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|''Battle of Forlì'' DLC]], Rodrigo is again shown in his Papal robes, even though he was elected Pope in 1492.
* Rodrigo appears only a few times in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' and is never aware of Ezio's presence.

;Death
[[File:Rborgia_portrait.jpg|thumb|Rodrigo Borgia's Portrait.]]
* Rodrigo's fate in the novel, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', differs from that shown in ''Assassin's Creed II''. In the game, after Ezio defeated and spared him, Borgia was left alone to come to terms with his misery as Ezio entered the Vault. In the novel, however, when Ezio emerged from the Vault, Borgia committed suicide with poison. His last act was to ask Ezio what he saw in the Vault, to which Ezio replied ''"Nothing. No one,"'' leading Borgia to die believing everything he had done in life was for nothing.
**In the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novelization of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], however, Rodrigo evidently survives this suicide attempt, and Mario Auditore suggested that he had not taken enough poison, or that he had been faking.
* Rodrigo died in 1503 at the age of [[72]].

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center">
Borgia lineage.jpg|Rodrigo Borgia hiding from Giovanni Auditore in Florence.
Rodrigo Borgia V.png|Rodrigo Borgia, before becoming Pope.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgia, Rodrigo}}
[[de:Rodrigo Borgia]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Grand Masters]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]
[[Category:Popes]]

Petruccio Auditore da Firenze

2012-04-30T07:22:12Z

121.220.90.31: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|Renaissance|ACL}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Petruccio Auditore da Firenze
|image = Zw-petruccioauditore.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1463 [[Florence]], [[Italy]]
|death = 1476 (aged 13) Florence, Italy
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Auditore|Auditore]] [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' {{fb}}
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|actor = Connor Nikides Kokolakis}}

'''Petruccio Auditore da Firenze''' (1463 – 1476) was born into the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], as the son of [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|Maria]] and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]]. He was the youngest of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore]] children, and brother to [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] and [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|Claudia]].

Petruccio was destined to be trained as an Assassin upon coming of age, but never received the opportunity, or even discovered his family heritage. He was [[Auditore execution|executed]] in 1476 as an alleged accomplice to his father, who was falsely accused of treason.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Petruccio Auditore was a young [[Florence|Florentine]] nobleman living during the late 15th century. His father Giovanni was a banker, but was also in secret an Assassin, who planned to prepare Petruccio and his brothers for their future in the Order.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

However, Petruccio was born sickly. His constant illness forced his parents to take him out of school, and keep him bed-ridden for most of his life.<ref name="AC2" />

===Death and legacy===
In 1476, Petruccio asked his brother, Ezio, to retrieve [[feather]]s for him, the reason for which he kept a secret. Ezio agreed, but only if his younger brother returned to bed afterwards.<ref name="AC2" />

The next day, Petruccio was arrested alongside his father and brother on a false charge of treason against the ruling [[House of Medici|Medici family]]; he was publicly executed the day after.<ref name="AC2" />

That same night, he, Federico and Giovanni were given a proper burial by Ezio.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Cristina Memories]]</ref>

==Trivia==
*When viewing [[Uberto Alberti]]'s database video, Petruccio can be seen hanging from the gallows on the left-hand side, wearing different clothes.
*Throughout the entire game, it is never hinted why Petruccio actually needed the feathers. But in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', it is suggested that he was collecting them as a gift for his mother.
*Besides [[Caterina Sforza]]'s children in the ''[[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Battle of Forlì]]'' [[DLC]], Petruccio is the only non-adult to feature in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' (apart from the brief memory of Ezio as a baby).
*Petruccio is briefly mentioned in ''[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Revelations Revelations]'' and the ''[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Novel Novel]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180">
Petruccio's secret v (1).png|Ezio giving Petruccio eagle feathers.
Petruccio's secret v (2).png|Petruccio with Ezio.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auditore, Petruccio}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]

Federico Auditore da Firenze

2012-04-30T07:21:00Z

121.220.90.31: /* Trivia */

{{Era|ACL|AC2|ACB|Renaissance|Assassins}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{Quote|It is a good life we lead, brother.|Federico to Ezio atop [[Santa Trinita]], 1476.|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Federico Auditore da Firenze
|image = Federico Auditore.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1456
|death = 1476 (aged 20) [[Florence]], [[Italy]]
|faction = [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]] [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]] {{fb}}
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|actor = [[Jesse Rath]]
|voice = [[Elias Toufexis]]}}
'''Federico Auditore da Firenze''' (1456 – 1476) was a [[Florence|Florentine]] noble and a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], trained into the Brotherhood by his father.

