Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Rodrigo Borgia

2011-06-16T14:46:46Z

68.253.210.49: /* Venice */

{{Era|AC2|PL|Brotherhood|Renaissance|bbook|Lineage|Ascendance|Templars}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|Pope Alexander VI}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rodrigo Borgia
|image = char_rodrigo.png
|imgdesc = Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI.
|birth = 1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Valencia, Crown of Aragon
|death = 18 August 1503 [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|period = Italian [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|actor = [[Manuel Tadros]]
|voice = [[Manuel Tadros]]
}}
{{quote|He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].|[[Mario Auditore]]|Assassin's Creed II}}

'''Rodrigo Borgia''' (1 January 1431 – 18 August 1503), born '''Roderic Llançol''', later '''Roderic de Borja i Borja''', was a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Cardinal]], and the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|leader]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Italy|Italian]] [[Renaissance]]. He was the father of [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]], [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], and [[Jofré Borgia]].

Rodrigo was elected as [[Papacy|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503, and was known as '''Alexander VI'''. He was one of the most controversial of the Renaissance Popes, 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, now Spain. His parents were Jofré Llançol y 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>

Roderic de Borja studied law at Bologna, and was made successively 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" />

===Conspiracies===
[[File:Borgia lineage.jpg|thumb|left|Rodrigo Borgia hiding from Giovanni Auditore in Florence.]]
By the time Rodrigo was under Pope Sixtus IV, he had become the Grand Master of the Templar Order. In this position, he aspired to unite all of Italy under the Templar banner. In doing so, 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>

====Milan====
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 in the dark streets of the city. 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, who was a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent this, 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" />

====Giovanni Auditore====
[[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 [[wikipedia:Ducat|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. After arriving in the city, he handed the message to a man. In this manner, the letter was passed through various hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Rodrigo then left to see [[Sixtus IV|Pope Sixtus IV]] 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 at this point, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]; however, there, he fell into an ambush set by Rodrigo. 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 a 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]] Giovanni's way, hitting 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 on one thing: to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

[[File:Rodrigolineage.png|thumb|250px|left|Rodrigo Borgia at a meeting with his fellow Templars.]]
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]]. Years later, Rodrigo would tell Ezio that his brothers had not needed to die, but that he had them killed anyway to make a point to the Assassins.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

====Florence====
[[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 Florence again, where he held a meeting with the Pazzi and a couple of other conspirators (who were formerly Lorenzo's allies) in a catacomb under the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Novella]]. There, 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" />

After Ezio thwarted the Templars' attempted takeover in Florence, Rodrigo was to meet with the remaining conspirators in [[Tuscany]], where the Pazzi would ask for asylum with Rodrigo in either Venice or Rome. However, before the meeting could even commence, most of the conspirators were killed by Ezio; and only [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] actually made it to the meeting alive.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

There, Jacopo claimed that the blame for the failure rested with [[Francesco de' Pazzi|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, aided by an all-too-eager Emilio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him a second time in the neck, then called out to Ezio who had tailed Jacopo to the meeting. Sarcastically apologizing for killing Ezio's target 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 make sure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

====Venice====
[[File:Borgia_ingame_ac2.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo in Venice.]]
{{dialogue|Silvio|And what does the Spaniard have to say of this change of plan?
|Marco|You can ask him yourself soon enough.
Silvio, and Marco regarding Rodrigo's presence in Venice.}}
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 themselves. During the meeting, Rodrigo chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inapt 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 ''"haunts"'' their city, he then made his departure from Venice to Rome, allowing them to carry out his plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

While Ezio was [[Hunt in Venice|hunting the Barbarigo]] in Venice, Rodrigo meanwhile tracked down the location of the [[Piece of Eden]] that [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] had once taken from the Templars in 1191.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Apple of Eden===
[[File:Ezio_and_Borgias_Confrontation_in_Venice.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]
By 1486, Rodrigo had found out that the Piece of Eden he sought was [[Sixth 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 [[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 kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo had expected the attack, 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 [[the 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 alone, 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.<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" />

===Spain===
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, succesfully rescuing him and thwarting Rodrigo's plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery" />

===Papal Rule===
[[File:Poestaff.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo during a Papal procession.]]
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 he was unsuccessful. In 1498, Savonarola was assassinated by Ezio, causing the Borgia family to fall into a chaotic state 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>

In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio for yet another assassination attempt. Ezio sneaked into the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], where Rodrigo was holding Mass, and attacked him from above. However, after turning to leave, Ezio only witnessed Rodrigo rise from the ground and use his Piece of Eden, [[The Staff|the Papal Staff]], to strike down him and 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 that Altaïr had taken from [[Al Mualim]]. 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:Assassins-creed-2-rodrigo-borgia.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo with the Staff of Eden.]]
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 Borgia|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===
[[File:ACB Cesare Rodrigo.png|thumb|right|250px|Rodrigo meeting with Cesare, moments before his death.]]
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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

In 1501, Ezio infiltrated the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] to assassinate both Rodrigo and Cesare, however, the former was not there and the latter left before Ezio had a chance to kill him.
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 Borgia|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 at last.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Final words - ''Assassin's Creed II''==
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.)''

==Final words - ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''==
Cesare arrives in the Papal apartments, where Rodrigo is arranging a bowl of apples.

'''Cesare''': ''What has happened here?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''I do not know what you mean?''

'''Cesare''': ''My funds, my troops. Gone.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''Financial difficulties strike all of us, even those with an army.''

'''Cesare''': ''You intend to give me money?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''No, I do not.''

'''Cesare''': ''Then I will use the Piece of Eden to get what I want. Your help is not necessary.''

Cesare takes an apple from the bowl, and takes a bite from it.

'''Rodrigo''':(smiles) ''That has been made abundantly clear to me. Are you aware that the [[Octavian de Valois|Baron de Valois]], is dead?''

'''Cesare''': ''No. Did you--''

'''Rodrigo''': ''What reason could I possibly have to kill him? Was he plotting against me, with my "brilliant", traitorous, Captain General?''

'''Cesare''': ''I do not have to stand for this.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''The Assassins murdered him.''

'''Cesare''': ''Why did you not stop them?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''As if I could. It was not my decision to attack Monteriggioni, it was yours! It's high time, you take responsibilities for your actions.''

'''Cesare''': ''My accomplishments. Despite the constant interferences from failures like you.''

Cesare attempts to leave, but Rodrigo blocks him.

'''Rodrigo''': ''You are not going anywhere. I have the Piece of Eden.''

'''Cesare''': ''Get out of my way old man.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''I gave you everything, and yet it is never enough!''

Lucrezia hurries into the room.

'''Lucrezia''': ''Cesare! He intends to poison you!''

Shocked, Cesare spits out the apple he had been eating. He then advances on Rodrigo.

'''Rodrigo''': ''You would not listen to reason.''

'''Cesare''': ''Father, do you not see? I control all of this. If I want to live, I live. If I want to take, I take! If I want you to die, you die!''

Cesare assaults Rodrigo, knocking him to the floor and forcing the rest of the apple into his mouth. Rodrigo eventually succumbs to the poison, and after Cesare leaves, Ezio arrives to give Rodrigo his final rites.

'''Ezio''': (closing Rodrigo's eyes) Requiescat in pace.

==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).]]
[[File:Papal Arms of Alexander VI.svg|thumb|The [[Heraldry#Rodrigo Borgia|Papal coat of arms]] of Alexander VI, which can be seen on his [[Papal Guard]].]]

*Rodrigo was called "the Spaniard" by the Assassins, as he was of Spanish origin.
* 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.

===Combat===
*As Ezio entered the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Rodrigo, he was proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. It is ironic, as the Nicene Creed confesses the wholeness of the Christian doctrine, in which Borgia later stated he did not believe.
* It is possible to kill Rodrigo while in the Sistine Chapel if you poison him. After this, you can wield the Staff of Eden, although you cannot use any of its powers.
* Sometimes, 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 ''Assassin's Creed II'' and re-enters the Animus.

===Papacy===
* 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, in the ''Battle of Forlì DLC'' set in 1488, Rodrigo is again shown in his Papal robes, even though he was elected Pope in 1492.

===Death===
* 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 survived 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]].

