In January 1500, while touring Rome with Niccolò Machiavelli, Ezio Auditore da Firenze took it upon himself to eliminate Iacopo de Grassi in order to destroy the overlord's tower and reduce the influence of the Borgia in the district. Iacopo, heavily guarded by his men, saw Ezio and challenged him. However, Ezio killed all of Iacopo's men and eventually killed the Borgia Captain by throwing him into scaffolding.