In 1500, Nicolaus Copernicus, a fellow Templar, shared his knowledge of science with the public, which was forbidden by the Templar Order. Thus, the Master of the Sacred Palace sent several guards to kill Copernicus and many of his fellow scholars, to ensure their silence. All but one of the scholars were saved however, by the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, at Copernicus' request. Copernicus later concluded that the Master of the Sacred Palace was the most likely source of the attacks, and Ezio eventually managed to track down and kill him.