Cesare Borgia

"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.

Cesare Borgia (Valencian: Cèsar Borja; Spanish: César Borja; 1475 – 1507) was an Italian condottiero and nobleman, the illegitimate son of Rodrigo Borgia, and a nemesis of the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Like his father, he was also a member of the Roman Rite of the Templar Order, serving as its de facto leader from 1500 to 1503 before assuming the title of Grand Master upon Rodrigo's death.

Originally a Cardinal, Cesare harbored ambitions to become Captain General of the Papal armies, which he eventually succeeded in doing after having his older brother Juan killed in 1497. He spent the next few years consolidating his power and surrounding himself with equally cruel and effective men, most of whom he had killed as well, to prevent them from turning against him.

After learning about the Apple of Eden held by the Assassins, Cesare led a siege of their stronghold in Monteriggioni, successfully seizing the Apple and leaving the Italian Brotherhood in disarray. He then began a campaign to conquer all of Italy, allegedly to unite it under the Templar banner. In reality, despite his loyalty to the Templars, they were a secondary concern compared to Cesare's desire to increase his own power.

Because Cesare was preoccupied with his conquests, he failed to prevent the Assassins from rebuilding their strength in Rome, resulting in Cesare losing all of his funding and military support. When he returned to the city and demanded the Apple of Eden from his father, Rodrigo refused to give it to him, leading Cesare to kill him. The Assassins would later recover the Apple and use it to eliminate Cesare's remaining supporters, while the Captain General himself was arrested on the order of Pope Julius II.

In 1506, Cesare escaped from prison and began to rebuild his forces, gaining the support of his brother-in-law, King John III of Navarre. However, he was pursued by Ezio Auditore, who ultimately ended Cesare's life during a siege of the town of Viana in northern Spain in March 1507.

Biography

Early life

Cesare Borgia was born in 1475 in Rome to Rodrigo Borgia, a Spanish-born Cardinal and Templar Grand Master, and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei.

At age 18, Cesare became a Cardinal, while his older brother Juan—who was also Rodrigo's favorite—became Captain General. Unsatisfied with his life as a clergyman and jealous of his brother's position and power, he arranged to meet Juan at Tiber Island, where he convinced him to spend the night with the courtesan Fiora Cavazza, who later killed Juan under Cesare's orders.

Cesare subsequently took his brother's place as Captain General, thereby becoming one of the most powerful men in Italy. With this goal achieved, he began to surround himself with cruel and effective men; Ramiro d'Orco, Oliverotto da Fermo, and Vitellozzo Vitelli, all of whom he had killed at a later date.

Accumulating power

In 1496, when his father waged war with the Orsini family to seize their territory north of Rome, Cesare joined the battle. Among the enemy's ranks was Bartolomeo d'Alviano, in secret an Assassin. When Bartolomeo's resources were down to three fortresses, Cesare cut off his supplies. Just when victory seemed within reach, Carlo Orsini arrived with his army and reinforced Bartolomeo, even wounding Cesare in the face.

By 1498, the Assassin Perotto Calderon and Cesare's sister 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 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 their Creed. Cesare somehow managed to once again take the child and decided to raise him as his own, naming the infant Giovanni Borgia.

At some point prior to 1499, Cesare started planning a way to create his own anti-Assassin group. He sent a group of orphans to the Vallombrosa Abbey and tricked veteran Assassin Raphael Sánchez into training them as Assassins for at least five years. Cesare then appointed his ally Sirus Favero as the leader of the newly formed group, which he called "the Crows". However, Cesare and Sirus were in disagreement over the group's ideology and direction, and the tensions between them would only continue to grow over the following years.

Siege of Monteriggioni

"We've had too much bloodshed. I think a cleansing is in order. So, consider this an invitation from my family... to yours."

―Cesare to Ezio, just before killing Mario Auditore, 1500.

In December 1499, following Rodrigo's defeat by the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Cesare spoke with his father, learning that Ezio had in his possession an Apple of Eden. Desiring the artifact's power for himself, and also wishing to remove the threat of the Assassins, Cesare led an assault on Monteriggioni, the headquarters of the Italian Brotherhood, on 2 January 1500.

