Editing Cesare Borgia

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{{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}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Cesare Borgia
|image = Char_cesare.png
|birth = 13 September 1475 or April 1476<br>[[Rome]], {{Wiki|Papal States}}
|death = 12 March 1507<br>[[Viana]], {{Wiki|Kingdom of Navarre}}
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia|Borgia]]<br>[[Templars]]<br>[[Papacy]] <small>(until 1503)</small>
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance|Ascendance]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|Brotherhood]]''<br>[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Brotherhood'' novel]]<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy|Project Legacy]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''
|voice = [[Andreas Apergis]]}}
'''Cesare Borgia''' (1475 or 1476 - 1507) was the son of [[Rodrigo Borgia]] and a nemesis of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]]. Like his father, he was a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. Eventually, he became {{Wiki|Captain General of the Church|Captain General}} of the [[Papacy|Papal]] armies, though he secretly plotted against his father to take over [[Rome]], and all of [[Italy]] afterwards.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> 

Even before his father's death, he claimed the rank of [[Grand Master]] of the Templars in Europe, usurping the title completely when his father eventually died. Despite his loyalty to the Templars, they were a secondary concern when compared to his own desire to control the powers of [[Ezio's Apple of Eden|the Apple]].<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 [[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 arranged to meet Juan at [[Tiber Island]], where he convinced Juan to spend the night with the [[Courtesans|courtesan]] [[Fiora Cavazza]], who later killed him under Cesare's orders.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

He then took his place as Captain General, thereby becoming one of the most powerful men in Italy. Once he had become Captain General of the Papal armies, Cesare surrounded himself with cruel and effective men; [[Ramiro d'Orco]], [[Oliverotto da Fermo]], and [[Vitellozzo Vitelli]], all of which he had killed at a later date.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

===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 [[House of Borgia|my family]]... to [[House of Auditore|yours]].|Cesare Borgia to Ezio Auditore, just before killing Mario Auditore, 1500.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
In January 1500, Cesare led [[Fall of Monteriggioni|an assault]] on [[Monteriggioni]], the headquarters of the Assassins in Italy, in order to eliminate the Auditore family, who were the leaders of the Assassins. Besieging the city, Cesare's forces overwhelmed the fortress defenders and captured the Apple, [[Caterina Sforza]], and [[Mario Auditore]], the current leader of the [[Italian Assassins]].<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:ACBH Cesare Apple of Eden.png|thumb|left|250px|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 [[Free-Running|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' [[Firearms|firearm]] from him, a pistol that Ezio's good friend, [[Leonardo da Vinci]], had been forced to fashion for them.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

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]]. Cesare immediately had Mario decapitated, his severed head placed on a pike. During Ezio's escape, Cesare showed Mario's head to him, exclaiming that he would kill him next. With Monteriggioni in ruins, Cesare and his army returned to Rome with their prize.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

===Supressing rebellion===
{{Dialogue|Oliverotto|I never wished you any harm, Cesare. It was entirely Vitellozzo's plan!|Cesare|Ha! Your sacrifice will prove invaluable to me.|Oliverotto pleading to Cesare before being killed by Micheletto, 1500.}}

Following the Siege of Monteriggioni, Cesare commanded Ramiro d'Orco, Vitellozzo Vitelli and Oliverotto da Fermo to lead his armies into [[Romagna]] and claim it for their Borgia master. However, all three generals eventually rebelled against Cesare, to which he responded by butchering Ramiro.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]''</ref>

His death panicked both Oliverotto and Vitellozzo, forcing them both to re-enter Cesare's service, after he accepted their every demand to return without consequences for the rebellion. However, with Romagna his, Cesare no longer required their service. Months later, Cesare threw a "dinner" in Vitellozzo and Oliverotto's honor.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

[[File:Cesare screenshot large.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Cesare greeting Vitelozzo and Oliverotto at the "dinner".]]
Once both generals arrived at the location Cesare given, he spoke out to them, thanking them for handing Romagna to him, but claimed it was time to shed his'' "bloody gloves"''.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

As several Papal Guards arrived at Cesare's side, they both realized that they had entered an ambush, thus they both charged into a fray immediately. Though outnumbered, both Oliverotto and Vitellozzo overpowered them. Cesare then armed himself with a [[crossbow]], and, as a surviving Papal Guard wounded Vitellozzo, Cesare fired the bolt at Oliverotto's chest.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

