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

Written in the mid-fifteenth century, Pope Pius IIs Commentaries are the only known autobiography of a reigning pontiff and a fundamental text in the history of Renaissance humanism. In this book, Emily OBrien positions Pius expansive autobiographical text within that centurys 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 monarchys chief opponents and a systematic defense of Piuss 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 (14581464) and the Crisis of the Fifteenth-Century Papacy demonstrates the role that Pius and his writings played in the evolution of the Renaissance papacy.