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College of Cardinals in the 15th Century
The 15th-century College of Cardinals was the core decision-making circle of papal administration, diplomacy, and church governance, composed of card…
Timeline
- 1417–1430Rome · RomeAfter the Council of Constance ended the Western Schism, the College of Cardinals regrouped around the Roman papacy, gradually restoring authority over papal elections and the daily administrative operations of the curia.
- c. 1440–1460Vatican · VaticanDuring the pontificates of humanist popes such as Nicholas V and Pius II, the College absorbed elites from the Italian city-states, directing papal diplomacy, manuscript collecting, and church reform agendas; the papacy became a hub of Renaissance politics and culture.
- 1461–1470Vatican · VaticanAfter the death of Pius II, the College elected Paul II in 1464 and in the 1460s handled papal finances and diplomatic relations with Venice and the Ottomans; the power of cardinal families and papal administration became further intertwined.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia: College of Cardinals https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03333a.htm
- The Papal Court in the Fifteenth Century — David S. Chambers (2006)