==Database entry==

<center>[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Targets: Rodrigo Borgia 3/9|400px]]</center>

{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

Rodrigo Borgia

2011-06-16T14:45:53Z

68.253.210.49: /* Venice */

{{Era|AC2|PL|Brotherhood|Renaissance|bbook|Lineage|Ascendance|Templars}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|Pope Alexander VI}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rodrigo Borgia
|image = char_rodrigo.png
|imgdesc = Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI.
|birth = 1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Valencia, Crown of Aragon
|death = 18 August 1503 [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|period = Italian [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|actor = [[Manuel Tadros]]
|voice = [[Manuel Tadros]]
}}
{{quote|He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].|[[Mario Auditore]]|Assassin's Creed II}}

'''Rodrigo Borgia''' (1 January 1431 – 18 August 1503), born '''Roderic Llançol''', later '''Roderic de Borja i Borja''', was a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Cardinal]], and the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|leader]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Italy|Italian]] [[Renaissance]]. He was the father of [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]], [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], and [[Jofré Borgia]].

Rodrigo was elected as [[Papacy|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503, and was known as '''Alexander VI'''. He was one of the most controversial of the Renaissance Popes, 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, now Spain. His parents were Jofré Llançol y 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>

Roderic de Borja studied law at Bologna, and was made successively 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" />

===Conspiracies===
[[File:Borgia lineage.jpg|thumb|left|Rodrigo Borgia hiding from Giovanni Auditore in Florence.]]
By the time Rodrigo was under Pope Sixtus IV, he had become the Grand Master of the Templar Order. In this position, he aspired to unite all of Italy under the Templar banner. In doing so, 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>

====Milan====
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 in the dark streets of the city. 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, who was a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent this, 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" />

====Giovanni Auditore====
[[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 [[wikipedia:Ducat|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. After arriving in the city, he handed the message to a man. In this manner, the letter was passed through various hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Rodrigo then left to see [[Sixtus IV|Pope Sixtus IV]] 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 at this point, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]; however, there, he fell into an ambush set by Rodrigo. 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 a 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]] Giovanni's way, hitting 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 on one thing: to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

[[File:Rodrigolineage.png|thumb|250px|left|Rodrigo Borgia at a meeting with his fellow Templars.]]
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]]. Years later, Rodrigo would tell Ezio that his brothers had not needed to die, but that he had them killed anyway to make a point to the Assassins.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

====Florence====
[[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 Florence again, where he held a meeting with the Pazzi and a couple of other conspirators (who were formerly Lorenzo's allies) in a catacomb under the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Novella]]. There, 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" />

After Ezio thwarted the Templars' attempted takeover in Florence, Rodrigo was to meet with the remaining conspirators in [[Tuscany]], where the Pazzi would ask for asylum with Rodrigo in either Venice or Rome. However, before the meeting could even commence, most of the conspirators were killed by Ezio; and only [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] actually made it to the meeting alive.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

There, Jacopo claimed that the blame for the failure rested with [[Francesco de' Pazzi|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, aided by an all-too-eager Emilio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him a second time in the neck, then called out to Ezio who had tailed Jacopo to the meeting. Sarcastically apologizing for killing Ezio's target 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 make sure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

====Venice====
[[File:Borgia_ingame_ac2.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo in Venice.]]
{{dialogue|Silvio|And what does the Spaniard have to say of this change of plan?
|Marco|You can ask him yourself soon enough.
|Carlo|He's here? From Roma?|Silvio, Marco, and Carlo regarding Rodrigo's presence in Venice.}}
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 themselves. During the meeting, Rodrigo chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inapt 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 ''"haunts"'' their city, he then made his departure from Venice to Rome, allowing them to carry out his plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

While Ezio was [[Hunt in Venice|hunting the Barbarigo]] in Venice, Rodrigo meanwhile tracked down the location of the [[Piece of Eden]] that [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] had once taken from the Templars in 1191.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Apple of Eden===
[[File:Ezio_and_Borgias_Confrontation_in_Venice.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]
By 1486, Rodrigo had found out that the Piece of Eden he sought was [[Sixth 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 [[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 kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo had expected the attack, 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 [[the 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 alone, 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.<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" />

===Spain===
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, succesfully rescuing him and thwarting Rodrigo's plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery" />

===Papal Rule===
[[File:Poestaff.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo during a Papal procession.]]
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 he was unsuccessful. In 1498, Savonarola was assassinated by Ezio, causing the Borgia family to fall into a chaotic state 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>

In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio for yet another assassination attempt. Ezio sneaked into the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], where Rodrigo was holding Mass, and attacked him from above. However, after turning to leave, Ezio only witnessed Rodrigo rise from the ground and use his Piece of Eden, [[The Staff|the Papal Staff]], to strike down him and 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 that Altaïr had taken from [[Al Mualim]]. 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:Assassins-creed-2-rodrigo-borgia.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo with the Staff of Eden.]]
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 Borgia|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===
[[File:ACB Cesare Rodrigo.png|thumb|right|250px|Rodrigo meeting with Cesare, moments before his death.]]
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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

In 1501, Ezio infiltrated the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] to assassinate both Rodrigo and Cesare, however, the former was not there and the latter left before Ezio had a chance to kill him.
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 Borgia|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 at last.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Final words - ''Assassin's Creed II''==
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.)''

==Final words - ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''==
Cesare arrives in the Papal apartments, where Rodrigo is arranging a bowl of apples.

'''Cesare''': ''What has happened here?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''I do not know what you mean?''

'''Cesare''': ''My funds, my troops. Gone.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''Financial difficulties strike all of us, even those with an army.''

'''Cesare''': ''You intend to give me money?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''No, I do not.''

'''Cesare''': ''Then I will use the Piece of Eden to get what I want. Your help is not necessary.''

Cesare takes an apple from the bowl, and takes a bite from it.

'''Rodrigo''':(smiles) ''That has been made abundantly clear to me. Are you aware that the [[Octavian de Valois|Baron de Valois]], is dead?''

'''Cesare''': ''No. Did you--''

'''Rodrigo''': ''What reason could I possibly have to kill him? Was he plotting against me, with my "brilliant", traitorous, Captain General?''

'''Cesare''': ''I do not have to stand for this.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''The Assassins murdered him.''

'''Cesare''': ''Why did you not stop them?''

'''Rodrigo''': ''As if I could. It was not my decision to attack Monteriggioni, it was yours! It's high time, you take responsibilities for your actions.''

'''Cesare''': ''My accomplishments. Despite the constant interferences from failures like you.''

Cesare attempts to leave, but Rodrigo blocks him.

'''Rodrigo''': ''You are not going anywhere. I have the Piece of Eden.''

'''Cesare''': ''Get out of my way old man.''

'''Rodrigo''': ''I gave you everything, and yet it is never enough!''

Lucrezia hurries into the room.

'''Lucrezia''': ''Cesare! He intends to poison you!''

Shocked, Cesare spits out the apple he had been eating. He then advances on Rodrigo.

'''Rodrigo''': ''You would not listen to reason.''

'''Cesare''': ''Father, do you not see? I control all of this. If I want to live, I live. If I want to take, I take! If I want you to die, you die!''

Cesare assaults Rodrigo, knocking him to the floor and forcing the rest of the apple into his mouth. Rodrigo eventually succumbs to the poison, and after Cesare leaves, Ezio arrives to give Rodrigo his final rites.

'''Ezio''': (closing Rodrigo's eyes) Requiescat in pace.

==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).]]
[[File:Papal Arms of Alexander VI.svg|thumb|The [[Heraldry#Rodrigo Borgia|Papal coat of arms]] of Alexander VI, which can be seen on his [[Papal Guard]].]]

*Rodrigo was called "the Spaniard" by the Assassins, as he was of Spanish origin.
* 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.

===Combat===
*As Ezio entered the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Rodrigo, he was proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. It is ironic, as the Nicene Creed confesses the wholeness of the Christian doctrine, in which Borgia later stated he did not believe.
* It is possible to kill Rodrigo while in the Sistine Chapel if you poison him. After this, you can wield the Staff of Eden, although you cannot use any of its powers.
* Sometimes, 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 ''Assassin's Creed II'' and re-enters the Animus.

===Papacy===
* 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, in the ''Battle of Forlì DLC'' set in 1488, Rodrigo is again shown in his Papal robes, even though he was elected Pope in 1492.

===Death===
* 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 survived 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]].

==Database entry==

<center>[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Targets: Rodrigo Borgia 3/9|400px]]</center>

{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

Carlo Grimaldi

2011-06-04T05:26:25Z

68.253.210.49:

{{Era|AC2|Templars|Ren}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|House of Grimaldi}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Carlo Grimaldi
|image = Zw-carlogrimaldi.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1445 [[wikipedia:Monaco|Monaco]]
|death = September 14, 1485 [[Venice]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]] (15th century)
|faction = [[Knights Templar]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|voice = [[Roc LaFortune]]
}}
'''Carlo Grimaldi''' (1445 - September 14, 1485) was a [[Templar]] and a government official. He was close to Doge [[Giovanni Mocenigo]] of [[Venice]], though he plotted to kill him. He was also a member of the Council of Ten.

