Strange But True: Pope Pius II, the bestselling erotic novelist of the 15th century
Enea Silvio Piccolomini, was born on the 18th October 1405 in the Republic of Siena, Italy. Despite his noble blood, Enea’s family lived modestly. Enea had to earn an income as secretary to Cardinal Domenico Capranica to pay for his education. His employment allowed him to attend meetings with high-ranking bishops whose focus was church reform. The Council of Basel lobbied against the ideals of the pope at that time, Eugenius IV, causing a rift between them.
After various diplomatic missions with another cardinal, Niccolò Albergati, Enea returned to Basel where he became an official member of the council in 1436. With great skills as an orator, Enea rose through the ranks until he was secretary of the antipope, Felix V. The antipope was elected by those rebellious bishops, who, incidentally, had refused to obey Eugenius IV’s order to move their council to Florence and Ferrara.
On a trip to the Imperial Assembly at Frankfurt, Enea impressed Frederick III of Austria so much, that he invited him to Vienna, made him his secretary, and appointed him Imperial Poet Laureate of his court. Here, it is thought that Enea obtained the patronage of the chancellor, Kaspar Schlick.
Enea was a prolific writer, particularly about the events in which he played a part. He…