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Cesare Borgia

2011-04-29T15:45:14Z

80.6.22.122:

{{Era|Brotherhood|bbook|Templars}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Cesare Borgia
|image = Char_cesare.png
|birth = 13 September 1475 or April 1476 [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|death = 12 March 1507 (aged 30 or 31) [[Viana]], [[Spain]]
|period = Italian [[Renaissance]]
|faction = *[[Templars]]
**[[House of Borgia]]
*[[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|voice = [[Andreas Apergis]]
}}
{{Quote|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 Borgia to his father, 1503.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
'''Cesare Borgia''' (13 September 1475 or April 1476 - 12 March 1507) was the son of [[Rodrigo Borgia]] and the archenemy of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]]. Like his father, he was a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. Eventually, he became Captain General of the [[Papacy|Papal]] armies, though he secretly plotted against his father to take over [[Rome]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> Even before his father's death, he claimed the title of [[Grand Master of the Templar Order]], usurping the title completely when his father did eventually die.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref>

==Biography==
===Early life===
Cesare Borgia was born in Rome in 1475, to Rodrigo Borgia, the Templar Grand Master of the time, and his long-term mistress [[wikipedia:Vannozza dei Cattanei|Vannozza dei Cattanei]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

At age 18, Cesare became a [[Cardinal]], while his older brother, [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]] (who was also Rodrigo's favorite) became Captain General. Unsatisfied with his life as a Cardinal and jealous of his brother's position and power, he had Juan killed by the [[Courtesans|courtesan]] [[Fiora Cavazza]]. He later took his place as Captain General, thereby becoming one of the most powerful men in Italy.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]''</ref>

===Becoming a Templar leader===
In 1496, when his father waged war with the Orsini Family to seize their territory, Cesare joined the battle. Among the enemy's ranks was [[Bartolomeo d'Alviano]], in secret an [[Assassins|Assassin]]. When Bartolomeo's resources were down to three fortresses, Cesare cut off his supplies. Just when victory seemed within reach, [[Fabio Orsini]] arrived with his army and reinforced Bartolomeo, even wounding Cesare in the face.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

In 1498, the Assassin [[Perotto Calderon]] and Cesare's sister [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]] had formed an intimate relationship, which led to Lucrezia becoming pregnant. However, Cesare had Perotto imprisoned for becoming close to his sister, and took [[Giovanni Borgia|the child]] away from them. Perotto managed to escape and took his son with him, but as he fled, the members of his Brotherhood executed him for having broken the tenets of [[The Creed|their Creed]]. Cesare somehow managed to once again take the child, and decided to raise him as his own, naming the child Giovanni Borgia.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

===Siege of Monteriggioni===
{{Quote|We've had too much bloodshed. I think a cleansing is in order. So, consider this an invitation from my family... to yours.|Cesare Borgia to Ezio Auditore, just before killing Mario Auditore, 1500.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

In January 1500, Cesare led [[Siege of Monteriggioni|an assault]] on [[Monteriggioni]], the headquarters of the Assassins in [[Italy]], in order to eliminate the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], who were the leaders of the Assassins. Besieging the city, Cesare's forces overwhelmed the fortress defenders and handed to him [[Sixth Apple|the Apple]], [[Caterina Sforza]], and [[Mario Auditore]], current [[Grand Master of the Assassin Order]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

