'Commentaries' of Pope Pius II (1458-1464) and the Crisis of the Fifteenth-Century Papacy

Description:

"Written in the mid-fifteenth century, Pope Pius II's Commentaries are the only known autobiography of a reigning pontiff and a fundamental text in the history of Renaissance humanism. In this book, Emily O'Brien positions Pius' expansive autobiographical text within that century's contentious debate over ecclesiastical sovereignty. Presenting the Commentaries as Pius' response to the crisis of authority, legitimacy, and relevance that was engulfing the Renaissance papacy, she shows how the Commentaries function as both an aggressive assault on the papal monarchy's chief opponents and a systematic defense of Pius's own troubled pontificate and his pre-papal career. Illustrating how the language, imagery, and ideals of secular power inform Pius' apologetic self-portrait, The Commentaries of Pope Pius II (1458 1464) and the Crisis of the Fifteenth-Century Papacy demonstrates the role that Pius and his writings played in the evolution of the Renaissance papacy."--Provided by publisher.

subjects: Pius ii, pope, 1405-1464,  Church history, middle ages, 600-1500, historiography,  Popes,  Self-perception,  Renaissance, italy,  Church history,  Historiography,  Biography,  History and criticism,  Autobiography,  Renaissance,  Middle Ages,  Commentarii rerum memorabilium (Pius II, Pope),  Pius , 1405-1464,  Popes--history and criticism,  Popes--biography--history and criticism,  Church history--historiography,  Church history--middle ages, 600-1500--historiography,  Renaissance--italy,  Church history--middle ages--historiography,  Popes--biography,  Bx1308 .o27 2015,  282.092