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. 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.

Cesare with the Apple of Eden during the siege

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 Captain General spoke of how his father, 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.

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 victorious army returned to Rome with their prize.

Following his victory in Monteriggioni, Cesare tasked the Templar Pietro de Galencia to infiltrate the town and steal a chest from the Villa Auditore, which secretly contained the blueprints of a Hidden Blade. The theft took a few years to conduct, as Pietro had to assimilate himself with the city to learn its secrets. Eventually, however, Pietro managed to steal the chest and deliver it to Cesare, shortly before he was killed by the Assassin Lo Sparviero. The chest's contents were subsequently given to the weaponsmith Demetrio, who was ordered to create "Corvix Blades" for the Crows.

Campaigning in Italy

Enjoying decisive support from the Pope and the King of France, who had named him Duke of Valentinois, Cesare started to carve out a state of his own in central Italy by systematically deposing the local lords, who nominally were rebellious Papal vicars. He ousted his former brother-in-law Giovanni Sforza from Pesaro and Pandolfo Malatesta from Rimini; Faenza surrendered and Cesare later had its captive young prince Astorre III Manfredi drowned in the Tiber.

Cesare thus became Duke of Romagna and was hired by Florence to vanquish Iacopo IV Appiani and conquer Piombino. Finally, in 1502, he expelled Guidobaldo da Montefeltro from Urbino and Giulio Cesare da Varano from Camerino. He later had the latter killed along his three sons by Micheletto Corella.

Suppressing rebellion

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, 1502.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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, claiming their "sacrifice" was invaluable to him.

War in Rome

"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 King of France stands at his side."

―Niccolò Machiavelli, regarding Cesare, 1500.

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.

Cesare and Rodrigo at the pagan party

During Ezio Auditore'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.

Subsequently, he shared a romantic moment with his sister Lucrezia. 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.

In 1502, Cesare continued to make use of Leonardo da Vinci's intellect, forcing him to design several war machines for his army. However, all of Leonardo's creations were eventually stolen and destroyed by Ezio, secretly at Leonardo's own request.

Around that time, Cesare invited his presumed ally, Fiora Cavazza, to dinner in order to interrogate her about the recent deaths of some of his agents, mainly Il Lupo and Baltasar de Silva. However, Fiora denied to have any knowledge regarding their deaths. The same night, Cesare's presumed son Giovanni discovered Fiora trying to steal Cesare's Apple of Eden, and the Captain General was alerted by the clamor, thus discovering Fiora, who had been frozen by its power. Cesare advanced on the immobilized Fiora, calmly telling Giovanni that he would hurt her.

In August 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 month, Cesare had his close friend, Francesco Troche, executed by Micheletto Corella, for telling his brother of Cesare's intentions for Romagna. Cesare then ordered Micheletto to assassinate the actor Pietro Rossi, Lucrezia's secret lover.

Cesare arguing with Rodrigo

By 18 August, due to the interference of the Italian Assassins, Cesare's army and funds had significantly diminished. Enraged, Cesare confronted Rodrigo at his private apartments, 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.

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 outraged Cesare responded by charging Rodrigo and shoving a poisoned apple – which he had already taken a bite out of – down his father's throat, killing him. Cesare then demanded the Apple's whereabouts from Lucrezia, who confessed under much pressure. However, Ezio beat Cesare to St. Peter's Basilica, the Apple's location, and retrieved the Piece of Eden before him.

Cesare being arrested

Cesare's rule spiraled downward from there. The Captain General had consumed enough of Rodrigo's poison to leave him weak for months; while he recovered, the Assassins used the Apple to dwindle his remaining forces, while the cardinals of the Curia refused to support the Templar, branding the Borgia's money "tainted".

Cesare sent Micheletto to retrieve his armies from the northern 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.

From Rome to Spain

"This is not how it ends! Chains will not hold me! I will not die by the hand of man!"