The beaten Assassin walked through the gates of Monteriggioni before collapsing onto the ground, followed by Cesare and his allies; including his sister, Lucrezia, [[Micheletto Corella]], Baron [[Octavian de Valois]], and [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:Apple.jpg|thumb|left|254px|Cesare Borgia at Monteriggioni's gates with his sister Lucrezia, holding the [[Apple of Eden]].]]
Cesare sheathed his sword and spoke out to Ezio himself, who had seen the Borgia's entrance and was running across the rooftops to aid Mario. The Borgia Captain General spoke of how the Pope had told him of the Assassins and Apple. He then turned and grabbed the Baron de Valois' firearm from him, a pistol that Ezio's good friend, [[Leonardo da Vinci]], had been forced to fashion for them. Cesare stated that there had been too much bloodshed on both sides, and that a ''"cleansing was in order."'' Raising the pistol into the air, Cesare "invited" Ezio to come and face him in Rome, and killed Mario with a shot from the firearm.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Ezio was then shot down and wounded by a team of [[arquebusiers]], and the battle was won. With Monteriggioni in ruins, Cesare and his army returned to Rome with their prize.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:Cesare_and_the_Papal_Guard.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cesare speaking to the [[Papal Guard]].]]

===War in Rome===
{{quote|He is ambitious, ruthless, and cruel beyond imagining. The laws of men mean nothing to him. The powerful Orsini and Colonna families have been brought to kneel at his feet, and the [[Louis XII of France|King of France]] stands at his side.|[[Niccolò Machiavelli]], regarding Cesare Borgia.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

By 1500, Cesare had Rome under his iron fist as commander of the Papal army, though he and his father occasionally disagreed on his choices. He used [[Borgia towers]] and their captains to keep control over the five districts of Rome, as he was often away for extended periods of time to oversee the advancement of his army, in a bid to unite all of Italy under his rule.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Upon Ezio's arrival in Rome, Cesare was first seen at the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]], conversing with his three generals about their plans, where he told them to play along with his father's ''"tired old men's club,"'' but to remember who they really served. He later shared a romantic moment with his sister, before asking if their father had considered the funds requested by his Banker. He then left the Castel for [[Romagna]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

In 1502, Cesare continued to make use of Leonardo da Vinci's intellect, forcing him to design several [[War Machines|war machines]] for his army. However, all of Leonardo's creations were stolen and destroyed by Ezio Auditore, in secret, at Leonardo's own behest.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

In 1503, Cesare attended Juan Borgia's pagan party, where he gave a brief speech on a soon to be united Italy. After Cesare commanded the party to begin, Rodrigo reminded him that they had not agreed to conquer Italy. However, Cesare stated that ''he'' was now in control, although not officially, and simply told his father to enjoy himself. Later that year, he also ordered Micheletto Corella to kill [[Francesco Troche]], whom he believed was a traitor, as well as the actor [[Pietro Rossi]], Lucrezia's secret lover.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:3borgia.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Cesare, moments before killing Rodrigo.]]
In August of 1503, Cesare and his father argued over the former's insatiable lust for power. Rodrigo commented that he had given Cesare all he had, yet his son was never satisfied. Cesare demanded that his father give him the Apple of Eden, but Rodrigo refused. At this point, Lucrezia barged in, crying out to her brother that their father was attempting to poison him with the bowl of apples he had left out. An angry Cesare responded by charging Rodrigo and shoving the apple he had been eating into his mouth. The poison did its work, and Rodrigo died within seconds. Cesare then demanded the Apple of Eden's whereabouts from Lucrezia, who confessed under much pressure. Ezio beat Cesare to the [[Basilica di San Pietro]], the Apple's location, and retrieved the [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]] before him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:CesareArrest.jpg|thumb|254px|Cesare being dragged away by Papal guards.]]
Cesare's rule met a downward spiral from there. As a final stab from his father, Cesare had consumed enough of the poison to leave him weak for months. While he recovered, Ezio and the other Assassins used the Apple to dwindle his remaining forces, while the Vatican meanwhile fully rejected Cesare's request for support, seeing the Borgia's money as "tainted."<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Cesare sent Micheletto to retrieve his armies from the battlefield in order to reclaim Rome, however, he was confronted by the highest-ranking Assassins as he awaited his return. As the last of his followers fell, [[Fabio Orsini]] arrived with the Papal Guard and a warrant for Cesare's arrest by the order of [[Pope Julius II]]. Cesare was taken away, imprisoned, and later exiled to [[Spain]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

