Ercole Massimo

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Ercole Massimo (14

74 - 1506) was a Roman noble and leader of the Hermeticists, or Cult of Hermes during the early 16th century as well as a member of possibly Rome's most wealthy family, and also most ancient family, the Massimo family.

History

In 1506, he ordered a team of his Hermeticists to distract Salaì, Leonardo da Vinci's assistant, while another group kidnapped the latter, as he knew the location of Pythagorian Temple.

He later met up with Patrizio at his palazzo in the Vaticano district of Rome to negotiate the sale of one of Da Vinci's paintings (which he had been given by his former lover, Lucrezia Borgia), one the five which Leonardo had hidden his map to the temple upon. However, Patrizio refused, saying no one should possess it, as Lucrezia had lured him into loving her, and threw it to the ground, preparing to destroy it. Before he could, Ercole had ordered him to be stabbed in the back by one of the Hermeticists. Ercole then handed it to the Hermeticist, telling him to handle it with care, to respect the mind who made it.

After losing all five of the paintings, he managed to find the temple entrance in a series of catacombs. He interrogated Leonardo on how to get inside, but he refused to talk. Before Leonardo could be seriously hurt, his old friend, Ezio Auditore da Firenze - the Grand Master of the Assassin Order - arrived. Ercole greeted Ezio, and tried to get him to persuade Leonardo, and Ezio asked sarcastically if Ercole would rather Ezio used his fists or his knife. Ercole replied that he wanted it to be as pleasant a situation as he did, but sent several Hermeticists to combat Ezio as a precaution. After Ezio defeated each, Ercole threw another Hermeticist to defend himself, but he died on impact with the ground, and knocked a chunk of rubble down for Ezio to climb in the process. Realizing his inevitable end, Ercole tried desperately to plead with Ezio, saying that they were allies, that they were alike, but Ezio ignored him, stabbing him with his hidden blade. As he lay dying in Ezio's arms, he 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, with knowledge. But Ezio simply said he wished Ercole would realise the truth in death, and Ercole died. He and Leonardo then proceeded to explore the temple.