Carlo craved political power, and knew the Doge of Venice very well. Emerging from his palace in Monaco, he used this to his advantage after he had heard that the daughter of a member of the Council of Ten was in love with a servant (though her father, [[Ignazio Contarini]], would not allow it). Carlo advised the couple to escape on a boat that very night. However, when they arrived at the boat, they found Carlo waiting for them with a few guards and Ignazio himself. The servant was killed, and the Doge trusted Carlo enough to allow him into the Council of Ten.

Carlo is first seen meeting with [[Emilio Barbarigo]] in the [[Palazzo della Seta]], informing him of [[Ezio Auditore]]'s arrival in Venice. He also tells Emilio of a Templar meeting to be held later in Campo San Stefano. He leaves just before Emilio is assassinated. He is next seen in Venice, meeting with [[Marco Barbarigo]], [[Dante Moro]], [[Silvio Barbarigo]], and [[Rodrigo Borgia]] as they plot to poison the Doge in order for Marco to replace him. He does not seem to trust or like Silvio very much.

Carlo is later encountered in the [[Palazzo Ducale]] (Doge's Palace), prior to Ezio Auditore's arrival via [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Flying Machine]], where he is playing chess with Doge Mocenigo. Ezio rushes in, only to realize that it was too late, for the Doge had already been poisoned. Carlo runs out of the room, yelling to the guards that Ezio had killed the Doge. Ezio pursues him and assassinates him in the courtyard.

[[File:Carlogrimaldi.png|thumb|left|Carlo in Venice.]]
==Final Words==
[[File:Carlo_grimaldi_assassination.jpg|thumb|Carlo Grimaldi's death]]

'''Ezio:''''' It takes one [[Assassin]] to kill another, it seems''.

'''Carlo:''' ''We kill thinking it's best for us, do we not, Messer Ezio''?

'''Ezio:''''' I do this not for myself.'' ''Compio questo sacrificio per il bene superiore''. (I make this sacrifice for the greater good.) ''Requiescat in Pace'' (Rest in peace).

[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Targets: Carlo Grimaldi 5/9|thumb|300px|left|]]

==Trivia==
*Carlo did in fact die on the 14th of September in 1485, because he was killed shortly after Doge Mocenigo died on that day, and that was the date when in real life Giovanni Mocenigo died.
*The fictional character Carlo comes from the real [[wikipedia:House of Grimaldi|House of Grimaldi]] that still rules over Monaco today.
*Carlo's death was featured in the E3 demo, but greatly differed from the one in the released game. Carlo's assassination was during Carnevale, in place of [http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Marco_Barbarigo Marco Barbarigo]'s. The death of the Doge of Venice was also excluded, and an extra scene with Carlo and a guard was added; the guard running to Carlo, screaming about Ezio's Flying Machine, with Carlo replying, "Coward! The Devil is not the one you need to fear. Tell him hello for me!" He then stabbed the guard in the chest, continuing "I know you're here, Assassin! Show yourself, or are you afraid?"
**According to the [[Animus]] database's filter, Carlo is not a Templar (despite plotting with them). However, when viewing the portraits of Ezio's victims in his [[Ezio's room|room]] of the Villa Auditore, Carlo's portrait says that he is a Templar.
**At the time of his death, Carlo would have been around 40 years old (the same age as Ezio during the end of the game), yet he appears to be much older, with features such as gray hair/beard, whereas Ezio only grew facial hair at 40. His birthday may be a possible error in the Database.
**Before assassinating Emilio Barbarigo, if you use [[Eagle Vision]] on Carlo, he will be shown in red although you have not yet learned that he is a Templar.
**When you go to assassinate Emilio Barbarigo, it is possible for you to assassinate him while he is still talking to Carlo. If this happens, after the death scene Carlo will still be there for a second or two before disappearing.

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Templars|Grimaldi, Carlo]]

Carlo Grimaldi

2011-06-04T05:25:02Z

68.253.210.49: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|Templars|Ren}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|House of Grimaldi}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Carlo Grimaldi
|image = Zw-carlogrimaldi.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1445 [[wikipedia:Monaco|Monaco]]
|death = 1485 [[Venice]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]] (15th century)
|faction = [[Knights Templar]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|voice = [[Roc LaFortune]]
}}
'''Carlo Grimaldi''' (1445 - September 14, 1485) was a [[Templar]] and a government official. He was close to Doge [[Giovanni Mocenigo]] of [[Venice]], though he plotted to kill him. He was also a member of the Council of Ten.

Carlo craved political power, and knew the Doge of Venice very well. Emerging from his palace in Monaco, he used this to his advantage after he had heard that the daughter of a member of the Council of Ten was in love with a servant (though her father, [[Ignazio Contarini]], would not allow it). Carlo advised the couple to escape on a boat that very night. However, when they arrived at the boat, they found Carlo waiting for them with a few guards and Ignazio himself. The servant was killed, and the Doge trusted Carlo enough to allow him into the Council of Ten.

Carlo is first seen meeting with [[Emilio Barbarigo]] in the [[Palazzo della Seta]], informing him of [[Ezio Auditore]]'s arrival in Venice. He also tells Emilio of a Templar meeting to be held later in Campo San Stefano. He leaves just before Emilio is assassinated. He is next seen in Venice, meeting with [[Marco Barbarigo]], [[Dante Moro]], [[Silvio Barbarigo]], and [[Rodrigo Borgia]] as they plot to poison the Doge in order for Marco to replace him. He does not seem to trust or like Silvio very much.

Carlo is later encountered in the [[Palazzo Ducale]] (Doge's Palace), prior to Ezio Auditore's arrival via [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Flying Machine]], where he is playing chess with Doge Mocenigo. Ezio rushes in, only to realize that it was too late, for the Doge had already been poisoned. Carlo runs out of the room, yelling to the guards that Ezio had killed the Doge. Ezio pursues him and assassinates him in the courtyard.

[[File:Carlogrimaldi.png|thumb|left|Carlo in Venice.]]
==Final Words==
[[File:Carlo_grimaldi_assassination.jpg|thumb|Carlo Grimaldi's death]]

'''Ezio:''''' It takes one [[Assassin]] to kill another, it seems''.

'''Carlo:''' ''We kill thinking it's best for us, do we not, Messer Ezio''?

'''Ezio:''''' I do this not for myself.'' ''Compio questo sacrificio per il bene superiore''. (I make this sacrifice for the greater good.) ''Requiescat in Pace'' (Rest in peace).

[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Targets: Carlo Grimaldi 5/9|thumb|300px|left|]]

==Trivia==
*Carlo did in fact die on the 14th of September in 1485, because he was killed shortly after Doge Mocenigo died on that day, and that was the date when in real life Giovanni Mocenigo died.
*The fictional character Carlo comes from the real [[wikipedia:House of Grimaldi|House of Grimaldi]] that still rules over Monaco today.
*Carlo's death was featured in the E3 demo, but greatly differed from the one in the released game. Carlo's assassination was during Carnevale, in place of [http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Marco_Barbarigo Marco Barbarigo]'s. The death of the Doge of Venice was also excluded, and an extra scene with Carlo and a guard was added; the guard running to Carlo, screaming about Ezio's Flying Machine, with Carlo replying, "Coward! The Devil is not the one you need to fear. Tell him hello for me!" He then stabbed the guard in the chest, continuing "I know you're here, Assassin! Show yourself, or are you afraid?"
**According to the [[Animus]] database's filter, Carlo is not a Templar (despite plotting with them). However, when viewing the portraits of Ezio's victims in his [[Ezio's room|room]] of the Villa Auditore, Carlo's portrait says that he is a Templar.
**At the time of his death, Carlo would have been around 40 years old (the same age as Ezio during the end of the game), yet he appears to be much older, with features such as gray hair/beard, whereas Ezio only grew facial hair at 40. His birthday may be a possible error in the Database.
**Before assassinating Emilio Barbarigo, if you use [[Eagle Vision]] on Carlo, he will be shown in red although you have not yet learned that he is a Templar.
**When you go to assassinate Emilio Barbarigo, it is possible for you to assassinate him while he is still talking to Carlo. If this happens, after the death scene Carlo will still be there for a second or two before disappearing.

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Templars|Grimaldi, Carlo]]

Carlo Grimaldi

2011-06-04T05:23:19Z

68.253.210.49:

{{Era|AC2|Templars|Ren}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|House of Grimaldi}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Carlo Grimaldi
|image = Zw-carlogrimaldi.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1445 [[wikipedia:Monaco|Monaco]]
|death = 1485 [[Venice]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]] (15th century)
|faction = [[Knights Templar]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|voice = [[Roc LaFortune]]
}}
'''Carlo Grimaldi''' (1445 - September 14, 1485) was a [[Templar]] and a government official. He was close to Doge [[Giovanni Mocenigo]] of [[Venice]], though he plotted to kill him. He was also a member of the Council of Ten.