===From Rome to Spain===
Subsequently following his arrest, Cesare was imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo. However, he was able to escape the prison and flee. Though Cesare was later recaptured, Pope Julius II concluded that Cesare needed to be transferred to a more secure prison, and had the Templar moved to the [[Castillo de la Mota]], [[Aragon]], in Spain. Though Ezio had intended to kill Cesare despite his imprisonment, he was unaware of where Cesare had been transferred. Though he, Machiavelli, and Leonardo began tracking him down, Micheletto, who had evaded imprisonment and remained loyal to Cesare, planned for his master's escape.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

In 1506, Micheletto bribed a prison guard at the Castillo. Having had rope smuggled in for him, Cesare climbed down from his window and sneaked past the main gate in his stolen guard uniform. Meeting with Micheletto, he was informed that Ezio was currently tracking him, though he said nothing on the matter. Micheletto then told his master that he had made arrangements in [[Valencia]]. With this, Cesare made his escape, and rode to Valencia with Micheletto.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

===Attack on Valencia===
Following his escape, Cesare began to rebuild his forces in Valencia, with men volunteering to enter his service and setting up a large military encampment. Whilst Cesare was raising a small army, he spent most of his time coordinating battle tactics inside the [[Lone Wolf]]. Ezio and Machiavelli soon discovered this, however, and were able to destroy the encampment and twelve ships with Leonardo's [[hand-held bomb]]s.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

Later, they spied on him from the roof the Lone Wolf. Cesare blamed Micheletto for the Assassins' attack, and insulted him as a dog, remarking that he should find somewhere to die. During his tirade against Micheletto, Cesare claimed that he would cross the borders and join his brother-in-law, King [[John III of Navarre]] to seek his aid.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

Though Micheletto begged Cesare, and reminded him of his loyal service, Cesare continued to insult him. However, this rebounded on Cesare, as Micheletto, realizing how much his service meant to his ungrateful master, attempted to murder Cesare by strangling him. However, Cesare was able to shove Micheletto away and shoot him in the head, killing him. Ezio and Machiavelli, who had watched the scene unfold, made a noise from above. Cesare, who heard this, fired his rifle and wounded Machiavelli.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

Ezio then took Machiavelli to a [[Doctors|doctor]] instead of attacking Cesare, giving the Templar a chance to escape Valencia and cross the borders to the Kingdom of Navarre.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />

===Siege of Viana and death===
[[File:Acbrother_b09_097.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Cesare preparing to fight Ezio in [[Viana]].]]
{{Quote|I will lead mankind into a new world! You cannot kill me! No man can murder me!|Cesare Borgia's last words, 1507.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

In March of 1507, Cesare tried to regain his lost honor by commandeering John III's vast army during the [[Siege of Viana|Siege]] of [[Viana]], after which, should he be victorious, he would regain the support of the French. However, unbeknownst to him, Ezio caught wind of Cesare's involvement in the battle and set out for Viana.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

During the siege, Ezio located and charged Cesare on the battlefield, though Cesare held him back just long enough to dodge his [[hidden blade]] and flee. Ezio's pursuit was delayed by several cannonball impacts that stunned him, and incapacitated the other soldiers in the area.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:Eziodropscesare.jpg|thumb|254px|Cesare falling from the walls of Viana's Castle to his death.]]
Ezio soon caught up to him on the outskirts of the castle walls, where Cesare had his soldiers kill a [[Civilians|civilian]] woman, who was crying for him to help her son, who had been injured. Ezio eventually faced Cesare on the walls of [[Viana Castle|Viana's Castle]] and fought against him, with Cesare wielding a sword and a ''pistola''. Though Cesare attacked with speed and skill, while also periodically calling reinforcing troops, Ezio nevertheless defeated him, eventually pinning him to the ground. When Cesare vowed not to die at the hands of man, Ezio declared that he would leave Cesare ''"in the hands of Fate,"'' and threw him off of the castle wall to his death.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Personality==
Cesare was born into the Templar Order and, like many of his other siblings, was raised by his father into his personal weapon. However, Cesare was naturally an aggressive and ambitious person, and would do anything - including having his own family or friends murdered - in order to obtain power.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance" />