Federico was the eldest son of [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] and [[Maria Auditore da Firenze]], as well as the elder brother of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]], [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|Claudia]], and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]]. He was also the nephew of [[Mario Auditore]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Federico lived a comfortable life with his family in the [[Palazzo Auditore]] of Florence, and was originally schooled to become a banker in a [[House of Medici|Medici]] bank. However, he was a notorious slacker, and once hid a sack of the bank's money on the roof of the building as a joke. Being an [[House of Auditore|Auditore]], he was merely removed from the payroll and saved from harsher consequences.<ref name="Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref><ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

As the eldest child of the Auditore, Federico took defending his family quite seriously. When [[Antonio Maffei]] arrived up at their palazzo in an attempt to capture Giovanni for the first time, Giovanni, having not yet recovered from his recent skirmish, elected to escape. He instructed Federico to buy him time, telling him to defend the family at all costs.<ref name="Lineage"/>

Federico succeeded in delaying the [[guards]] long enough for Giovanni to leave, telling them that his father was not home. After the men barged into the house and discovered it empty of all but Federico and his mother, Federico kicked them out, and told them to never doubt an Auditore again.<ref name="Lineage"/>

===Betrayal and death===
{{Quote|I've come to see if baby brother has finally learned how to fight.|Federico arriving at the brawl on the Ponte Vecchio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
In 1476, as Ezio was fighting against [[Vieri de' Pazzi]], a member of a [[House of Pazzi|rival noble family]], Federico showed up to help his brother. He proved to be an excellent fighter, and after they won the brawl, Federico instructed Ezio to loot money from the defeated enemies.<ref name="AC2"/>

After Ezio did so, Federico then directed him to a [[Doctors|doctor]] to have his injuries treated. Once Ezio had been serviced by the doctor, the two then had a race and climbed to the top of a nearby church to take in the sights of Florence.<ref name="AC2"/>

The following morning, Federico lounged about at home while Ezio ran errands for their family, whereby Ezio teased him for his inactivity. However, later that day, Federico was beaten and captured by the city guards, along with his father and younger brother Petruccio.<ref name="AC2"/>

Federico was held prisoner overnight, while Ezio frantically attempted to secure the release of his family. The next morning, Federico was [[Auditore execution|hanged]] alongside his father and brother, the victims of a [[Pazzi conspiracy|Templar conspiracy]] orchestrated by the Pazzi.<ref name="AC2"/>

Years later, [[Rodrigo Borgia]] informed Ezio that there had been no need to kill Federico or Petruccio, but that he had only executed them to establish a point.<ref name="AC2"/>

==Characteristics and personality==
{{Dialogue|Federico|You must help him! That pretty face is his only asset!|Ezio|Fottiti! (Go fuck yourself!)|Federico to a doctor, teasing Ezio about his injuries.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Second Chance 1.png|thumb|left|250px|Federico speaking to his brother.]]
Federico was a witty, sharp, and joking individual who liked to tease Ezio, but refused to tolerate it if someone else harmed him. He started his training as an Assassin with his father before Ezio, and passed on much of his learnings of combat and [[freerunning]] to his younger brother.<ref name="AC2"/>

Ezio also likely inherited his womanizing habits from Federico, who once encouraged his brother to talk to a passing attractive girl, [[Cristina Vespucci]]. He offered his younger brother advice on how to charm her, and after Ezio had only managed to embarrass himself, Federico laughed and reassured him that, since he had gotten a smile out of her, she would remember him.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Trivia==
*Federico strongly resembles [[wikipedia:Francesco_I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Francesco I de' Medici]] in his late teenage years, both in attire and facial properties.
*In-game, when the Auditore are about to be executed, Federico is on the left-hand side and wearing his usual clothes. However, in the [[Uberto Alberti]] database video, Federico is in the middle, and is wearing differently colored clothes.
*Federico makes a brief appearance in the first [[Cristina Memories|Cristina Memory]] of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', and his corpse can be seen in the second memory.
*Federico is briefly mentioned in ''[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Revelations Revelations]'' and the ''[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Novel Novel]''.