Carlo craved political power, and knew the Doge of Venice very well. Emerging from his palace in Monaco, he used this to his advantage after he had heard that the daughter of a member of the Council of Ten was in love with a servant (though her father, [[Ignazio Contarini]], would not allow it). Carlo advised the couple to escape on a boat that very night. However, when they arrived at the boat, they found Carlo waiting for them with a few guards and Ignazio himself. The servant was killed, and the Doge trusted Carlo enough to allow him into the Council of Ten.

Carlo is first seen meeting with [[Emilio Barbarigo]] in the [[Palazzo della Seta]], informing him of [[Ezio Auditore]]'s arrival in Venice. He also tells Emilio of a Templar meeting to be held later in Campo San Stefano. He leaves just before Emilio is assassinated. He is next seen in Venice, meeting with [[Marco Barbarigo]], [[Dante Moro]], [[Silvio Barbarigo]], and [[Rodrigo Borgia]] as they plot to poison the Doge in order for Marco to replace him. He does not seem to trust or like Silvio very much.

Carlo is later encountered in the [[Palazzo Ducale]] (Doge's Palace), prior to Ezio Auditore's arrival via [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Flying Machine]], where he is playing chess with Doge Mocenigo. Ezio rushes in, only to realize that it was too late, for the Doge had already been poisoned. Carlo runs out of the room, yelling to the guards that Ezio had killed the Doge. Ezio pursues him and assassinates him in the courtyard.

[[File:Carlogrimaldi.png|thumb|left|Carlo in Venice.]]
==Final Words==
[[File:Carlo_grimaldi_assassination.jpg|thumb|Carlo Grimaldi's death]]

'''Ezio:''''' It takes one [[Assassin]] to kill another, it seems''.

'''Carlo:''' ''We kill thinking it's best for us, do we not, Messer Ezio''?

'''Ezio:''''' I do this not for myself.'' ''Compio questo sacrificio per il bene superiore''. (I make this sacrifice for the greater good.) ''Requiescat in Pace'' (Rest in peace).

[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Targets: Carlo Grimaldi 5/9|thumb|300px|left|]]

==Trivia==
*The fictional character Carlo comes from the real [[wikipedia:House of Grimaldi|House of Grimaldi]] that still rules over Monaco today.
*Carlo's death was featured in the E3 demo, but greatly differed from the one in the released game. Carlo's assassination was during Carnevale, in place of [http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Marco_Barbarigo Marco Barbarigo]'s. The death of the Doge of Venice was also excluded, and an extra scene with Carlo and a guard was added; the guard running to Carlo, screaming about Ezio's Flying Machine, with Carlo replying, "Coward! The Devil is not the one you need to fear. Tell him hello for me!" He then stabbed the guard in the chest, continuing "I know you're here, Assassin! Show yourself, or are you afraid?"
**According to the [[Animus]] database's filter, Carlo is not a Templar (despite plotting with them). However, when viewing the portraits of Ezio's victims in his [[Ezio's room|room]] of the Villa Auditore, Carlo's portrait says that he is a Templar.
**At the time of his death, Carlo would have been around 40 years old (the same age as Ezio during the end of the game), yet he appears to be much older, with features such as gray hair/beard, whereas Ezio only grew facial hair at 40. His birthday may be a possible error in the Database.
**Before assassinating Emilio Barbarigo, if you use [[Eagle Vision]] on Carlo, he will be shown in red although you have not yet learned that he is a Templar.
**When you go to assassinate Emilio Barbarigo, it is possible for you to assassinate him while he is still talking to Carlo. If this happens, after the death scene Carlo will still be there for a second or two before disappearing.

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets|Grimaldi, Carlo]]
[[Category:Templars|Grimaldi, Carlo]]

Templars

2011-06-04T05:19:51Z

68.253.210.49: /* Ideals and goals */

{{Era|Chronicles|AC1|Bloodlines|AC2|Discovery|Brotherhood|PL|Lineage|Revelations|Renaissance|Bbook|The Fall|Templars|Good}}
{{Revamp}}
{{WP-REAL|Knights Templar}}
{{Faction Infobox
|name = Templars
|image = Knights.png
|imgdesc = Emblem of the Templars.
|hideo =
|founder = [[Cain]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
|leader = [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
|headquarters = ''Renaissance'': [[Rome]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> [[Cappadocia]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
|locations = ''Middle ages'': [[Acre]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /> ''Renaissance'': [[Florence]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> [[Venice]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> [[Constantinople]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Revelations" />
|related = *[[Crusaders]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
*[[Papacy]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage" />
*[[House of Barbarigo]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Borgia]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Orsi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Pazzi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Abstergo Industries]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
|religion = Atheist<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
|hideh =
|formed = Pre-history<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
|reorganised =
|collapsed =
|hidea =
|notable = *[[Cain]]
*[[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]
*[[Robert de Sable]]
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
*[[Cesare Borgia]]
*[[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]]
*[[Adolf Hitler]]
|}}
{{quote|May the [[Father of Understanding]] guide us.|Templar motto.}}
The '''Templars''', also known as the '''Knights Templar''', were a monastic military order-turned-corporate giant formed during the prehistoric era. The Templars sought to create a perfect world, although the means by which they sought to do so - through force and control - were questionable. Because of this, they were the sworn enemies of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], who believed that [[Humans|Man]] should always have the ability to choose; to have free will, even if it means a flawed humanity. With these conflicting ideologies, the two groups have fought over the course of thousands of years for the control and fate of humanity.

==Ideals and goals==
[[File:Ac-templar-knight.jpg|thumb|A Templar during the Third Crusade.]]
The existence of the Templars became known to the public in 1129, when its military order was founded to counter the greatly increasing threat against the Holy Land by the [[Saracens]], and to protect the city of [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=HC>The History Channel, ''Decoding the Past: The Templar Code'', 7 November 2005, video documentary written by Marcy Marzuni</ref> Over time, the Templars began to believe it within their power to unite the world in peace.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

Their system of belief changed greatly upon the discovery of the [[Pieces of Eden]]; they began to speculate that God was a myth and this led the Order to become atheistic, although they publicly maintained the pretense of following the Christian ways so as to not lose the support of the Church, although in real life the Templar Order consisted of Western Christianity as their belief system.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Realizing the power that the Pieces of Eden held over man, the Templars began to seek out the artifacts. In 1191, [[Robert de Sable]], then the Grand Master of the Order, personally sought the fabled [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]], buried in the catacombs beneath [[Solomon's Temple]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> The theft of the piece of Eden by the Order of Assassins brought the two great powers into a sustained conflict with one another, ending with the death of [[Armand Bouchart]] in [[Limassol]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> Despite this setback, the Order maintained its belief in creating a world of peace through manipulation of the Pieces of Eden.

By their reasoning, with no afterlife or ultimate punishment or reward after death, there was no reason to oblige notions of morality or ethics: the end always justified the means, no matter how heinous those means were. They thought that only this life was important, rather than preparing for a thought-to-be non-existent next life. With so many lower class people kept in line by the promise of an afterlife, and so many upper class men blissfully ignoring such ideals, the Templars vowed to make a better world; one of lasting peace, no matter what the cost.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

As time progressed, the Templars interest in the Pieces of Eden became more about seeking the power and domination that the artifacts offered. Their goals changed as they sought to control and unify the entire world using the Pieces of Eden to create a "[[New World Order]]".<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

==History==
===Prehistory===
The Templar Order was likely founded by [[Cain]], whose 'mark' was used as the Templars' crest. The Templars quickly became the archenemies of the [[Assassins]], who, as opposed to the Templars, fought to allow the people to retain free will.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Roman era===
During the Roman era, the Templars went under the alias "[[SPQR|Senatus Populusque Romanus]]", ruling the [[Roman Empire]]. However, their rule was continually thwarted by the Assassin Order. A notable example of this was the plot against [[Gaius Julius Caesar]], who was appointed as a dictator for life. Forty Assassins, most notably [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] and [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], had infiltrated Caesar's inner circle as senators. They actually planned to assassinate Caesar, a plan which they successfully executed on 15 March 44 BC.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" /> Additionally, on 24 January 41, the Assassin [[Leonius]] stabbed [[Caligula]] with a dagger.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

During the 1st century, the Templars found out that one of the Pieces of Eden, [[the Shroud]], was in the hands of [[Jesus Christ]]. Wanting the Piece for their own purposes, the Templars crucified Jesus in order to gain it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Middle Ages===
====Formation as a Knightly Order====
During the Middle Ages, the Templars removed themselves from the underground and founded themselves as a Knightly Order, the Knights Templar.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

In the 1129 Council of Troyes, the Order was officially recognized by the church, and in 1139, Pope Innocent II granted them diplomatic immunity in all provinces and territories and exemption from taxes. This allowed the faction to grow in numbers, strength and wealth quickly, and as they became a larger force, their responsibilities increased accordingly: the Order's many members were prominent figures in the second crusade.

