Pius II

Timeline

1. 1405–1447Corsignano (Pienza); Basel; Vienna · Republic of SienaPiccolomini came from a noble Sienese family; he studied law at the University of Siena before turning to humanist studies and immersing himself in classical texts. Between 1431 and 1443 he served as secretary to several senior prelates at the Council of Basel, gaining rich diplomatic experience and at one point supporting the conciliarist position. He then entered the court of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, becoming imperial poet (crowned in 1442) and undertaking numerous important diplomatic missions. During this period he produced a large body of humanist poetry, letters, and historical works, earning fame in European intellectual circles for his Latin writings.
2. 1447–1458Siena; Rome · Papal StatesIn 1447 Piccolomini was ordained a priest and formally entered the church hierarchy. That same year he was appointed Bishop of Trieste, and in 1450 transferred to Bishop of Siena, beginning deep involvement in the affairs of the Papal States. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 he actively wrote calling for a crusade. In December 1456 Calixtus III made him a cardinal, after which his prestige among the cardinals grew steadily, making him a strong contender for the papacy.
3. 1458–1460Vatican, Rome; Mantua · Papal StatesOn August 19, 1458, Piccolomini was elected pope in the conclave following the death of Calixtus III, taking the name Pius II. In 1459 he convened a council at Mantua to rally the Catholic monarchs into a joint crusade against the Ottomans, but the response was lukewarm. In 1460 he issued the bull Execrabilis, explicitly condemning any claim placing the authority of a council above the pope, effectively curbing a revival of conciliarism; that same year he rebuilt his hometown of Corsignano along humanist ideals as an ideal city, naming it Pienza.
4. 1461–1464Ancona · Papal StatesIn his later years Pius II personally traveled to Ancona to urge the crusade to assemble and depart, but the monarchs responded sparsely and the so-called fleet fell far short of expectations. When he arrived at Ancona in August 1464 he was gravely ill, and he died there on August 15 shortly after seeing the Venetian fleet arrive, the crusade plan collapsing with him. His memoir, the Commentarii, is an important first-person historical document of the 15th century.