Jubilee
A jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon, dating back to 1300 when it was instituted by Pope Boniface VIII.[1] Originally meant to take place every 100 years, Jubilees were scheduled every 25 years in order to extort money from pilgrims.[2]
In Rome, four basilicas needed to be visited in order to be forgiven,[2] these being San Giovanni in Laterano, San Pietro, San Paolo fuori le Mura, and Santa Maria Maggiore.[1] Romans had to make thirty visits to the four basilicas, while foreigners had to make only fifteen visits. The pilgrims needed to walk through a holy door in each basilica, each of which was unwalled by the Pope or other cardinals using a silver hammer during different days.[2]
The Porta Viridaria was the main entrance to the Vatican from the north, being the entrance through which the influx of pilgrims that came to each jubilee would pass.[3]
1450 Jubilee[edit | edit source]
The Jubilee of 1450 was particularly deadly for the pilgrims. The balustrades of the Ponte Sant'Angelo buckled due to a surging mob of pilgrims making their way to the Basilica San Pietro, leading to a mass drowning.[4] Several hundred pilgrims were also trampled to death moving between churches in 1450. The populace was so traumatized by the insanity of the events unfolding, that performers stayed in the city for several years afterward to help ease Jubilee's withdrawal.[2]
1500 Jubilee[edit | edit source]
In 1500, the courtesan Fiora Cavazza took advantage of the crowds coming to Rome for the Jubilee and entertained a number of guests, including a banker from Florence and an ambassador, making herself some allies and gaining insight into higher social circles.[5]
Elisabetta Gonzaga, the Duchess of Urbino, planned to attend the Jubilee organized by the Borgia, even though the relations between her family and the Borgia were heavily damaged by Cesare's attempt to conquer all of Italy. The Assassins, under the guidance of their Mentor Ezio Auditore, found out about this and knew Cesare would take her attendance as an insult. They disguised themselves as workers and urged Elisabetta to come with them, but the Duchess, only seeing their worker-outfits, declared she would stay out in the streets. Her objections caused several guards to arrive on the scene, one of whom recognized the duchess and bade his men to attack. Francesco Vecellio threw a smoke bomb and Tessa Varzi pricked the Duchess with a poisoned blade, causing her to faint and allowing the Assassins to get her to safety.[6]
When exploring the Lair of Romulus at the Colosseum, Ezio Auditore pursued a Follower of Romulus dressed in a Jubilee costume, arriving at a crowded masked party. Upon discovering the leader hidden among the crowd, Ezio chased him until he could assassinate him and enter the shrine to Romulus.[7]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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A Jubilee performer in 1500
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Jubilee in the Catholic Church on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Jubilee Performers
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Porta Viridaria
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Database: Ponte Sant'Angelo
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 1 – Fiora Cavazza: Flirting With Danger
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 3 – Francesco Vecellio: Defending The Duchess
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Thrown to the Wolves