====Third Crusade====
[[File:Assassins-creed-altair-1.jpg|thumb|A Knight Templar battles with Altaïr.]]
''This section of the article deals specifically with the Knights Templar faction's activities during the Third Crusade. If you were looking for information on the specific enemy type in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', see their article under [[Crusaders#Templar Knight|Crusaders]].''

In 1191, after the theft of the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] by the Assassins [[Malik A-Sayf]] and [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] from the Templars, the Brotherhood entered into a brief period of sustained conflict with their Assassin enemies. Over the course of that year, ten Templar leaders from both [[Crusaders|Crusader]] and [[Saracens|Saracen]] backgrounds fell to the blades of the notorious Assassin, Altaïr, who was serving penance for breaking the three tenets during the theft. The deaths included not only the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Robert de Sable]], but also [[Al Mualim]], [[Grand Master of the Assassin Order|leader]] of the [[Assassins]] in [[Syria]] and the only Templar not willing to share the power of the Apple with his nine brothers.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

With their leadership effectively wiped out by a single Assassin, the Brotherhood retreated to the island of [[Cyprus]] under the command of a new Grand Master, [[Armand Bouchart]]. Pursued by Altaïr, the Templars were wiped out once again, although the treasures of the [[Templar Archive]] in [[Limassol]] were spirited away before they could be found.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines"/> The death of Armand forced the Order to consider its position carefully, and by 1312 the Order had publicly disbanded. In reality, the Order continued to thrive, adopting a much more secretive position in world affairs. As the Templars withdrew into near anonymity in the eyes of the world, the Order of the Assassins also retreated into the shadows, as said in Altaïr's fabled [[Codex]].

====Renaissance====
By the late 15th Century, the Brotherhood had regained a position of strength on the world stage, spreading deep into the Church and nobility of [[Italy]]. Under the command of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], the Templars sought to unify northern Italy under their command, and regain the Apple of Eden which they knew to be buried in Cyprus.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> Targeting [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], the de facto ruler of [[Florence]], the Templars found themselves confronted by the Assassin [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze]], who whilst not knowing of their Templar allegiances, was rapidly piecing together the clues. Following two near fatal encounters with Giovanni himself, Borgia arranged for the trial and execution of Giovanni and his three sons – [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]] and [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] – for the crimes of high treason against the city of Florence, having corrupted the city official [[Uberto Alberti]]. The city guards arrested Giovanni and two of his sons, narrowly missing their chance to capture the third, Ezio, who had been delivering and collecting letters for his father.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Realizing too late the treachery of Uberto Alberti, whom his father had considered a friend,<ref name="Assassin's Creed:Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref> Ezio appeared at the [[Auditore execution|execution]] of his family, watching in horror as his father and brothers were hanged; he narrowly escaped the same fate himself. Unconcerned with the remaining Auditore, the Templars continued in their mission to assume control of the cities of northern Italy. In 1478, the Templar affiliated [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]] made their push for control. In what would become known as the [[Pazzi Conspiracy]], the family struck against the Medici during High Mass at [[Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore|Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore]] , killing [[Giuliano de' Medici]] and critically wounding Lorenzo, who was saved only by the timely intervention of Ezio Auditore, the son who had evaded Templar capture. Lorenzo's survival and the arrival of Ezio spelled doom for the Pazzi family, who were left to their fate by Rodrigo Borgia. [[Vieri de' Pazzi|Vieri]], [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]] and [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] were all slain by the lone assassin whilst the Templars acknowledged their defeat in Florence, instead turning their attention to the city of [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

[[File:Renaissance_Templar_Carlo_Grimaldi.jpg|thumb|240px|Ezio strikes at [[Carlo Grimaldi]], a Renaissance Templar Leader.]]
Utilizing the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo family]], the Templars assumed control of Venice briefly in 1486, before they were once again overthrown by the lone Assassin. The distraction of controlling the city had been beneficial to the Templars however, as it had distracted the Assassins from noticing the preparations being made for the retrieval of the Piece of Eden from [[Cyprus]]. Two years later, in 1488, the Templar expedition returned to Venice with the Apple in hand. Bringing it to Rodrigo, an undercover Ezio engaged the Templar Grand Master and, with the assistance of his fellow Assassins, forced the Templars out of the city once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> With the Apple in the hands of the Assassins, the Templars approached the [[House of Orsi|Orsi brothers]] – [[Ludovico Orsi|Ludovico]] and [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] – to obtain a map detailing the location of the Codex pages from the wife of the Templar [[Girolamo Riario]] – [[Caterina Sforza]]. Invading [[Forlì]], the Orsi brothers demanded the map, and the Apple in exchange for the lives of Sforza's children. The brothers were rebuked, and assaulted the [[Rocca di Ravaldino]]. Together with the city guards, the Assassins Ezio Auditore da Firenze and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] held off the assault, although a second succeeded in claiming the Apple briefly.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forlì">''[[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forlì]]''</ref>

Despite the loss of the Apple, [[Rodrigo Borgia]] was ultimately unfazed, and in 1492 he became [[Wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Pope Alexander VI]] in order to gain access to the [[The Staff|Papal staff]], another of the Pieces of Eden, and in turn the devotional dominion of the church. In 1499, Rodrigo was confronted again by the assassin Ezio within the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], and the end result once more favoured Ezio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> The Templar's defeat however, was not permanent, as Rodrigo's son [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]] [[Fall of Monteriggioni|besieged]] [[Monteriggioni]] to regain the Apple of Eden and attempted to kill Ezio. Four years later, Ezio went to the heart of the Templars itself, namely [[Rome]], to strike back at the Templars and retrieve the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Cesare grew tired of his father's resistance to give him power and money, and after becoming aware about his father's deception, he took what remained of the apple he had taken a bite out of and shoved it into Rodrigo's mouth, forcing him to swallow the same toxin that was in his system, before demanding the location of the Apple of Eden out of his sister [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]]. After being weakened by the cantarella from the poisoned fruit, Cesare was later imprisoned by [[Pope Julius II]] under the charges of murder, betrayal and incest, but he escaped with help from his loyal friend [[Micheletto Corella|Micheletto]]. He was ultimately thrown off from the walls of [[Viana Castle|Viana's Castle]] during the Siege of Viana, by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], ending the dominance of the Templars in Italy.

===Modern times===
By the 19th century, the Templars gained a significant amount of power and influence within the [[Russia]]n Empire; with a number of the Tsars, including [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]] and his son [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]], being Templars themselves.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref> In the Tsars' possession; the [[The Staff|Staff of Eden]], granting the autocratic rulers great power over their citizens. In 1908 however, their control over the Russian Empire was greatly diminished with the destruction of the Staff in [[Tunguska explosion|Tunguska]], thanks in part to the combined efforts of [[Nikola Tesla]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> and the Assassin [[Nikolai Orelov]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall"/>

Infiltrating and establishing countless corporate entities, by the 20th Century the Templars had positioned themselves within several world-defining positions, controlling whole nations and improving the planet's technological level significantly. The Templars also worked to stifle world progress however; [[Adolf Hitler]] used a Piece of Eden to rise to power in Germany, and subsequently started [[World War II|a world-wide conflict]]. He was "fought" by his Templar contemporaries [[Winston Churchill]], [[Joseph Stalin]], and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who under the guise of the Allied nations ultimately won the conflict, despite having planned the war all along, and orchestrating the peace that would follow.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

[[File:Abstergo_Desmond_Captivity.png|thumb|220px|Desmond held captive by Abstergo Industries.]]
By the early 21st Century, the Templar fronted [[Abstergo Industries]] had expanded into a global entity, far larger and more powerful than most companies that had come before it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> For the most part this was not treated as suspicious, although there were those within the general population who viewed the company with suspicion,<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> believing it to be "too large" a company.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> Among the nations whose economic and political affairs which Templars interfered included Chile, Argentina, and Iran.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

During this time, the Templars had access to a number of Pieces of Eden, however, the actions of the Assassins, coupled with the [[DIA satellite accident]] forced the Templars into stepping up the [[Animus]]-project, in the hope of finding another Piece capable of controlling the minds of humanity. By September of 2012, sixteen [[Animus' Subjects|test subjects]] had been "retired" before the company succeeded with the seventeenth – [[Desmond Miles]], a descendant of both [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], and [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Upon being captured by Abstergo, and for seven days, Desmond Miles was forced to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor Altaïr in order to reach one specific memory the Templars were seeking. The memory that was valuable to Abstergo registered the moment his ancestor found a holographic map containing the locations of all Pieces of Eden scattered across the world. With the information they had long sought in hand, the Templars set about gathering the remaining Pieces to ensure "absolute peace", although they soon found themselves in a race against the Assassin Order to obtain the Pieces first.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> They planned to send a satellite with a Piece mounted on it into orbit, with the launch scheduled on [[Cryptic Messages|December 21, 2012]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

==Members==
{{main|List of known Templars}}

== Templar groups ==
{{Sourceless}}
There are groups who act as unofficial divisions of the Templars, unrelated to them publicly, but in fact commanded by Templars (some of them through the membership of their leaders and others are part of the Templar Order itself).

