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{{Era|Individuals|Hermeticists}}
{{Era|Individuals}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Quote|These lost people... warring kingdoms... I would have ended their suffering.|Ercole's final words.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|The Temple of Pythagoras}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
| name = Ercole Massimo
|name = Eric the Victorious
| image = Ercole_Massimo_v.png
|image = Wiki noimage.jpg
| birth = 1474<br>[[Rome]], {{wiki|Papal States}}
|birth = c. 945
| death = 22 June 1506<br>Rome, Papal States
|death = c. 995<br>{{wiki|Kongsgård}}, [[Uppsala]], [[Sweden|Kingdom of Sweden]]
| species = [[Human]]
|species = [[Human]]
| affiliates = [[Hermeticists]]<br />{{Wiki|Massimo family|House of Massimo}}
|affiliates = [[House of Munsö]]<br>[[Assassins|Hidden Ones]]
| voice = [[Arthur Holden]]
*[[Swedish Brotherhood of Assassins|Swedish Brotherhood]]
| database = [[Database: Ercole Massimo|Ercole Massimo]]<br />[[Database: Ercole Massimo (Identity)|Ercole Massimo (Identity)]]
}}
}}
'''Ercole Massimo''' (1474 – 1506) was a [[Rome|Roman]] nobleman and member of the {{Wiki|Massimo family}}, one of Rome's wealthiest and most ancient families. He was also the leader of the covert [[Hermeticists|Cult of Hermes]] until his death.
'''Eric the Victorious''' ({{Wiki|Old Norse}}: Eirik inn sigrsàeli; Swedish: Erik Segersäli; c. 945 – c. 995) was the king of [[Sweden]] from roughly 970 to his death. Through his advisor [[Torgny the Lawspeaker]], Eric was allied with the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
In 975, Eric's older brother and co-ruler [[Olof Björnsson|Olof]] died, and his rule was contested by his nephew, [[Styrbjörn the Strong]], who made a promise to build an army to defeat his uncle.<ref name="CH10">''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods]]'' – Chapter Ten</ref>
At a young age, Ercole participated in the formation of a Roman library, partnering with the wealthy banker, [[Agostino Chigi]], to help fund the arts. He also succeeded in convincing Pope [[Julius II]] to invite the painter [[Pietro Perugino]] to the [[Vaticano District|Vatican]] to help decorate the papal apartments.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]'' – [[Database: Ercole Massimo]]</ref>


At the age of thirty, Ercole became heavily invested in the teachings of [[Hermes Trismegistus]], whose writings had recently been translated by [[Florence|Florentine]] scholar [[Marsilio Ficino]]. Ercole joined a Hermetic society in Rome, and devoted significant time to his activities there. He eventually met [[Leonardo da Vinci]], who had become a frequent visitor of the Massimo palazzo library, due to his search for the [[Temple of Pythagoras|Temple]] of [[Pythagoras]].<ref name="Database" />
In 985, Eric convened his war council upon hearing news about his nephew sailing to fight him for the throne. While discussing the plans, he was interrupted by [[Torgny the Lawspeaker]] and the ''[[skald]]'' [[Thorvald Hjaltason]]. When Torgny called for a private meeting, Eric dismissed his council while he talked about the [[Templars]] using Styrbjörn as a means to expand their reach. After Thorvald explained his plan for a small legion to attack and delay Styrbjörn's march covertly, Eric agreed and had Torgny help him convince the council of their plans.<ref name="CH10"/>


===Search for the Entrance===
As Styrbjörn neared closer, Thorvald and Torgny informed the king of the successful events that had transpired in the [[Mirkwood]]. Not wanting to know their methods, Eric gave the Hidden Ones his permission to enact their plan. Before Thorvald left, Torgny tasked him to assassinate Styrbjörn and retrieve the [[Trident of Eden|dagger]] he held. Upon Thorvald's return, he and Torngy went to meet with Eric, but were stopped by the king's pet [[bear]], [[Astrid]]. After calling Astrid off, Eric heard about Styrbjörn still being alive and Thorvald's acquisition of the dagger. With it, they all planned to boost the army's morale in a ceremony where the dagger was to be used as a gift to [[Odin]].<ref name="CH21">''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods]]'' – Chapter Twenty-One</ref>
In 1506, Ercole ordered a party of several Hermeticists to distract [[Salaì]], Leonardo da Vinci's assistant, in order to allow a second group to kidnap the inventor, as Leonardo knew the location of the entrance to the Temple of Pythagoras.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – ''The Da Vinci Disappearance'' – [[A Roll of the Dice]]</ref>


