Which historical ruler appears as a major antagonist in Assassin’s Creed II?

Rodrigo Borgia appears as a major antagonist in Assassin’s Creed II.

In the game’s Renaissance-era storyline, Rodrigo Borgia is portrayed as the leader of the Templar Order in Italy. He rises through political power and becomes Pope Alexander VI, a historical office he held from 1492 until his death in 1503. The game uses this real historical identity within its fictional conflict between Assassins and Templars.

Ezio Auditore encounters Rodrigo across the story as he pursues revenge and uncovers the Templars’ plans. Rodrigo’s role links court politics, religious authority, and the game’s search for powerful precursor artifacts. The character is based on the real Valencian-born cardinal and pope, but the game’s secret-society narrative is fictional.

Lorenzo de’ Medici and Niccolò Machiavelli also appear in the game, but they are not its principal Templar antagonist. Rodrigo later remains important to the broader trilogy’s historical and fictional plot.