Cesare maintained an incestuous relationship with his sister, [[Lucrezia Borgia]], and promised her that she would be his queen when he ruled [[Italy]]. As such, he frequently descended into jealous rage due to her many dalliances with other men (whom she would normally woo in order to spite her unfaithful brother). However, in his attempts to discover the location of the Apple, he physically assaulted her, answering her tearful question if he had ever loved her by saying, ''"You are my sister, nothing more."''<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Over time, Cesare deluded himself into thinking that no mortal man could kill him, and that he would lead mankind into a new era; a belief that he held onto until the moment of his death.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Final words==
'''Cesare''': ''The throne was mine!''

'''Ezio''': ''Wanting something does not make it your right.''

'''Cesare''': ''What do you know?''

'''Ezio''': ''That a true leader empowers the people he rules.''

'''Cesare''': ''I will lead mankind into a new world!''

'''Ezio''': Che nessuno ricordi il tuo nome. ''(May no one remember your name.)'' Requiescat in pace. ''(Rest in peace.)''

'''Cesare''': ''You cannot kill me. No man can murder me!''

'''Ezio''': ''Then I leave you in the hands of Fate.''

==Trivia==
===Appearance and behavior===
*In [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|the novelization of ''Brotherhood'']], Cesare's face had been apparently deformed by the "New Disease," and he had resorted to wearing a mask. However, in the game, he is never seen with any said deformity or mask.
**Historically, Cesare was infected by the recent outbreak of syphilis and resorted to wearing a mask in public.
*While playing the memory "[[An Apple A Day]]," Cesare can be seen sprinting towards the Passetto di Borgo out-of-cutscene, and appears to 'ghost' through two iron portcullises.
*According to the ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel, Cesare excelled at bullfighting. Machiavelli believed he showed such an interest in the sport due to its origins in Spain, and his aggressive nature.

===Combat===
*Despite being shown to be adept with a [[crossbow]] in both ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'', Cesare never wields the weapon in ''Brotherhood''.
*Cesare seems to be ambidextrous. In some memories he is seen wielding a sword with his left hand, and in others with his right hand.
*Cesare's fighting style resembles that of a [[Papal Guard]], as he [[Dual-Wielding|dual wields]] a sword and a pistol.
*Since Cesare is immune to executions or deadly counters, he can only be killed by breaking his defense and attacking repeatedly. Ezio may also shoot him with his [[pistol]].

===Others===
*His given name "Cesare" is pronounced in Italian as "Cheh-ser-ay." It is the Italian variation of the name Caesar.
*Cesare's comments about bloodshed and the need for cleansing may highlight the origin of the name [[Abstergo]], which is Latin for "I cleanse."
*When interacting with [[Shaun Hastings]] during Sequence 8, [[Desmond Miles]] asks him if there are any good stories about Cesare, to which Shaun replies with ''"Are you kidding me?"'', and goes on to list Cesare's many notorious acts.
*Historically, it is said that [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] greatly admired Cesare. However, in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', while Machiavelli does respect his ability to enforce his will, he also seeks to eliminate Cesare and his [[House of Borgia|family members]] alongside Ezio.
*Cesare has been compared to other Roman Templar rulers. Giovanni Borgia relived the memories of [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] through the [[bleeding effect]] and mistook Cesare for [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]], attempting to kill Cesare with a knife.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy" /> Ezio Auditore compared Cesare to [[Caligula]], due to the similarities in their high opinions of themselves.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel" />
*When replaying the memory in [[Viana]], after the cutscene in which Ezio drops Cesare from the castle walls, his body can be seen when looking down from the battlements before the memory fades out.