*'''Roman era'''
**[[File:Roman SPQR banner.svg|30px]] [[SPQR]]: '''Senatus Populusque Romanus''', the ruling body of the [[Roman Empire]].
*'''Renaissance'''
**[[File:Pazziingame.png|30px]] [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi]]: The '''Pazzi family''' were [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] nobles that were involved in the banking industry in [[Florence]] during the 15th century. They are most famous for the [[Pazzi Conspiracy]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:150px-Agostino Barbarigo.png|30px]] [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo]]: The '''Barbarigo family''' were [[Venice|Venetian]] nobles who were involved in the banking and trading industries during the 15th century. The most famous member of the family was [[Agostino Barbarigo]], the 74th Doge of [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:Blason famille it Borgia01 svg.png|30px]] [[House of Borgia|Borgia]]: The '''Borgia family''' were [[Spain|Spanish]]-[[Italy|Italian]] nobles during the 15th and early 16th century. The most famous members of the family were [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Cesare Borgia]], and [[Lucrezia Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*'''Modern times'''
**[[File:Ford logo.png|30px]] [[Ford Motor Company]]: An automobile company founded by [[Henry Ford]], in the hands of the Templars until Ford's death.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:Nazi flag 375.jpg|30px]] [[wikipedia:Nazi Party|Nazi Party]]: A political German party which controlled Germany during the early to mid 20th century. This was started by [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:CIA.svg|30px]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]: A "civilian" intelligence agency, in fact secretly working to keep the Templar Order in control.
**[[File:Animuslogowhite.svg|30px]] [[Abstergo Industries]]: A modern pharmaceutical company, that works in secret to create the New World.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
**[[File:BP Logo.svg|30px]] [[BP]]: A global oil and gas company headquartered in London, England, that helped to create the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and then cover it up.
**[[File:NASA logo svg.png|30px]] [[NASA]]: A governmental company that created the Apollo missions to retrieve an Apple of Eden from the Moon.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:180px-State flag of Iran 1964-1980.svg.png|30px]] [[SAVAK]]: A secret police force established in Iran to protect Templar interests in Iran, oil in particular.

== The Historical Templars ==
[[File:Templar4.jpg|thumb|Depiction of Templars]]
{{quote|Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da Gloriam (''Latin for "Not to us God, not to us, but to Your Name Give Glory"'')|Historical motto of the Templars}}
''Ordre du Temple'' in French, the Knights Templar are amongst the most famous of the Western Christian military orders involved in the war. They are well known by the distinctive white mantles with a red cross. Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favored charity throughout Christianity, and grew rapidly in membership. Despite losing their interests in Outremer, they still had financial holdings in Europe, but King Philip IV of France manipulated Pope Clement V into disbanding the Knights Templar, to serve his own agenda. The Order's Knights either fled, were executed, or absorbed into other orders like the [[Knights Hospitalier]]. The Portuguese branch changed their names to Knights of Christ. Recently, a document discovered in the Secret Vatican Archives, shows that Clement V wanted to stop the destruction of the Knight Templars.

They were among the most skilled fighters at the time, which is reflected in the game. Their ruthlessness against non-Catholics was also infamous; this also is reflected in the game.

The real, full name of the Knights Templars: "Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" or ''"Pauperes commilitones Christi templique Salomonici Hierosalemitanis" ''in Latin.

== See also ==
*[[List of Templar Locations|List of Templar Locations in ''Assassin's Creed'']]
*''[[Crusaders]]''

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' {{imo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{ACSeries}}
{{ACAC}}
{{AC}}
{{ACBL}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACR}}
{{ACLL}}
{{ACTF}}

[[es:Templarios]]
[[Category:Templar Order| ]]
[[Category:Factions]]

Robert de Sable

2011-06-04T05:08:35Z

68.253.210.49: /* Final words */

{{Era|AC|Secret Crusade|Templars|Crusade|Featured}}
{{WP-REAL|Robert de Sablé}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Robert de Sable
|image = Rober_de_Sable_v.png
|imgdesc =
|birth =
|death = 1191 [[Arsuf]], [[Israel]]
|period = 12th century
|faction = [[Knights Templar]] [[Crusaders]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
|voice = [[Jean-Philippe Dandenaud]]}}
{{quote|That man is our greatest enemy.|Altaïr about Robert|Assassin's Creed}}
'''Robert de Sable''' was the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] from 1190 to 1191, and a Lieutenant in [[Richard I of England|King Richard I]]'s [[Crusader]] army.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Born into a powerful family, Robert de Sable was immersed into nobility from birth. Though many events during De Sable's life are difficult to pin down, at some point he became lord and ruler of Briollay, France.

===Grand Master of the Templar Order===
{{quote|All the men I've layed to rest have worked together, united by this man.|Altaïr about Robert.|Assassin's Creed}}
Subsequently, Robert de Sable entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their "Grand Master" from 1190 to 1191. During the [[Third Crusade]], Robert and the Knights Templar laid siege to the city of [[Acre]], which soon fell. Throughout August 1191, they also recaptured many fortresses and cities along the Palestinian coast, which had previously been lost.

===Quest for the Apple of Eden===
{{quote|I want this through the gates before sunrise. The sooner we can possess it, the sooner we can turn our attention to those jackels at Masyaf.|Robert telling his men to get the Ark of the Covenant.|Assassin's Creed}}
[[File:Altaïr_&_Robert_3.png|thumb|252px|Robert de Sable's failed assassination]]
In 1191, Robert and a group of guards entered [[Solomon's Temple]], attempting to retrieve the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] that was hidden there. However, right after Robert sent his [[guards]] to climb up to the artifact, a group of [[Assassins]] consisting of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], [[Malik A-Sayf]] and [[Kadar A-Sayf]] ambushed them. Altaïr attempted to assassinate Robert while being in the open, thus Robert was able to stop Altaïr's attack. Altaïr was then thrown out of the room, which as a result caused the entrance back to be blocked by falling rubble. Robert and his guards then focused their attention on the A-Sayf brothers, killing Kadar and severely wounding Malik's left arm.

However, Malik was able to steal the artifact from the Templars, flee [[Jerusalem]], and return to his Master, [[Al Mualim]]. Robert however, determined to regain the artifact, pursued the Assassins out of Jerusalem and towards the Assassin fortress of [[Masyaf]]. Two of the Assassins defected to the Templars, opening the gates of the town for Robert and his Templar infantry. The Templars stormed the village and killed many of the town's civilians and Assassin guards.
[[File:Siege of Masyaf 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Robert during the assault against Masyaf.]]
Though the Assassins led an assault against the Templars, they were eventually driven back to the safety of the fortress. Arriving at the fortress, Robert demanded that they return the artifact to him, saying it was in his property. Al Mualim refused to do so, stating he had no claim to it. Robert rebuked this, claiming he played a dangerous game and they could out wait the Assassins. Al Mualim ignored this threat and signaled Altaïr to activate a trap that caused tree logs to fall on the Templar soldiers. Robert and the remaining Templars retreated from the town, having suffered too many casualties to continue.

