Database/People (ACB)

Hermeticists
The Renaissance Hermeticists were a secretive lot, hiding their beliefs and practices from the Church.

Their texts originated in 2nd Century Greece, dealing with issues such as alchemy and the proper relationship between man, the gods, and the Earth. In 1460, the texts were introduced to the western world when they arrived in Pistoia. A translation into Latin was made by the flamboyant Florentine, Marsilio Ficino, and spread throughout Italy.

This revival of Hermetical beliefs focused on a heretical lack of hierarchy. The man contained the universe, just as God did, meaning each part of the universe was also a representation of the whole. Man, therefore, could be seen as the centre of the universe.

Hermeticism was driven undergroudn, for, if man could contain God, then what role was there for ethe Church?

Benevolent caretaker of choir practice spaces, apparently, was not seen as an appealing alternative.

Niccolò Machiavelli
Date of Birth: 1469. Profession: Philosopher, Writer, Politician.

"Unarmed prophets have always been destroyed, whereas armed prophets have succeeded."

These cynical words were written by Niccolò Machiavelli, one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. Considered a pioneer of Realist philosophy, he believed that all men are evil and will act upon their vicious nature, if given the chance.

The third son of a Florentine attorney, Machiavelli was tutored by his father in gramar, rhetoric and Latin. In 1494, he entered government service as a clerk and an ambassador. Made a member of the Florentine diplomatic council, he was sent to the courts of France, Spain and Rome between 1499 and 1512. It was druing this time that he met Cesare. Immediately taken with the young Captain General, Machiavelli wrote: "I can find no fault with him." Machiavelli followed Cesare, learning his approach to war, until 1500, when he became de facto leader of the Assassins.

From 1500-1503, he settled in Rome, although little is known of his activities there.

In 1503, Machiavelli was put in charge of the Florentine militia and the city's defence. He recruited citizens for his militia, preferring men who had a stake in Florence's continued successs to dispassionate mercenaries. His strategy seemed to work in 1509, when Florence defeated Pisa.

Machiavelli continued to participate in Florentine government after the Medici family was chased out. But, when the Medici returned, they arrested and tortured him. He was accused of conspiring against them.

Unable to find any wrongdoing, the Medici exiled Machiavelli. He retired to his estate in Santa Andrea, where he wrote the famous works "The Prince", "The Discourses on Livy" and "The Florentine Histories".

Machiavelli died in 1527. His place of burial remains unknown.

Cesare Borgia
Date of Birth: 1475 or 1476. Profession: Noble, Captain General of the Papal Forces.

Born to Rodrigo Borgia's mistress, Vanozza, Cesare studied law then became a cardinal when he was only eighteen. Meanwhile, his older brother Juan, Rodrigo's favorite, became the Captain General of the Papal forces. Cesare realized that his life as a cardinal would lead to a dead end; his brother was going to get everything. He knew exactly what he head to do. Juan had to go.

By 1499, Juan was dead and Cesare had become Captain General. He married a royal French bride, securing her title and an alliance with King Louis. With the aid of the King's forces, Cesare marched on Romagna.

His ruthless drive for power was unprecedented. Get this: when Cesare conquered Faenza he invited the much-beloved Lord of the city, the gallant seventeen-year-old Astorre III Manfredi, into his army. Astorre and Cesar really hit it off, but Astorre posed a threat to Cesare: he was Lord of Faenza due to his bloodline. So, when Cesare got back to Rome, he had both Astorre and his younger brother drowned by tying rocks to their feet and throwing them into the Tiber.

Cesare also proved to be a brilliant general. He seized the city of Urbino without a fight, through the help of the Pope. The plan was simple: the Pope requested a loan of artillery from the Duke, his supposed ally. Once the Duke had sent the artillery, Urbino was defenseless and Cesare invaded.

A cipher to all around him - at one point Isabella d'Este sent Cesare a hundred masks to congratulate him on a victory - Cesare's motivations were unreadable by his enemies and his actions notoriously brutal.