Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-1464, elected Pope Pius II in 1458) was an important and enigmatic figure of the Renaissance as well as one of the most prolific writers and gifted stylists ever to occupy the papacy. Though several biographies have been written about ""the humanist pope,"" this book allows Aeneas to tell his story in his own words through a careful selection of seventy-five letters and two documents. All but one newly translated and most translated for the first time into English, these writings bring Aeneas vibrantly alive for the ordinary reader. Aeneas's letters range from...

This volumes contains studies on Nicholas of Cusa and his times. The first section is concerned with Cusanus' context, beginning with a historiographic essay by Francis Oakley on the impact of Brian Tierney's Foundations of the Conciliar Theory. Among the topics addressed are the long-term continuation of the Council of Basel (1431-1449) and the issues of ecclesiastical income which it addressed. The second part is concerned with Cusanus' thought on the Church, both in his conciliarist and papalist phases. Included is the first translation into English of Nicholas' Reformatio...

The Church, the Councils, and Reform brings together leading authorities in the field of church history to reflect on the importance of the late medieval councils. This is the first book in English to consider the lasting significance of the period from Constance to Trent (1414-1563) when several councils met to heal the Great Schism (1378) and reform the church. The authors look afresh at this era and consider how its legacy of reform and conciliarism may remain relevant to todays contexts of challenge and change. Since the central convictions of the conciliar movement involved the...

This translation of Erich Meuthens well-known biography of Nicholas of Cusa presents the foremost summary of Cusanuss life and thought. From its original edition in 1964 through its seventh edition in 1992, Meuthens sketch has found an appreciative audience. As Meuthen takes readers through Cusanuss life (1401-1464) they will be amazed that, in an age when writers set down every word with quill and ink, and one traversed every mile on land by foot or horse, Cusanus covered thousands of miles, maintained detailed administration of church affairs, rose in rank to cardinal, served as a papal...