Several hours later, both Vitellozzo and Oliverotto regained consciousness, recovering from their wounds. As they woke up, they realized that they were chained back-to-back. In front of them Cesare stood, aside Micheletto Corella. Though Oliverotto blamed Vitellozzo for the conspiracy against him, Cesare ultimately ordered Micheletto to strangle both Viellozzo and Oliverotto back-to-back, claming their ''"sacrifice" ''was invaluable to him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"/>

===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 the 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"/>

[[File:In and Out 8.png|thumb|250px|left|Cesare and Rodrigo arguing over the former's recent decisions.]]
During Ezio's infiltration of the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] in late June 1501, Cesare was seen at the stables 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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Subsequently, he shared a romantic moment with his sister. Cesare asked if their father had considered the funds requested by his banker, though she claimed he was away from the Castel and may need convincing. Cesare then left the Castel for Romagna to continue his campaign.<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 eventually stolen and destroyed by Ezio Auditore, in secret, at Leonardo's own request.<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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Later that year, Cesare had his close friend, [[Francesco Troche]], assassinated by [[Micheletto Corella]], for telling his [[Egidio Troche|brother]] of Cesare's intentions for Romagna. Cesare then ordered Micheletto to assassinate the actor [[Pietro Rossi]], Lucrezia's secret lover.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

[[File:Apple a day 4.png|250px|thumb|Cesare moments before killing his father.]]
In August of 1503, due to the interference of the Roman Assassins, Cesare's army and funds had significantly diminished. Enraged, Cesare confronted Rodrigo, demanding to know what had happened. There, Cesare and Rodrigo 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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

An outraged Cesare responded by charging Rodrigo and shoving the poisoned apple down his throat, suffocating him. Cesare then demanded the Apple's whereabouts from Lucrezia, who confessed under much pressure. However, 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:Roads lead to 5.png|thumb|254px|left|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 [[Julius II|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]], {{Wiki|Aragon}}, in Spain. Though Ezio had intended to kill Cesare despite his imprisonment, he was unaware of where Cesare had been transferred. He, Machiavelli, and Leonardo began tracking him down, while 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"/>

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===Siege of Viana and death===
{{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}}

[[File:PaxR 8.png|thumb|250px|left|Cesare preparing to fight Ezio in Viana.]]
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"/>

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 pistol. 

[[File:PaxR 6.png|thumb|250px|right|Cesare, seconds before being thrown from the castle walls.]]
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.

==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"/>

[[File:CCrasher 5.png|thumb|250px|left|Cesare and Lucrezia kiss.]]
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).<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

However, in his attempts to discover the location of the Apple, Cesare 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 came to believe 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==
[[File:Ezio Cesare.png|thumb|250px|right|Cesare Borgia's final moments.]]
*'''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 either said deformity or mask.
**Historically, Cesare was infected by the recent outbreak of syphilis and resorted to wearing a mask in public.
*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.
*Historically, Cesare fathered 11 illegitimate children, some of whose mothers remain unknown.

'''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''.
*Since Cesare is immune to executions or deadly counters and will even harm Ezio if he tries to counter-kill, 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 "a cleansing" is strikingly similar to the source of [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]]'s name, which is Latin for "I cleanse."
*Historically, it is said that Niccolò Machiavelli greatly admired Cesare. However, in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', while Machiavelli respects his ability to enforce his will, he also seeks to eliminate Cesare and his [[House of Borgia|family members]] alongside Ezio. Despite this, he does write a book based partially on Cesare's political life.
*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 arrogant, narcissistic personalities.<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.
*When talking to Shaun in the Sanctuary, he says that Cesare sent the Pope a letter about the night of his wedding with his French wife and that he had "done the deed eight times."
*Cesare is mentioned in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' during "[[The Prince's Banquet]]", where Ezio is disguised as a minstrel and sings about Cesare's death.
*There is an action figure of Cesare available, supplied by the UK branch of the Amazon retailer.
*Cesare is represented in two [[mnemonic sets]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'': the "Borgia Family" set, and the "[[Shroud of Eden|Shroud of Turin]]" set.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center">
Cesare Borgia Artwork.png|Cesare's concept art.
Gallery7.jpg|Cesare's portrait in the Tiber Island hideout.
CesareFiora.png|Cesare watching his brother's death.
ACB Cesare Baron.png|Cesare and Octavian de Valois.
CCrasher 4.png|Cesare and his allies in Castel Sant'Angelo.
The Apple 3.png|Cesare being protected by Papal Guards from Ezio Auditore.
Apple_a_day_6.png|Cesare demanding the location of the Apple from Lucrezia.
PaxR_5.png|Cesare battling Ezio at the Siege of Viana.
</gallery>

==References==
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