[[File:Memento Mori 3.png|thumb|250px|left|Ercole meeting with Patrizio]]
To secure Eric's safety, Thorvald convinced him to have someone else face off against Styrbjörn. When Thorvald brought the renowned farmer and warrior [[Östen Jorundsson]] to the king, Eric offered the man the opportunity to be his champion, to which Östen agreed.<ref name="CH21"/> The next day, Eric stood beside Astrid and Östen while his army [[Battle of Fýrisvellir|fought]] against Styrbjörn and the [[Jomsvikings]]. He soon watched Styrbjörn being challenged by Östen and, after their duel, he witnessed his nephew succumb to his injuries.<ref name="CH22">''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods]]'' – Chapter Twenty-Two</ref>
Upon discovering that the map to the temple was hidden in several of Leonardo's paintings, Ercole sent his disciples out to retrieve them; some of these caused paranoia in [[Lucrezia Borgia]], making her place her [[Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara|husband's]] [[Delizia di Belriguardo|palazzo]] under full alert.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – ''The Da Vinci Disappearance'' – [[The One Who Got Away]]</ref>


Ercole himself later met up with [[Patrizio]] in the Vaticano district of Rome to negotiate the sale of ''[[Portrait of a Musician]]''. However, Patrizio changed his mind in the middle of discussing the purchase, and declared that since the painting had been given to him by his former lover, who had later abandoned him, it should not be possessed by anyone.<ref name="Memento Mori">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – ''The Da Vinci Disappearance'' – [[Memento Mori]]</ref>
While his army defeated Styrbjörn's remaining forces, Eric had Styrbjörn's wife [[Thyra Haraldsdottir|Thyra]] bound and brought to him. The king was then informed by Thorvald that his marshal had tried to kill Östen beforehand to benefit Styrbjörn, and that he had not acted alone. While Thorvald swore to find the other traitors within Eric's inner circle, the king thanked Östen and gifted Thyra as his thrall. Afterwards, he left with Torgny to settle matters with the council now that the battle was over.<ref name="CH22"/>
 
As he attempted to destroy the painting, Ercole beckoned one of his Hermeticists to silence Patrizio with his dagger. As Patrizio died, Ercole handed the painting to the Hermeticist, telling him to handle it with care, in order to respect the mind of the one who had created it.<ref name="Memento Mori" />
 
===The Temple of Pythagoras===
[[File:TToP_1.png|thumb|250px|Ercole holding Leonardo hostage]]
After losing all five of the paintings, Ercole returned to the catacombs under Rome to interrogate Leonardo himself. Despite much pressure and physical punishment, Leonardo refused to cooperate, and shortly afterwards his friend [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], [[Mentor]] of the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Assassins]], arrived.<ref name="Temple of Pythagoras">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – ''The Da Vinci Disappearance'' – [[The Temple of Pythagoras]]</ref>
 
Ercole halted his Hermeticists from attacking the Assassin, and greeted Ezio as an ally. Speaking approvingly of how Ezio had stopped the ignorance [[Cesare Borgia]] had been spreading across Rome, Ercole requested Ezio to help persuade Leonardo to talk. However, Ezio only sarcastically asked if Ercole would rather he used his fists or his knife.<ref name="Temple of Pythagoras" />
 
Ercole replied that he only wished for a civil solution, and attempted to convince Ezio to join him so that they could "remake humanity together." The Assassin refused, prompting Ercole to send several of his disciples to kill him, but none were able to touch him, all being killed by Ezio. Realizing the danger to his life, the panicked Ercole threw another Hermeticist towards Ezio, but only succeeded in knocking a chunk of rubble off the ledge he had been standing on, allowing Ezio to climb up and confront Ercole.<ref name="Temple of Pythagoras" />
 