==Gallery==

<center><gallery captionalign="center">
Federicochess.png|Federico playing chess with Ezio.
Maffei Lineage 4.png|Federico threatened by Antonio and his men.
Zw-federicoauditore.png|Federico's database image.
</gallery></center>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auditore, Federico}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassins]]

Giovanni Auditore da Firenze

2012-04-30T07:19:27Z

121.220.90.31: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|PL|Renaissance|ACL|Assassins|Featured}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{Quote|I am Giovanni Auditore, and like my ancestors before me, I am an Assassin.|Giovanni Auditore.|Assassin’s Creed: Lineage}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Giovanni Auditore da Firenze
|image = Zw-giovanniauditore.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1436<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> [[Monteriggioni]], [[Italy]]
|death = December 1476 (aged 40)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> [[Florence]], Italy
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Auditore]] [[Assassins]] [[House of Medici]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' {{fb}}
|actor = [[Romano Orzari]]
|voice = [[Romano Orzari]]}}

'''Giovanni Auditore da Firenze''' (1436 – 1476) was a [[Florence|Florentine]] nobleman, and head of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]] in Florence. A banker working for the [[House of Medici|Medici family]], Giovanni's true nature as an [[Assassins|Assassin]] was known only to a few. Raised and trained along with his brother [[Mario Auditore|Mario]] from birth to be an Assassin, Giovanni had been aware of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] for almost all of his life.

Giovanni was also the husband of [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|Maria Auditore]], and father to [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]], [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|Claudia]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]]. He sought to induct his children into the Order, but had only revealed his allegiance to his wife by the time of his death; despite this, he had already begun to train his eldest son in the Assassin ways, albeit secretively.

==Biography==
===Early years===
{{quote|Tu sei un Auditore. Sei un combattente. Perciò combatti! (You are an Auditore. You are a fighter. So fight!)|Giovanni speaking to Ezio at his birth.|Assassin's Creed II}}
The second son, or grandson, of [[Ilario Auditore]], Giovanni was born in [[Monteriggioni]], in 1436, two years after his elder brother Mario. From an early age, both Giovanni and his brother were taught the [[The Creed|ways of the Assassins]], although Giovanni was also tutored in banking and other subjects as well.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

With time, Giovanni left the [[Villa Auditore|family Villa]] and joined Ilario in Florence, where he was serving as Gonfaloniere to Cosimo de' Medici. In 1452, Giovanni met and married Maria de' Mozzi, to whom he revealed himself to be an Assassin. After four years, their first son Federico was born, followed by Ezio in 1459, Claudia in 1461, and Petruccio in 1463.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Sometime in 1454, Giovanni also aided the members of his Brotherhood in dealing with [[the Shroud]]. After Mario uncovered the artifact under Monteriggioni, he summoned his brother to bring it out of the city, and into the protection of the Order.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

Giovanni also eventually revealed to [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], his patron, his true nature as an Assassin, and undertook several missions for him behind the back of his own children. In 1476, Giovanni tracked down [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Templars]], in a Florentine alleyway.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

Although Giovanni managed to eliminate two of his bodyguards, and incapacitate the third, Rodrigo escaped. The Assassin handed the third guard over to [[Uberto Alberti]], the Gonfaloniere of justice, for questioning.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage" />

===Pursuing Rodrigo Borgia===
[[File:Giovanniassassin.png|thumb|left|220px|Giovanni in his Assassin garb.]]
Through torture, the bodyguard revealed that [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], the Duke of [[Milan]] was to be assassinated by the Templars, and Giovanni was quickly sent to prevent this. Though he arrived too late to save the Duke, Giovanni was able to eliminate some of his murderers whilst the Duke’s bodyguards killed the rest. With all the assassins dead, Giovanni searched the corpse of [[Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani]], and found a pouch of coins stamped with the seal of [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Arriving in Venice, Giovanni infiltrated the [[Basilica di San Marco]], and eavesdropped on a group of men conversing in a nearby room. [[Marco Barbarigo|The]] [[Silvio Barbarigo|two]] men then dispatched a courier, with a message for their master in [[Rome]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Giovanni chose to pursue the courier, before finally confronting him in a secluded area. After a lengthy battle, he overpowered and pinned down the courier, his [[hidden blade]] to the man’s throat. Refusing to answer his questions, the courier impaled himself on the blade, leaving Giovanni frustrated, albeit with a letter sealed with the crest of the [[House of Barbarigo]]. Returning to Florence, Giovanni presented the letter to Lorenzo de' Medici, although they found that it was encoded.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