==Gallery==

<center><gallery captionalign="left">
Cesare Borgia Artwork.png|Cesare's Concept Art.
ACB Cesare Baron.png|Cesare and [[Octavian de Valois]].
Zw-acb-Lucrezia-Cesare.jpg|Cesare and Lucrezia kiss intimately.
CesareBorgia.jpg|Cesare Borgia in Rome.
ACB Cesare Lucrezia.png|Cesare demanding the location of the Apple of Eden from Lucrezia.
Gallery7.jpg|Cesare's portrait in the Tiber Island hideout.
</gallery></center>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgia, Cesare}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Rodrigo Borgia

2011-04-29T15:41:23Z

80.6.22.122:

{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|PL|Renaissance|bbook|Lineage|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: 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 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 elected as [[wikipedia:Pope|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503 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 of that era. He was a principle enemy of [[Giovanni Auditore]] and the greatest enemy of [[Ezio Auditore]] from 1478 to 1499.

==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. Roderic was adopted into his mother's family name of Borja on the elevation of his maternal uncle Alonso de Borja, to the papacy as Calixtus III in 1455.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI">''[[wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Wikipedia - Pope Alexander VI]]''</ref>

Roderic de Borja studied law at Bologna and after his uncle Calixtus III's election as Pope, was created successively bishop, cardinal and vice-chancellor of the church, nepotistic appointments characteristic of the age. He served in the Roman Curia under five Popes (his uncle plus 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.

====Milan====
Rodrigo devised a plan to kill [[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">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

One night in December of 1476, Borgia 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. Hidden behind a corner, he witnessed Giovanni capture one of his men, who later revealed the preplanned assassination of Galeazzo Sforza, who was a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent this, though unfortunately, he failed as he had arrived too late. 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|Rodrigo walking in [[Rome]].]]
Giovanni Auditore learned that Borgia's plans would lead him to the city of [[Venice]], after looting a Venetian [[wikipedia:Ducat|ducat]] from Giovanni Lampugnani, one of Sforza's murderers. Once there, he intercepted a message from [[Marco Barbarigo|Marco]] and [[Silvio Barbarigo]] to their master, Rodrigo. After [[Uberto Alberti]] and [[Antonio Maffei|Father Maffei]] "failed" to decode the letter, the Medici and Alberti had Giovanni carry a copied version of the message to [[Rome]], in order to discover who was behind the plot. Upon arriving in the city, he gave the message to a man. In this manner, the letter was passed through various hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo. Rodrigo then left to see [[Pope Sixtus IV]] to obtain military support in order to conquer Florence. After gaining Sixtus' favor, Rodrigo headed out of [[Vaticano district|the Vatican]], and into the streets of Rome once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage" />

Giovanni was still on Rodrigo's trail, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]; however, 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. 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, which hit him in the chest. Rodrigo then took the chance to flee the Basilica. Afterwards, he discussed the next step in his plan with his Templar brothers, and all agreed on one thing: to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage" />

[[File:Rodrigolineage.png|thumb|left|Rodrigo Borgia.]]
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. 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]], thus Ezio was proclaimed a wanted man. Years later, Rodrigo would state that Ezio's brothers did not need to die, but he had them killed anyway to make a point to the Assassins.

====Florence====
[[File:Burgerking.png|thumb|Rodrigo discussing the Pazzi Conspiracy.]]
In 1478, Rodrigo conspired to take down Lorenzo de' Medici, the leader of [[Florence]], and his brother [[Giuliano de' Medici|Giuliano]]. He left for Florence again, where he had 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">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

After Ezio thwarted the Templars 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, one by one. Only [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] actually made it to the meeting alive. There, Jacopo claimed that the blame rested with his nephew, [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]], 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. Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him 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 ordered his men to kill Ezio and left without bothering to make sure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

====Venice====
[[File:Borgia_ingame_ac2.jpg|thumb|252px|Rodrigo in Venice.]] {{Template:Dialogue|Silvio|And what does the Spaniard have to say of this change of plan?|Carlo|He's here? From Roma?|Silvio and Carlo regarding Rodrigo's presence in Venice.}}
Soon after the Florentine attempt failed, Rodrigo was conducting his plans for Venice. In 1485, he met with [[Carlo Grimaldi]] and the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigos]] to murder the current Doge, [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], so that one of them could replace him and seize control of Venice. He chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inapt prattle" ''and arguing over who would be the new Doge after they took Venice. He appointed [[Marco Barbarigo]] as the next Doge.

