Nicolaus Copernicus

"Better to die enlightened, than to live in ignorance."

- Nicolaus Copernicus.

Nicolaus Copernicus (Italian: Niccolò Copernico; 1473 - 1543) was a Renaissance astronomer, mathematician, and priest. He was the first person to present a correct model of.

Biography
In 1500, Copernicus visited the Vatican, where he was introduced to the Templar Order. Upon joining them, he was later told that they wanted him to keep his discoveries secret. A day afterwards, however, he enlightened the public on science and mathematics, encouraging them to question past teachings, as he could not keep his findings to himself. He went on to urge the crowd to visit him or his fellow scholars if they wished to know more.

As soon as the Borgia, the leading house in the Templar Order, heard of this, they sent their guards to kill Copernicus and the other scholars. The Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze watched the scene unfold and, upon realizing their common enemy, came to Copernicus' rescue.

Copernicus admitted his affiliations to the Templars to Ezio, though the latter was willing to help Copernicus reach a safe location. Upon arriving in a secluded building in the Antico District, Copernicus asked Ezio to deliver some documents to his fellow scholars, which would inform them of the danger they were in. Though doubtful if he could trust him, Ezio agreed, and aided most of the scholars in going into hiding.

The Assassin returned some time later, and by then, Copernicus had concluded that the Master of the Sacred Palace was most likely behind the plot to kill him. Ezio sought out the Master of the Sacred Palace, and heard from him that there were five executioners walking around Rome, searching for the scholars. Ezio rushed to take these executioners down, and returned to Copernicus with the confirmation that his suspicion had been correct.

Copernicus, however, was persistent in going out in the open to study a lunar eclipse. The Master of the Sacred Palace seized this opportunity, and sent an assassin to kill him. Ezio followed and killed the Master of the Sacred Palace before returning to Copernicus, with whom he took down the assassin and several other guards.

The pair then went their separate ways, with Copernicus staying behind to study the eclipse.

Trivia

 * Copernicus was also briefly mentioned in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Copernicus Conspiracy