Pope Pius II is known as one of the most prominent leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the Late Middle Ages. Historians of the papacy note that Pius II was unique in that prior to ascending to the height of the Roman See, he served as a layman in a variety of offices.
Pius II is also unique in that he was an incredibly prolific author, giving great insight into his life and how the Catholic Church functioned during his time as its leader. In this article, we’ll examine Pope Pius II’s life in detail, with particular emphasis on his life before the papacy and many of the initiatives he spearheaded as Bishop of Rome.
Early Life of Pius II
Pius II was born Enea Piccolomini in October of 1405 in Corsignano. As previously stated, Pius II was a very prominent writer and his autobiography, Commentaries, gives amazing insight into his life. As a young person, Pius II helped his impoverished family of nobles on their farm. Once Pius II turned 18, he left his family’s farm to study at universities in Siena and Florence. In 1431, Pius II started his career of service to the Catholic Church as a secretary to Bishop Domenico Capranica.
Pius II’s early career in the Catholic Church is covered in great detail in his autobiography. In 1435, Pius II braved a thrilling adventure to Scotland on behalf of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati. Enduring a difficult trip by sea and harsh weather conditions, Pius II’s mission to Scotland left him with permanent pain in his legs. Later on, Pius II accepted a position in the court of the Holy Roman Empire as imperial poet. In this position, Pius II would write some of his most famous fictional works.
Career as a Diplomat and Rise of the Papacy
When Pius II was a resident of the imperial court in Vienna, Emperor Frederick III sent him on a diplomatic mission to Rome. Pius II was charged with resolving hostilities that had developed between the Holy Roman Empire and Pope Eugene IV. Pius II was able to reconcile the two parties and, for his work, was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Trieste by Eugene IV’s successor, Pope Nicholas V. As a bishop, Pius II continued advancing the interests of Frederick III and even oversaw the wedding ceremony between the emperor and his bride, Princess Eleonore of Portugal.
When Pope Calixtus II died in 1458, Pius II looked for ways to ascend to the throne of the papacy. While Cardinal Guillaume d’Estouteville of Rouen was the initial favorite to obtain the position, Pius II spent much of the conclave convincing cardinals that he was the best person to sit on the Throne of St. Peter. Using his gifts of language and diplomacy, Pius II was elected with a unanimous vote.
Papal Initiatives
As pope, Pius II was known for his interest in crusades against the Ottoman Empire. Pius II was fearful for the future of Christendom following the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks. As such, Pius II called a council of princes at Mantua in June of 1459. The council did little to advance Pius II’s plan for a crusade. Modern historians note that the council’s failure stems not from the actions of Pius II, but from the fact that secular leaders were more interested in gaining personal wealth and prominence than trying to resolve problems with the Ottomans.
Pius II also made it his objective to increase papal authority. With this in mind, Pius II was able to convince Louis XI, the young king of France, to repeal the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges. Initiated in 1438, the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges undercut papal authority in a variety of ways, including by mandating that ecclesiastical positions were finalized through election rather than appointment.
Despite his success in France, Pius II was determined to lead a crusade against the Ottomans. In 1464, Pius II received promises of support from Frederick III and leaders in Venice. With this promised help, Pius II went to the port of Ancona, where he would lead the crusade himself. It was in Ancona that Pius II died while awaiting his crusader armies.
Quick Facts About Pope Pius II
- Pope Pius II was born on October 18, 1405 in Corsignano, which was then part of the Republic of Siena.
- Pius II’s birth name was Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini.
- Pius II died on August 14, 1464 at the age of 58.
- Pius II died from a fever. In an effort to start a new crusade, Pius II traveled to Ancona, a port on the Adriatic Sea. As he waited for an army and navy to arrive, the pope became ill and died before he could lead his men into battle.
- Pius II began his papacy on August 19, 1458.
- Pius II’s reign as pope ended with his death on August 14, 1464.
- The successor to Pius II was Pope Paul II, who began his tenure as head of the Catholic Church on August 30, 1464.
Interesting Facts About Pope Pius II
Pius II made a stand against the enslavement of recently baptized Christians. While he was not anti-slavery, Pius II nonetheless suggested that traders who sold recently converted Catholics should be treated as criminals.
One of Pius II’s most favored allies was a Wallachian prince named Vlad Dracula. Dracula, whose name Bram Stoker invoked for his famous vampire novel, answered Pius II’s call for war against the Turks, leading forays into Ottoman territory and brutally fighting the sultan’s army.
Since Pius II was a layman for most of his life, he was not bound by rules of celibacy like those of the Catholic clergy. As such, Pius II fathered two children, one on his mission to Scotland and one while he was living in Strasbourg, Germany. Neither child lived into adulthood.
One of Pius II’s most revered works is The Tale of Two Lovers. Pius II wrote the book when he was serving in the court of Frederick III and it became one of the bestselling novels of the 15th Century.
In 1461, Pius II wrote a letter to Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire urging him to convert to Catholicism. While some historians doubt that Mehmed II received the letter, it nonetheless was made public several years after the pope’s death.