===Loss of power===
[[File:ACDecoy.jpg|thumb|252px|Robert's decoy.]]
{{quote|You have laid waste our plans. First the treasure then our men. Controllers of the Holy Land slipped away. But then, he saw an opportunity. To reclaim what has been stolen, to turn your victories to our advantage.|Maria Thorpe talking to Altaïr about Robert's plans.|Assassin's Creed}}
Robert managed to convince many Crusaders and [[Saracens]] to secretly defect to the Templars, promising them power in the "[[New World Order|New World]]". The Assassin Altaïr was demoted because of his failure at Solomon's Temple, and was assigned by Al Mualim to eliminate each of these Templars in order to regain his lost rank. Over the course of around a month, Altaïr was successful in eliminating each of the eight Templars, until Al Mualim appointed him to Robert's assassination. Robert, having foreseen that he'd be the next target, had his Lieutenant, [[Maria Thorpe]], disguise herself as Robert and attend the late Templar [[Majd Addin]]'s funeral - a trap for Altaïr - while Robert himself would be joining the battlefield at [[Arsuf]] alongside King Richard. Altaïr fell for the trap, but was able to defeat Maria and learned of Robert's true whereabouts and intentions. He then rode for Arsuf, determined to take Robert's life, after sparing Maria's life as she wasn't his target.

===Battle of Arsuf and death===
[[File:Roberdet.jpg|thumb|250px|Robert's demise.]]
{{quote|Robert de Sable is now all that stands between us and victory. It's his mouth that gives orders, his hand pays the gold. With him dies the knowledge of the Templar treasure.|Al Mualim about Robert de Sable.|Assassin's Creed}}
Robert stood by King Richard's side for the course of the Battle of Arsuf, and while doing so, was able to convince Richard to ally himself with [[Saladin]] against a common enemy - the Assassins - as they had caused numerous deaths on both sides. Altaïr fought his way through Arsuf against Crusaders and Saracens alike, eventually arriving at the Crusader camp, where he met Richard and Robert. Altaïr tried to convince Richard that the men he killed were secretly Templars, and that Robert was going to rebel against Richard, though Robert defended himself by saying that the Assassins were master deceivers. Richard, not sure who to believe, left God to decide who was speaking the truth, and had Altaïr fight against the Templars. Altaïr stood victorious against the Templars, but then was left to face Robert himself. Robert was Altaïr's toughest enemy to date, but he was nonetheless defeated.

Before dying, Robert enlightened Altaïr to the fact that Al Mualim was secretly a Templar as well, but that he wanted to have the Apple of Eden for his own. After saying that by taking his life, Altaïr had ended his own, Robert passed away.

==Final words==
[[File:ACAltairRobert.jpg|thumb|258px|Robert's last rites.]]
*'''Altaïr:''' ''It's done, then. Your schemes, like you, are put to rest.''
*'''Robert:''' ''(laughing coldly) You know nothing of schemes. You are but a puppet. He betrayed you, boy, just as he betrayed me.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''Speak sense, Templar, or not at all!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Nine men he sent you to kill, yes? The nine who guarded the [[Sixth Apple|treasure]]'s secret?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''What of it?''
*'''Robert:''' ''It wasn't nine who found the treasure, Assassin; not nine, but ten!''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''A tenth? None may live who carry the secret. Give me his name!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Oh, but you know him well, and I doubt very much you'd take his life as willingly as you've taken mine.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''Who?! ''
*'''Robert:''' ''It is your master, Al Mualim.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''But he is not a Templar!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Did you never wonder how it is he knew so much? Where to find us, how many we numbered, what we aspire to attain?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''He is the master of the Assassins!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Oui, master of lies. You and I are just two more pawns in his grand game. And now, with my death, only you remain. Do you think he'll let you live, knowing what you do?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''I have no interest in the treasure!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Ah, but he does. The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share.''
*'''Altaïr:''' No.
*'''Robert:''' Ironic, isn't it, that I, your greatest enemy, kept you safe from harm? But now you've taken my life... and in the process, ended your own!

==Trivia==
*In the game, Robert was in his mid 30's when he was killed by Altaïr. In real life, he was relatively old when he died of natural causes. Robert died in the Holy Land on 23 September 1193.
*Robert appears to have one of the largest physical builds in the game; being a head taller than Altaïr himself, and appearing to have bigger muscles. Though it is likely that this appearance is due to the armor he constantly wears.
==Video==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed Memory Block 6 Robert de Sable part 5/5 Assassination|thumb|left|400px]]
{{-}}
==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''

{{AC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sable, Robert de}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Robert de Sable

2011-06-04T05:06:10Z

68.253.210.49: /* Final words */

{{Era|AC|Secret Crusade|Templars|Crusade|Featured}}
{{WP-REAL|Robert de Sablé}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Robert de Sable
|image = Rober_de_Sable_v.png
|imgdesc =
|birth =
|death = 1191 [[Arsuf]], [[Israel]]
|period = 12th century
|faction = [[Knights Templar]] [[Crusaders]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
|voice = [[Jean-Philippe Dandenaud]]}}
{{quote|That man is our greatest enemy.|Altaïr about Robert|Assassin's Creed}}
'''Robert de Sable''' was the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] from 1190 to 1191, and a Lieutenant in [[Richard I of England|King Richard I]]'s [[Crusader]] army.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Born into a powerful family, Robert de Sable was immersed into nobility from birth. Though many events during De Sable's life are difficult to pin down, at some point he became lord and ruler of Briollay, France.

===Grand Master of the Templar Order===
{{quote|All the men I've layed to rest have worked together, united by this man.|Altaïr about Robert.|Assassin's Creed}}
Subsequently, Robert de Sable entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their "Grand Master" from 1190 to 1191. During the [[Third Crusade]], Robert and the Knights Templar laid siege to the city of [[Acre]], which soon fell. Throughout August 1191, they also recaptured many fortresses and cities along the Palestinian coast, which had previously been lost.

===Quest for the Apple of Eden===
{{quote|I want this through the gates before sunrise. The sooner we can possess it, the sooner we can turn our attention to those jackels at Masyaf.|Robert telling his men to get the Ark of the Covenant.|Assassin's Creed}}
[[File:Altaïr_&_Robert_3.png|thumb|252px|Robert de Sable's failed assassination]]
In 1191, Robert and a group of guards entered [[Solomon's Temple]], attempting to retrieve the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] that was hidden there. However, right after Robert sent his [[guards]] to climb up to the artifact, a group of [[Assassins]] consisting of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], [[Malik A-Sayf]] and [[Kadar A-Sayf]] ambushed them. Altaïr attempted to assassinate Robert while being in the open, thus Robert was able to stop Altaïr's attack. Altaïr was then thrown out of the room, which as a result caused the entrance back to be blocked by falling rubble. Robert and his guards then focused their attention on the A-Sayf brothers, killing Kadar and severely wounding Malik's left arm.

However, Malik was able to steal the artifact from the Templars, flee [[Jerusalem]], and return to his Master, [[Al Mualim]]. Robert however, determined to regain the artifact, pursued the Assassins out of Jerusalem and towards the Assassin fortress of [[Masyaf]]. Two of the Assassins defected to the Templars, opening the gates of the town for Robert and his Templar infantry. The Templars stormed the village and killed many of the town's civilians and Assassin guards.
[[File:Siege of Masyaf 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Robert during the assault against Masyaf.]]
Though the Assassins led an assault against the Templars, they were eventually driven back to the safety of the fortress. Arriving at the fortress, Robert demanded that they return the artifact to him, saying it was in his property. Al Mualim refused to do so, stating he had no claim to it. Robert rebuked this, claiming he played a dangerous game and they could out wait the Assassins. Al Mualim ignored this threat and signaled Altaïr to activate a trap that caused tree logs to fall on the Templar soldiers. Robert and the remaining Templars retreated from the town, having suffered too many casualties to continue.

===Loss of power===
[[File:ACDecoy.jpg|thumb|252px|Robert's decoy.]]
{{quote|You have laid waste our plans. First the treasure then our men. Controllers of the Holy Land slipped away. But then, he saw an opportunity. To reclaim what has been stolen, to turn your victories to our advantage.|Maria Thorpe talking to Altaïr about Robert's plans.|Assassin's Creed}}
Robert managed to convince many Crusaders and [[Saracens]] to secretly defect to the Templars, promising them power in the "[[New World Order|New World]]". The Assassin Altaïr was demoted because of his failure at Solomon's Temple, and was assigned by Al Mualim to eliminate each of these Templars in order to regain his lost rank. Over the course of around a month, Altaïr was successful in eliminating each of the eight Templars, until Al Mualim appointed him to Robert's assassination. Robert, having foreseen that he'd be the next target, had his Lieutenant, [[Maria Thorpe]], disguise herself as Robert and attend the late Templar [[Majd Addin]]'s funeral - a trap for Altaïr - while Robert himself would be joining the battlefield at [[Arsuf]] alongside King Richard. Altaïr fell for the trap, but was able to defeat Maria and learned of Robert's true whereabouts and intentions. He then rode for Arsuf, determined to take Robert's life, after sparing Maria's life as she wasn't his target.