During this meeting Marco questioned Rodrigo's presence, with Ezio in Venice, Rodrigo only replied that he felt he should be obligated to their plans. 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. While Ezio was [[Hunt in Venice|hunting the Barbarigos]] in Venice, Rodrigo was tracking the location of the [[Piece of Eden]] that [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] had once taken from the Templars.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Apple of Eden===
[[File:Ezio_and_Borgias_Confrontation_in_Venice.jpg|thumb|252px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]
By 1486, he had found out that the Piece of Eden was hidden on [[Cyprus]], and thus sent a battalion of his men to retrieve it. Two years later, the men returned with the [[Sixth Apple|artifact]], and Rodrigo met with the guards who were to bring it to him. However, Ezio, disguised as the carrier of the artifact, attempted to kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo had expected the attack, and readied himself to deal with Ezio personally. The two began an intense battle, with Ezio ultimately emerging as the victor. Realizing he could not defeat Ezio alone, Rodrigo called in a supply of guards to overwhelm Ezio. 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 [[Orsi Brothers]] to retrieve it from Riario's city of [[Forlì]]. The Orsi discovered that Riario's wife, [[Caterina Sforza]], also had [[Sixth Apple|the Apple]], and thus they 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. Unfortunately for him, 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" />

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. 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, did not want anybody to find it before he could. Therefore, Rodrigo arranged a meeting with Christoffa in Venice. Christoffa's friend, [[Luis de Santángel]], suspected a trap 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">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref>

===As the Pope===
[[File:Poestaff.jpg|thumb|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" />

With the Apple, Savonarola [[Bonfire of the Vanities|took control]] over Florence in 1494 after Lorenzo's death. 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,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> causing the Borgia family to fall into a chaotic state upon losing track of the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio, who tried to assassinate him. Ezio sneaked inside the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]] and seemingly assassinated Borgia. After Ezio finished speaking with Rodrigo, he left, only to see him 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. However, 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: [[Sixth Apple|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. However, [[File:Assassins-creed-2-rodrigo-borgia.jpg|thumb|left|Rodrigo with the [[The Staff|Staff of Eden]].]]Rodrigo tripped Ezio 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, which had been underneath Rome the whole time. Ezio tried to stop him, but he was lifted into the air by Rodrigo, unable to resist two combined Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Rodrigo stabbed Ezio with a dagger and left him to die on the floor of the Sistine Chapel, before escaping into the Vault. Though injured, Ezio eventually made his way to the Vault, where Rodrigo was furiously pounding the door to the inner chambers. Ezio dropped down into the pit where Rodrigo was, and challenged him to one last fist fight, with no more weapons, no more plots, and no more 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, in order to unify Italy under the Templars' 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 his son Cesare learned of this, he led a [[Fall of Monteriggioni|siege]] on [[Monteriggioni]], though without Rodrigo's approval, in order to reacquire the Apple of Eden and kill the last of the Assassins. By this time, Rodrigo was reduced to nothing but a figurehead, with Cesare ultimately taking over Rome.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Later life and death===
[[File:ACB Cesare Rodrigo.png|thumb|right|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. Cesare controlled Rodrigo's armies, however, and carried out his plans without his father's consent.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

[[File:Apple.png|thumb|left|Cesare killing his father]]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. Later on, at [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]]'s pagan party, Rodrigo spoke to Cesare and reprimanded him, only to have his son brush aside his concerns and remind him who was ''truly'' in charge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

The following year, Rodrigo had grown heavily displeased with Cesare's ambition and entitlement, believing his son to be out of control. Fearing Cesare would jeopardize the balance of power he wished to maintain, Rodrigo decided his best option was to remove Cesare. To that end, he seized the Castel's supply of cantarella - the same poison that had been used for Doge Mocenigo - and poisoning 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 finish eating the rest of the apple. 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''==
(First assassination attempt by Ezio)

'''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.''