[[File:Ercole Massimo death v.png|thumb|240px|left|Ercole's final moments]]
Faced with his inevitable end, Ercole desperately pleaded with Ezio, saying that they were alike, but Ezio ignored him, stabbing him with his [[Hidden Blade]]. As he lay dying in Ezio's arms, Ercole voiced his shock that an Assassin like Ezio was an "enemy of knowledge." Ezio retorted that one must be free to find the truth for themselves, rather than be forced into it. Ercole reasoned that he had only wanted to free and protect the people from dictation and war, through knowledge. As Ercole closed his eyes, Ezio simply said that he wished Ercole would realize the truth in death.<ref name="Temple of Pythagoras" />


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' {{Mdat}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR]]'' {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Hermeticists nav}}
{{Assassins nav}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACLD}}
{{ACID}}
[[Category:945 births]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Massimo, Ercole}}
[[Category:995 deaths]]
[[Category:1474 births]]
[[Category:1506 deaths]]
[[Category:Italians]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Hermeticists]]
[[Category:Swedes]]
[[Category:Heraclidae]]
[[Category:Vikings]]
[[Category:Norse people]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Sweden]]
[[Category:House of Munsö]]
[[Category:Assassin allies]]

Revision as of 02:32, 4 May 2026

Eric the Victorious (Old Norse: Eirik inn sigrsàeli; Swedish: Erik Segersäli; c. 945 – c. 995) was the king of Sweden from roughly 970 to his death. Through his advisor Torgny the Lawspeaker, Eric was allied with the Hidden Ones.

Biography

In 975, Eric's older brother and co-ruler Olof died, and his rule was contested by his nephew, Styrbjörn the Strong, who made a promise to build an army to defeat his uncle.[1]

In 985, Eric convened his war council upon hearing news about his nephew sailing to fight him for the throne. While discussing the plans, he was interrupted by Torgny the Lawspeaker and the skald Thorvald Hjaltason. When Torgny called for a private meeting, Eric dismissed his council while he talked about the Templars using Styrbjörn as a means to expand their reach. After Thorvald explained his plan for a small legion to attack and delay Styrbjörn's march covertly, Eric agreed and had Torgny help him convince the council of their plans.[1]

As Styrbjörn neared closer, Thorvald and Torgny informed the king of the successful events that had transpired in the Mirkwood. Not wanting to know their methods, Eric gave the Hidden Ones his permission to enact their plan. Before Thorvald left, Torgny tasked him to assassinate Styrbjörn and retrieve the dagger he held. Upon Thorvald's return, he and Torngy went to meet with Eric, but were stopped by the king's pet bear, Astrid. After calling Astrid off, Eric heard about Styrbjörn still being alive and Thorvald's acquisition of the dagger. With it, they all planned to boost the army's morale in a ceremony where the dagger was to be used as a gift to Odin.[2]

To secure Eric's safety, Thorvald convinced him to have someone else face off against Styrbjörn. When Thorvald brought the renowned farmer and warrior Östen Jorundsson to the king, Eric offered the man the opportunity to be his champion, to which Östen agreed.[2] The next day, Eric stood beside Astrid and Östen while his army fought against Styrbjörn and the Jomsvikings. He soon watched Styrbjörn being challenged by Östen and, after their duel, he witnessed his nephew succumb to his injuries.[3]

While his army defeated Styrbjörn's remaining forces, Eric had Styrbjörn's wife Thyra bound and brought to him. The king was then informed by Thorvald that his marshal had tried to kill Östen beforehand to benefit Styrbjörn, and that he had not acted alone. While Thorvald swore to find the other traitors within Eric's inner circle, the king thanked Östen and gifted Thyra as his thrall. Afterwards, he left with Torgny to settle matters with the council now that the battle was over.[3]

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Ten
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Twenty-One
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Twenty-Two

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