===Battle of Arsuf and death===
[[File:Roberdet.jpg|thumb|250px|Robert's demise.]]
{{quote|Robert de Sable is now all that stands between us and victory. It's his mouth that gives orders, his hand pays the gold. With him dies the knowledge of the Templar treasure.|Al Mualim about Robert de Sable.|Assassin's Creed}}
Robert stood by King Richard's side for the course of the Battle of Arsuf, and while doing so, was able to convince Richard to ally himself with [[Saladin]] against a common enemy - the Assassins - as they had caused numerous deaths on both sides. Altaïr fought his way through Arsuf against Crusaders and Saracens alike, eventually arriving at the Crusader camp, where he met Richard and Robert. Altaïr tried to convince Richard that the men he killed were secretly Templars, and that Robert was going to rebel against Richard, though Robert defended himself by saying that the Assassins were master deceivers. Richard, not sure who to believe, left God to decide who was speaking the truth, and had Altaïr fight against the Templars. Altaïr stood victorious against the Templars, but then was left to face Robert himself. Robert was Altaïr's toughest enemy to date, but he was nonetheless defeated.

Before dying, Robert enlightened Altaïr to the fact that Al Mualim was secretly a Templar as well, but that he wanted to have the Apple of Eden for his own. After saying that by taking his life, Altaïr had ended his own, Robert passed away.

==Final words==
[[File:ACAltairRobert.jpg|thumb|258px|Robert's last rites.]]
*'''Altaïr:''' ''It's done, then. Your schemes, like you, are put to rest.''
*'''Robert:''' ''(laughing coldly) You know nothing of schemes. You are but a puppet. He betrayed you, boy, just as he betrayed me.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''Speak sense, Templar, or not at all!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Nine men he sent you to kill, yes? The nine who guarded the [[Sixth Apple|treasure]]'s secret?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''What of it?''
*'''Robert:''' ''It wasn't nine who found the treasure, Assassin; not nine, but ten!''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''A tenth? None may live who carry the secret. Give me his name!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Oh, but you know him well, and I doubt very much you'd take his life as willingly as you've taken mine.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''Who?! ''
*'''Robert:''' ''It is your master, Al Mualim.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''But he is not a Templar!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Did you never wonder how it is he knew so much? Where to find us, how many we numbered, what we aspire to attain?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''He is the master of the Assassins!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Oui, master of lies. You and I are just two more pawns in his grand game. And now, with my death, only you remain. Do you think he'll let you live, knowing what you do?''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''I have no interest in the treasure!''
*'''Robert:''' ''Ah, but he does. The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share.''
*Altaïr: No.
*Robert: Ironic, isn't it, that I, your greatest enemy, kept you safe from harm? But now you've taken my life... and in the process, ended your own!

==Trivia==
*In the game, Robert was in his mid 30's when he was killed by Altaïr. In real life, he was relatively old when he died of natural causes. Robert died in the Holy Land on 23 September 1193.
*Robert appears to have one of the largest physical builds in the game; being a head taller than Altaïr himself, and appearing to have bigger muscles. Though it is likely that this appearance is due to the armor he constantly wears.
==Video==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed Memory Block 6 Robert de Sable part 5/5 Assassination|thumb|left|400px]]
{{-}}
==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''

{{AC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sable, Robert de}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Abu'l Nuqoud

2011-06-04T04:01:17Z

68.253.210.49: /* The Merchant King of Damascus */

{{Era|AC|Templars|Crusade|Featured}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Template:Character Infobox
|name = Abu'l Nuqoud
|image = abul-nuqoudpng.png
|birth = c. 1137 A.D.
|death = 1191 A.D. 
[[Damascus|Damascus, Syria]]
|period = [[Third Crusade]]
|faction = [[Saracens|Muslim Saracens]] 
[[Merchants]] 
[[Knights Templar]] (secret)
|appear = [[Assassin's Creed]]
|voice = [[Fred Tatasciore]]}}
{{quote|You take the lives of men and women, strong in the conviction that their deaths will improve the lots of those left behind. A minor evil for a greater good? We are the same.|Abu'l Nuqoud}}

'''Abu'l Nuqoud''' (ابو النقود) was the fourth person [[Al Mualim]] ordered [[Altaïr]] to assassinate. He was located in the rich district of [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].

==The Merchant King of Damascus==
[[File:Abu'l_Nuqoud_AC_19.png|thumb|left|200px|Abu'l Nuqoud approaches his guests to make his speech.]]
Abu'l Nuqoud was a man with rich tastes – and a humongous appetite. Everything he said and did was to excess. He threw lavish parties, decorated his palace with gaudy works of art, and fed himself the finest foods. He hated the poor and saw them as a blight upon the land.
He believed they were the source of everything wrong with the world. He took a perverse pleasure in tricking and torturing those of lesser means. He was incredibly self-centered and loved nothing more than to remind the people of Damascus how generous he was. He knew how to throw a party – and earn the favor of "those who matter." It is also assumed that Abu'l was a homosexual, because of the fact that he mentioned how people were bothered that he was "different", that God saw him as an abomination, and when he carasses his male guard.

==Assassination==
As Altaïr sought out Abu'l Nuqoud's life, the merchant king decided to throw a lavish party at his palace for the nobility of Damascus (paid for with money stolen from the city's treasuries). After the guests had settled down, Abu'l proposed a toast to their generosity, then proceeded to lambaste them for their hatred and hypocrisy in supporting [[Saladin]] and his war campaign. It was revealed (while Altaïr combed the city tracking his target) that he had poisoned the wine to get revenge on the people who tormented him with their cruel words and bigotry, and he ordered his men to kill anyone who tried to escape from the party. Altaïr took advantage of the panic to assassinate Abu'l.

In his dying speech, Abu'l said that he did not join up with the [[Templars]] for revenge, but to create a new, better world instead of pretending to follow a god who called him an abomination, due to his obesity or his speculated homosexuality (see [[#Trivia|Trivia]]). He also challenged Altaïr's willingness to strike down those Al Mualim ordered him to, remarking that Altaïr doubts the worthiness of his cause.

==Death Speech==
[[File:Abul_death.jpg|thumb|250px|Altaïr dives at Abu'l.]]

'''Altaïr:''' ''Be at peace now. Their words can no longer do harm.''

'''Abu:''' ''Why have you done this?!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''You stole money from those you claimed to lead, sent it away for some unknown purpose. I want to know where it's gone and why!''

'''Abu:''' ''Look at me! My very nature is an affront to the people I ruled, and these noble robes did little more than to muffle their shouts of hate.''

'''Altaïr:''' ''So this is about vengeance, then?''

'''Abu:''' ''No, not vengeance, but my conscience. How could I finance a war in service to the same god that calls me an abomination?''

'''Altaïr:''' ''If you do not serve Saladin's cause, then whose?''

'''Abu:''' ''In time, you'll come to know them: I think perhaps you already do.''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Then why hide? And why these dark deeds?''

'''Abu:''' ''Is it so different from your own work? You take the lives of men and women, strong in the conviction that their deaths will improve the lots of those left behind: a minor evil for a greater good. We are the same!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''No! We are nothing alike!''

'''Abu:''' ''Ah, but I see it in your eyes: you doubt. You cannot stop us... we will have our "New World".''

==Behind the scenes==
Creative director [[Patrice Desilets]] stated that the production team affectionately called the merchant king their "she-male". He pointed out that the fun of a character like Abu is ''"the big party, [where] everyone is drinking, then everyone is dying, and then you've got to go and reach him and kill him from behind."''<ref>"[[Assassin's Creed: Limited Edition Art Book]]"</ref>

==Trivia==
* Abu'l Nuqoud literally means 'father of the money' or 'the one with money', referring to his wealth.
* He is the only target without any weapon upon him. He will turn to fight you if he makes it to a guard tower and receives a sword, however.
* Because of some of his mannerisms (such as his style of dress), his speech about people of all kinds living together, his words about not serving the "same god that calls me an abomination," the way he caresses one of his guards, and the fact that many characters refer to him as "different," it is speculated by some that he may be a homosexual.
* When looking at his face closely, you can see him suffering from severe acne. This could also be why he refers to himself as an "abomination".
* Even though he appears to be overweight and of quite old age, he can run relatively fast.
* In the mobile game, he is called "Vizier Abull Aswad".
== Videos==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed silent kill - Abu'l-Nuqoud -|thumb|left|400px]]
{{-}}
==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{AC}}

[[es:Abu'l Nuqoud]]
[[Category:Characters|Nuqoud, Abu al]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters|Nuqoud, Abu al]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Assassination Targets|Nuqoud, Abu al]]
[[Category:Templars|Nuqoud, Abu al]]