Ercole Massimo: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Individuals}}{{ | {{Era|Individuals|Hermeticists}} | ||
{{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 = | | name = Ercole Massimo | ||
|image = | | image = Ercole_Massimo_v.png | ||
|birth = | | birth = 1474<br>[[Rome]], {{wiki|Papal States}} | ||
| death = 22 June 1506<br>Rome, Papal States | |||
| | | species = [[Human]] | ||
| | | affiliates = [[Hermeticists]]<br />{{Wiki|Massimo family|House of Massimo}} | ||
| voice = [[Arthur Holden]] | |||
| 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. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Early life=== | |||
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" /> | |||
===Search for the Entrance=== | |||
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]] | |||
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 [[Lucrezia Borgia|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> | |||
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, and attempted to convince him of the righteousness of his goal, convinced that the Pythagorean unifier would uplift mankind from its divided social classes and kingdoms. 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" /> | |||
==Personality and traits== | |||
Ercole tended to portray himself as a cultured, well-mannered individual. However, underneath, he was a cruel and amoral person, willing to do everything and anything to achieve his goals.<ref name="Memento Mori" /> A fanatical believer in the Hermeticist cause, Ercole believed it to be his solemn duty to enlighten mankind, as exemplified by his obsession with the Pythagorean unifier. He tends to delegate dirty work to his henchmen, but was prone to cowardice if no one was around to protect him, indicating the lack of fighting ability.<ref name="Temple of Pythagoras" /> | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' {{Mdat}} | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
{{ | {{Hermeticists nav}} | ||
{{ | {{ACBH}} | ||
[[Category: | {{ACID}} | ||
[[Category: | {{DEFAULTSORT:Massimo, Ercole}} | ||
[[Category:1474 births]] | |||
[[Category:1506 deaths]] | |||
[[Category:Italians]] | |||
[[Category:Individuals]] | [[Category:Individuals]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Hermeticists]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Heraclidae]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:34, 4 May 2026
Ercole Massimo (1474 – 1506) was a Roman nobleman and member of the Massimo family, one of Rome's wealthiest and most ancient families. He was also the leader of the covert Cult of Hermes until his death.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early life[edit | edit source]
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 Vatican to help decorate the papal apartments.[1]
At the age of thirty, Ercole became heavily invested in the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, whose writings had recently been translated by 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.[1]
Search for the Entrance[edit | edit source]
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.[2]
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 husband's palazzo under full alert.[3]
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.[4]
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.[4]
The Temple of Pythagoras[edit | edit source]
After losing all five of the paintings, Ercole returned to the catacombs under Rome to interrogate Leonardo himself, and attempted to convince him of the righteousness of his goal, convinced that the Pythagorean unifier would uplift mankind from its divided social classes and kingdoms. Despite much pressure and physical punishment, Leonardo refused to cooperate, and shortly afterwards his friend Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Mentor of the Italian Assassins, arrived.[5]
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.[5]
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.[5]
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.[5]
Personality and traits[edit | edit source]
Ercole tended to portray himself as a cultured, well-mannered individual. However, underneath, he was a cruel and amoral person, willing to do everything and anything to achieve his goals.[4] A fanatical believer in the Hermeticist cause, Ercole believed it to be his solemn duty to enlighten mankind, as exemplified by his obsession with the Pythagorean unifier. He tends to delegate dirty work to his henchmen, but was prone to cowardice if no one was around to protect him, indicating the lack of fighting ability.[5]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance
- Assassin's Creed: Identity (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – Database: Ercole Massimo
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – A Roll of the Dice
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – The One Who Got Away
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – Memento Mori
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – The Temple of Pythagoras
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