That night, Giovanni was summoned to meet with Lorenzo and Uberto. Before leaving, Maria reminded her husband that their son, Ezio, who was watching them from behind a nearby haystack, was becoming suspicious of his banker father having to leave the [[Palazzo Auditore|Palazzo]] at night so often. Giovanni promised that he would speak with him soon, and then left.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Arriving at the meeting, Uberto falsely claimed that Father [[Antonio Maffei]] had been unable to decrypt the letter, thus, the only course of action was for Giovanni to deliver the letter himself. Giovanni agreed, and headed for Rome with a copy of the letter in hand.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

[[File:Giovanni's fight.jpg|thumb|280px|Giovanni defending himself from the ambush.]]
In Rome, he delivered the letter, and followed it until it reached the hands of Rodrigo Borgia. Giovanni followed Rodrigo into [[Basilica di San Pietro]], where the two finally exchanged words. Rodrigo remarked his respect for the Assassin's skills, and offered him the chance to join the Templar Order, and live to see the "[[New World Order|new world]]."<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Giovanni refused, and was subsequently attacked by a number of Rodrigo's henchmen. Despite being heavily outnumbered, he prevailed, although a [[Throwing knives|knife thrown]] by Rodrigo wounded him gravely, and allowed the Templar the opportunity to escape.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Returning home, Giovanni had his wife tend his wound, and confessed that he feared the assassination of the Duke of Milan had only been the beginning of a much wider conspiracy. Before he could go on however, the two were interrupted by their son Federico, who warned that Father Maffei had arrived with armed guards. Asking his son to provide him cover, Giovanni slipped out of the palazzo through a secret passage within the fireplace.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

===Betrayal and execution===
{{Quote|You are the traitor, [[Uberto Alberti|Uberto]] - and one of them! You may take our lives this day, but we will have yours in return, I swear! We will-|Giovanni's final words.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:LMS 1 v.png|thumb|left|250px|Giovanni and his sons at the execution.]]
At some point after this, Giovanni found evidence suggesting [[Francesco de' Pazzi]] had committed murder, and he thus had Uberto Alberti arrest him. As a result, Francesco's son [[Vieri de' Pazzi|Vieri]] developed an intense rivalry with Ezio Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Following a brawl the two had on the [[Ponte Vecchio]], Giovanni scolded his son for his behavior, although he noted that it reminded him of himself when he was younger. He then tasked Ezio with delivering a letter to Lorenzo, but was surprised to learn that Lorenzo had left the city for a short while. Undeterred, Giovanni had Ezio deliver several more letters, as well as pick up a letter from a [[Pigeon coops|pigeon coop]] near the [[Piazza della Signoria]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Whilst his son was away, however, armed guards sent by Uberto suddenly invaded the Palazzo Auditore and arrested Giovanni and his two other sons, taking them to be imprisoned in the tower of the Piazza della Signoria. Before long, Ezio had managed to climb the clock tower, where Giovanni told his son to empty his chest in the room behind the fireplace, and retrieve the evidence exonerating him and his family. Ezio did so, and delivered the evidence to Uberto that night.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

The next day however, Giovanni was shocked to find Uberto and Rodrigo Borgia together, with Uberto denying ever receiving any evidence. Giovanni and his sons were then [[Auditore execution|sentenced to death]] on the grounds of treason. A horrified Ezio, watching from below, cried out that Uberto was lying, but was unable to prevent his father's hanging.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Hours later, Giovanni's corpse was to be disposed of in the Arno, though Ezio was able to retrieve his, Federico's and Petruccio's bodies, and give them a [[Last Rites (Brotherhood)|proper funeral]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Legacy==
{{quote|My dear sons, dark skies are rising over Florence and time is running low. The enemy is closer than I thought. Now, the final battle is about to unfold. Every man is mortal, every life bounds to an end but certain things will never change. Federico and Ezio, my sons, always remember: WE are the Auditore da Firenze and WE are Assassins.|Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Assassin's Creed: Lineage}}

