Pope Pius II's Memoirs Of A Renaissance Pope

The Renaissance, derived from the French word for rebirth is historical period in Europe took place from 14th century to the 17th century. This period witnessed Europe’s advance from the medieval post-plague world into the early modern period due to the revival of the nostalgic classical Greece and Roman antiquity. This period was defined by many famous artists from Leonardo Da Vinci to Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, political figures like Niccolò Machiavelli and individuals like Petrarch who brought humanism into the European fold. However in the Renaissance period a pope in Rome determined to advance the Papal State into this Renaissance and determine to get the truth of his perspection to europe’s nobility was underlooked by
Book I provided the audience with background information about Pius before he entered his Papal career. It depicted Pius as an ambassador for the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III and traveling to Rome to establish a military relationship with the papacy against the Ottoman Turks. On the way to Rome Book I provided the audience will detail accounts of side missions he took in Friuli. Book I also depicted the political, social and cultural situation of the mid-15th century; The Ottoman Turkish threat to the South East, the rising establishment of Italian city-states in the north and the dispute of the Kingdom of Sicily. Pius also believed it important to write about the his cardinal appointment and the process of conclave. Pius effective depicted this election process to be tainted and led by greedy individuals who allow the 7 deadly sins to manifest their decisions. In particular Pius identified Cardinal of Rouen and illustrated his attempt to scheme his way into the position of the Pope. Book II discussed Pius’ reign as Pope. Pius identified the sovereigns and kings who favoured his position and those who loved the appointment. Pius in Book II however wrote primarily about the Turkish threat and his position on the papacy’s position to halt this advance of a religion imbued with gentile
From his memoirs it is acceptable to deduce that Aeneas was a man of great honour, faith, and of great prestige. Aeneas was born in the village of Corsignano in 1405 to a noble but impoverished Tuscan family. This impoverished sensibility however did not deter him from attaining a high level of education. In his memoirs, Pius indicated that he served as a secretary and ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire. These career positions enforced his determination to acquire a high education. To delve into political issues, Pius would have needed knowledge within the institutes of law and philosophy. Pius attained this at the University of Siena; the location he would be cardinal to in the future. The Renaissance period was still a hierarchical society, therefore having a bachelor degree and appointed to the court of the German Emperor meant that Pius had knowledge in the interaction and socialization of court behaviour and politics. Pius would have been able to speak in 3 different dialects; Latin, Greek and German. As an ambassador, Pius would have shown loyalty and intern received respect from his superiors. After being selected by the Emperor to establish a military support, Pius reputation of being respected was illustrated when he wrote of the great reception he attained while entering Rome. This reception was depicted with great honour and had been eagerly awaited by Pope Calixtus