The ‘Commentaries’ of Pope Pius II (1458-1464) and the Crisis of the Fifteenth-Century Papacy
The ‘Commentaries’ of Pope Pius II (1458-1464) and the Crisis of the Fifteenth-Century Papacy by Emily O’Brien, published by University of Toronto Press in January 2015, is a scholarly examination of the only known autobiography of a reigning pontiff. This 335-page work delves into Pope Pius II’s autobiographical text, situating it within the complex debates surrounding ecclesiastical sovereignty during the Renaissance. O’Brien explores how Pius’ writings respond to the challenges of authority and legitimacy faced by the papacy in the mid-fifteenth century.
Readers will find that O’Brien presents the Commentaries as both a defense of Pius’s pontificate and a critique of his opponents. The book illustrates how Pius employs language, imagery, and ideals of secular power to craft his self-portrait amid a turbulent historical context. By analyzing the interplay between biography and historiography, this edition sheds light on the evolution of the Renaissance papacy and the significant role Pius and his writings played in shaping its narrative.
Official synopsis Publisher
“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.
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