Despite his death, Giovanni's actions would have lasting consequences for his surviving son: Ezio Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Having prepared for a turn of events similar to what ultimately happened, Giovanni had arranged for his live-in servant [[Annetta]] to take his wife and daughter to her sister's establishment, where they would be safe. There, Annetta's sister [[Paola]], a [[courtesan]] Giovanni had previously represented in court, and introduced into the Assassin's Order, provided Ezio with some basic training in blending, and gave him the skills necessary to execute his revenge on Uberto Alberti before he left the city.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

When Ezio arrived in [[Monteriggioni]], his uncle Mario was shocked to discover that his brother had never told Ezio of his Assassin heritage, or that Giovanni himself had indeed been an Assassin. Despite this, Ezio soon vowed to take up his fathers work, which included locating what remained of the [[Codex]], and to avenge his death with the blood of Rodrigo Borgia and his Templar allies.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

In 1510, Ezio discovered a letter by Giovanni written in 1458, referencing [[Altaïr's library]], setting in motion his [[search for knowledge]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|There will come a day in which men no longer cheat each other. And on that day we will see what mankind is truly capable of.|Giovanni Auditore.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:Giovanniac2ingame.jpg|thumb|200px|Giovanni behind his desk, talking to Ezio.]]
Giovanni was trained from birth in the Assassin ways, alongside his brother Mario. Despite this mutual upbringing, the two parted ways later in life due to a philosophical divide over how to live their lives. Giovanni, who had been tutored in banking, preferred to live a calmer life, whereas Mario wished to live a life with more action. This divide eventually led to the two brothers losing touch with one another; to such a degree that upon his arrival in Monteriggioni in 1476, Ezio Auditore was unaware who exactly his uncle was.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

The divide also affected how Giovanni brought up his children, with none of them explicitly knowing of their heritage; however, although his children were unaware of his true nature, Giovanni did allow others to know of it, trusting in their secrecy. Among these were many of Giovanni's contacts within the [[mercenaries]], [[courtesans]] and [[thieves]] guilds, who knew the Assassin by name, suggesting a certain degree of mutual-trust between them.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Despite never telling his children of their heritage, Giovanni did work to prepare them for life as an Assassin. By the time of his death, he had already begun preparing his eldest son, Federico, in the Assassin ways, and was preparing to begin training Ezio as well. A strict father, Giovanni nonetheless showed great affection for his children, and saw a younger version of himself in their antics at times.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Giovanni was a skilled warrior, and proved able to hold his own against a number of opponents in combat with relative ease, armed only with a sword and his hidden blade. He was also a competent [[Free Running|free runner]], much like his sons, and would often use the skill when shadowing a target.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

==Trivia==
*Giovanni knew about Ezio's [[Eagle Vision]], although it is unknown if he too possessed the skill.
*Giovanni leaves his Assassin outfit behind for Ezio to find; however, in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'', it lacks the characteristic eagle's beak on the hood, as well as several other details.
*The [[sword]] Giovanni left behind for Ezio is the common sword, but in the cutscene where Giovanni is killed, it is replaced by an old [[Syrian sword]].
*Giovanni died at the age of forty, the same age Ezio turned when he confronted Rodrigo Borgia in Rome.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', Giovanni is the last member of the Auditore family to be hanged. He calls Uberto a traitor and that their deaths will be avenged, among other things, before walking towards the gallows and meeting his fate. In ''Assassin's Creed II'', he is killed before he can finish his sentence.
*The hidden blade bracer Giovanni used and passed on to Ezio was replaced in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' after the [[Fall of Monteriggioni]], and is not seen subsequently. However, years later, [[Desmond Miles]] receives a bracer identical to it in modern times.
*Giovanni is briefly mentioned in ''[[Revelations]]'' and the ''[[Novel]]''.

==Gallery==

<center><gallery captionalign="left" widths="180">
File:Giovannilineage2.png|Giovanni in his usual clothes.
File:Giovanni lineage 1.png|Giovanni in his Assassin robes.
Screen shot 3.14.png|Giovanni walking the streets of Florence.
giovanni.JPG|Concept Art of Giovanni Auditore da Firenze
</gallery></center>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auditore, Giovanni}}

[[es:Giovanni Auditore]][[ru:Джованни Аудиторе да Фиренце]][[de:Giovanni Auditore]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassins]]