―Cesare, during his arrest, 1503.

Following his arrest, Cesare was imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo. However, he was soon able to escape the prison and flee. Somehow, Cesare managed to go to Florence in order to execute his weaponsmith Demetrio, who refused to continue production of the Corvix Blades and was plotting to kill Cesare after the latter cut out his tongue. However, Demetrio was saved by the Assassins before he could be executed.

During this time, Cesare came to blows with Sirus Favero and declared that he and the Crows had gone rogue and were no longer serving the Templars' interests. In response, Sirus came to loathe Cesare and cut all ties with him. He then began making plans to destroy both the Borgia and the Assassins, though he and the Crows were eliminated by the Brotherhood before they could succeed.

Cesare was eventually recaptured, after which Pope Julius II concluded that he needed to be transferred to a more secure prison, and had the Templar moved to the Castillo de la Mota in Aragon, Spain. Though Ezio hoped to kill Cesare, believing the Templar to still pose a threat despite his imprisonment, he was unaware of where Cesare had been transferred to. He, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Leonardo da Vinci began tracking him down, while Micheletto, who had evaded imprisonment and remained loyal to Cesare, planned for his master's escape.

In 1506, Micheletto bribed a prison guard at the Castillo. Having had rope smuggled in for him, Cesare climbed down from his window and snuck 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.

Attack on Valencia

Cesare: "You got me out of La Mota, sure, and you up my hopes. But now look where you have got me!"

Micheletto: "Master, all my men are dead. I have done what I could."

Cesare: "And failed!"

—Cesare before bursting into a tirade about Micheletto and killing him, Valencia, 1506.

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 at the Lone Wolf Inn. Ezio and Machiavelli soon discovered this, however, and were able to destroy the encampment and twelve ships with Leonardo's hand-held bombs.

Later, they spied on him from the roof of 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.

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 little 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.

Ezio chose to take the injured Machiavelli to a doctor instead of attacking Cesare, giving the Templar a chance to escape Valencia and cross the borders to the Kingdom of Navarre.

Siege of Viana and death

"I will lead mankind into a new world! You cannot kill me! No man can murder me!"

―Cesare Borgia's last words, 1507.

Cesare fighting 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, 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.

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, screaming at his men to kill the Assassin as he retreated. Ezio's pursuit was delayed by several cannonball impacts that stunned him, and incapacitated the other soldiers in the area.

Ezio soon caught up to him on the outskirts of the castle walls, where Cesare had his soldiers kill a 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 and engaged him in a duel, with Cesare wielding a sword and a pistol.

Ezio letting Cesare fall to his death

Though Cesare attacked with speed and skill, while also periodically calling reinforcing troops, they were no match for the Master Assassin. Ultimately, Ezio killed all of Cesare's guards and broke the Templar's armor, leaving him vulnerable. Pinned to the ground, a defeated Cesare furiously proclaimed that he would not die at the hands of man. In response, Ezio declared that he would leave Cesare "in the hands of Fate", and threw him off of the castle wall to his death.

Legacy

"Cesare is just too much of an asshole to have his own show!"

―Melanie Lemay, 2014.

Cesare's leadership of the Roman Rite was looked down upon by future generations of Templars, who saw him as a debased tyrant more interested in accumulating power rather than furthering the Templar cause. Together with his father Rodrigo, Cesare would come to be seen by modern Templars as one of the worst Grand Masters in history, due to corrupting the Order's purpose into gaining power by any means. In general, the Borgia's reign over the Templars is regarded as the "Dark Age of the Order".

In 2014, the Abstergo Entertainment employee Jean-François Brunet sequenced Cesare's genetic memories and pitched a potential virtual feature for the Helix starring him. The company's CCO Melanie Lemay rejected it, believing Cesare to be too loathsome to have his own game, although she suggested that part of the collected footage could be added to an already existing project about Rodrigo.

In 2023, the Abstergo Industries doctor and Templar Shimazu Sei listed Cesare as one of the prominent historical figures assassinated by Ezio Auditore. Rodrigo was also included on that list, implying that most Templars were unaware of Cesare's murder of his own father.