(Second "death scene" with Rodrigo)

'''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''==
(Rodrigo is organizing a bowl of apples, when [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]] arrives)

'''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''': Y''ou intend to give me money?''

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

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

(Cesare takes an apple from the bowl, and bites a small portion of it.)

'''Rodrigo''': ''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 [[Fall of Monteriggioni|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 tries to leave the area)

'''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 Borgia|Lucrezia]] arrives at the room)''

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

''(Cesare spits out the apple he ate, as Rodrigo steps back from him)''

'''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 stuffs the poisoned apple in Rodrigo's mouth, pinning him down on the floor)

'''Cesare''': ''Where is the Piece of Eden?''

'''Lucrezia''': ''Stop! I know where it is.''

'''Cesare''': ''And you did not tell me, that he had taken it?''

''Lucrezia''': ''Cesare... It's me... Your queen.''

'''Cesare''': ''You are my sister. Nothing more. Where is it?''

'''Lucrezia''': ''You...never loved me?''

'''Cesare''': ''Where is the Apple? Tell me.''

(Lucrezia spits at Cesare's face. Cesare retaliates with a slap across the face)

'''Cesare''': ''Tell me!''

(Rodrigo then succumbs to the poison, as Cesare continued to extort the information out of Lucrezia.)

(Ezio soon enters, bends down to Rodrigo's body once the Apple's location is taken from Lucrezia.)

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

==Trivia==
[[File:Blason_famille_it_Borgia01_svg.png|thumb|[[Heraldry|Coat of arms]] of the Borgia. Can be seen on Borgia's personal guards (in black with red striped outfit) with slightly different colors.]]
[[File:Papal Arms of Alexander VI.svg|thumb|[[Heraldry#Rodrigo Borgia|Papal arms]] of Alexander VI. Can be seen on the Papal Guards in [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]. ]]
*He was called "'''the Spaniard'''" by the Assassins, as he was of Spanish origin.
*As Ezio entered the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Borgia, 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.
* Although Ezio did not kill Borgia, he is listed as dead in the Animus' Conspirator Web after the player completes ''Assassin's Creed II'' and re-enters the [[Animus]]. This may be due to Ezio simply listing off Rodrigo as a target.
* In ''Assassin's Creed II'', 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. This might be to make Rodrigo appear more sinister. An example of this occurrence is when Ezio brings Uberto Alberti the conspiracy documents, and a hooded Rodrigo is seen standing behind Uberto briefly, where the red light appears.
* In a scene in ''Assassin’s Creed: Lineage'', he can be seen eating an apple, which is perhaps a hint at the Apple he later attempts to gain, as well as the poisoned apple that leads to his death in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.
* Rodrigo is the only assassination target Ezio has had to fight repeatedly in ''Assassin's Creed II'', and is also the most formidable fighter there.
* 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.
* 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 in the game. The Pazzi, the Barbarigos and Carlo Grimaldi, for example, are shown at the table.
* He was the first Pope to be elected from a conclave in the Sistine Chapel.
* Sometimes, during the fight with Rodrigo in ''Assassin's Creed II'', he can be seen wielding a spear instead of the Staff.
* Rodrigo's fate differs in the novel, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', to 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.
** However, in the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novelization of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], he survived this suicide attempt, and [[Mario Auditore]] suggested that he didn't take enough poison, or that he was faking.
* Rodrigo died in 1503 at the age of [[72]].
* 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 before he was elected Pope in 1492.

==Database entry==

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

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==Notes and 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]]