ABSTRACT
Over five centuries after his death, Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (1405-64)
remains one of the most provocative and engaging figures of the Renaissance.
A prominent humanist and a seasoned diplomat, he became a churchman later
in life and eleven years later was elected pope, reigning 1458-64 as Pius II. His
writings reveal an energetic mind, a wry sense of humor, and countless astute
and often scathing insights about his contemporaries. Pius was also one of the
most passionate crusading popes of all time, certainly of his era. Even before
he entered the Church, he enthusiastically supported crusading efforts against
the Ottoman Turks and wrote prolifically about the subject. Yet, Pius was also
the author of a most unusual letter to Sultan Mehmed II (reigned 1451-81).
Written in 1461, it is ostensibly an attempt to convert Mehmed, offering him,
in exchange, peace between Turks and Christians, papal blessing as legitimate
ruler over all the Christian lands he possessed, and papal support in Mehmed’s
future endeavors. It is a long letter, separated into nineteen sections or books,
providing arguments from doctrine, Scripture, history, classical literature,
political thought, and “reason.” Compared to his other works, however, the
letter seems strikingly naïve and idealistic. This singular work has puzzled
generations of scholars as it completely contradicts his crusade policy and
general enmity toward the Turks. What makes the letter even more challenging
to interpret are the following considerations: there was no record of the letter
ever having been sent to, much less received by Mehmed. Those who did end
up reading the letter were Christians living in Europe, where the letter enjoyed
a wide circulation.2 Finally, Pius never mentions the letter in his other writings.3