Personality and traits

Rodrigo: "We did not agree to conquer Italia."

Cesare: "If your brilliant Captain General says we can do it, why not rejoice and let it happen?"

—Rodrigo and Cesare Borgia, discussing the latter's ambitions, 1503.

Cesare and Lucrezia kissing

Cesare was born into the Templar Order and, like many of his siblings, was raised by his father as his personal weapon. However, Cesare was a charismatic, cruel, aggressive, and ambitious man. He was utterly ruthless in that he would do anything—including murder anyone - to obtain power.

Cesare seemingly had a god complex, holding himself far above his subordinates, his peers, and even his own family. He believed that he was more powerful than the Pope himself, unrecognizing or unappreciating that his father's status as Pope was the only reason he had any power in the first place. He maintained this belief throughout his life, even in his final moments, despite being aware that his death was imminent.

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 – those of which she would normally woo in order to spite her unfaithful brother. 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." Despite this, Cesare maintained contact with Lucrezia until death, promising her that he would return to power.

Skills and equipment

Ezio: "Is that admiration I hear in your voice?"

Machiavelli: "He knows how to exercise his will. A rare virtue in the world today."

—Ezio and Mchiavelli, discussing Cesare's leadership abilities, 1500.

Cesare struggling to fend off Ezio's attack

Cesare, as Captain General of the Papal armies, was a capable leader, and gained many victories. Cesare was a skilled swordsman, killing several Vianese soldiers with ease, and capable of fighting on even ground with Ezio Auditore in a sword-fight that nearly ended in a stalemate, in spite of being afflicted with the "New Disease". Cesare was also a competent bullfighter, being able to kill a bull without the need of aid from his assistants.

Cesare was a skilled manipulator, amassing many followers under his campaigns. While some followers merely used Cesare to further their own ambitions, Cesare himself was manipulating them, with plans to dispose of his men should they betray him or outlive their usefulness. Even his once manipulative and powerful father became nothing more than a figurehead in Cesare's quest for power. Machiavelli himself admitted respect for Cesare's skill in consolidating his power. Ezio was also well aware of what Cesare was capable of and that, as long as he lived, whether he be imprisoned or removed from power, he would always remain a threat.

Cesare was armed with a Schiavona while in Rome, though chose to wield a Common Sword during the Siege of Viana. Cesare also wielded a wheelock pistol as well as a dagger. He was additionally skilled in wielding a crossbow.

Trivia

Appearance and behavior

• In 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.
• Cesare Borgia was married to Charlotte d'Albret, who bore him a daughter named Louise. This is never mentioned in the game, although Ezio visits her in the novelization. He actually died while fighting for her brother, John d'Albret of Navarre.

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 counters, and would even harm Ezio on the Assassin's attempts to counter-kill him, Cesare could only be killed by whittling down his defense through attacking repeatedly or by being shot by Ezio's Hidden Gun.

