The Castillo de la Mota (English: Castle of the Butte) was a
formidable fortress-turned-prison in existence during the turn
of the 15th century. It was situated in the region of Aragon,
Spain, where it dominated the plateau, or butte, it was situated
on. Originally constructed to defend the region from Moorish
advances, a small town grew to surround the castle, which in
turn enveloped the village in an outer wall. From 1504 to 1506,
following his attempted escape from the Castel Sant'Angelo, the
Castillo de la Mota acted as a prison for Cesare Borgia.
Cesare's location was kept a closely guarded secret between Pope
Julius II and King Ferdinand II of Aragon; not even the Mentor
of the Italian Assassins – Ezio Auditore – was allowed to know
of Cesare's whereabouts. Eventually, Cesare escaped the castle
with aid of Micheletto Corella and a bribed prison guard. Having
had rope smuggled in for him, Cesare climbed down from his
window and snuck past the main gate in his stolen guard uniform.
Not long after his esca