Mobile game

• In the non-canonical mobile adaptation of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Cesare Borgia attacks Monteriggioni, kills Mario Auditore, and steals the Apple of Eden in 1486, the year the entire game, along with the mobile prequel is set. Unlike the canonical game, Cesare Borgia is not confronted by the Assassins at the Piazza del Popolo in 1503 after losing the Apple only to be arrested by Fabio Orsini, nor is he killed by Ezio Auditore in personal combat years later in 1507 at the Siege of Viana. Instead, he is confronted by Ezio Auditore in 1486 at the Roman Colosseum after the assassination of all his allies but still with the Apple in hand, which he uses in his duel with Ezio. The fight is separated into two stages:
  • In the first stage, Cesare, augmented by the Apple, performs several techniques, some lightning-themed.
    • He charges his sword in an upward swing followed by two more rapid slashes, all while emitting lightning bolts in an expanding radius around him.
    • He charges at Ezio with an augmented burst of speed.
    • He fires his pistol.
    • Once he has nearly lost half his health, he holds out the Apple to blast Ezio away with an explosion of lightning around him.
    • From then on, he adds an additional combat maneuver to his arsenal: that of throwing cross-shaped energy grenades that detonate in electric shockwaves upon impact.
  • Eventually over-exhaustion from the Apple of Eden sets in, giving Ezio the opportunity to trounce him before stabbing him through the gut with his sword. The critically injured Cesare does not succumb to this wound, and fueled by the Apple, is able to not only partially recover, but flee to upper stages of the stadium where Ezio catches up to him for a resumption of their duel. At this point, Cesare outright absorbs the Apple of Eden, which transforms him into a powered-up state with an orange aura. In this state he is capable of the following feats, which he employs in his fight in addition to those he performed in the previous stage:
    • He hovers off the ground, with a pool of lightning beneath him.
    • He charges a ball of lightning in his hand, which he then thrusts at Ezio by charging at him with augmented speed.
    • He slashes with his lightning-empowered sword, only unlike his initial combo, this focuses the lightning bolt outward in a focused direction: towards Ezio.
    • By slamming the ground, he summons a trap of dark lightning from underneath Ezio, which, after shocking him with electric tendrils, crucifies him in a cross entirely composed of electricity.
  • All of these attacks are unblockable to Ezio, who is forced to evade them all. Cesare is also invulnerable to damage in his state. Only after casting his lightning crucifixion technique does he become weakened enough to be injured—which Ezio exploits after breaking free of the trap through force of will alone.
  • The pattern repeats until Cesare is at last mortally wounded; Ezio then finishes him by first kicking his face, then grabbing him by his neck with one hand, choking him, whereby he proceeds to use his other hand to stab him three times and slash him two times with his Hidden Blade. After seizing the Apple of Eden, Ezio immediately uses it to unleash a pillar of lightning around him that blasts Cesare away. As Cesare is blown away, Ezio utilizes his Apple-augmented speed to rapidly dash behind him and kick him back, then dash forward to intercept him once more and slam his body into the ground. From there, he executes his archenemy with one final thrust of his sword down into his head. Unlike the main game, Ezio in the mobile version is expressly motivated to kill Cesare and his allies only out of vengeance for Mario's death.

Others

• His given name is the Italian variation of the name Caesar.
• 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 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 Julius Caesar, attempting to kill Cesare with a knife. Ezio Auditore compared Cesare to Caligula, due to the similarities in their arrogant, narcissistic personalities.
• Historically, Cesare was killed by an ambush of four Vianan Knights during the Siege of Viana where they stripped him of his luxurious garments and jewels including his mask that he covered in his face when he contracted syphilis and the knights only left him a red tile to cover up his gentiles.
• 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 mentions 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".
• In the novelization, Cesare's personal crest was described as "two red bulls quartered with fleur-de-lis", the coat of arms of Duke of Valentinois. In the game however, he wasn't given a personal crest.
• Cesare is mentioned in Assassin's Creed: Revelations during "The Prince's Banquet", where Ezio disguises himself 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 Turin" set.
• Cesare can be seen very briefly in the introduction to Assassin's Creed III, holding the Apple of Eden.

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Cesare with armor
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  Concept art of Cesare without armor
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  Assassin's Creed: Memories art of Cesare
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  Memories art of Cesare holding an apple
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  Memories art of Cesare without armor
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  Cesare's portrait in the Tiber Island gallery
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  A Glass of Wine with Caesar Borgia by John Collier
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  Cesare watching his brother's death
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  Cesare and Octavian de Valois
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  Cesare and his allies in Castel Sant'Angelo
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  Cesare demanding the location of the Apple from Lucrezia
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  Cesare suffering from the Cantarella poisoning
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  Cesare leading his remaining followers in Rome
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  Cesare's final moments

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (first mentioned) (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Ascendance (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
• Assassin's Creed III (flashback only)
• Assassin's Creed: Recollection
• Assassin's Creed: Memories
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Identity (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice – Creed vs Crows (non-canon)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple (mentioned only)