From the History of Diplomatic Relations between Pope Pius II and Mehmed II – “Epistola ad Mahometum” (1461)

Abstract

The history of Papal diplomatic engagements with the Ottoman Empire, particularly the efforts of Pope Pius II (born Enea SilvioPiccolomini, (1405-1464) to form anti-Ottoman coalitions and to reclaim Constantinople for the Christian world, is not unfamiliar inGeorgian historiography. We possess studies by historians such as I. Khubashvili, M. Makharadze, D. Paichadze, and B. Kvachadze.However, there is still ongoing debate about whether there was a real correspondence between the Pope and Sultan Mehmed II (1444-1446)/(1451-1481) in 1461. There are different opinions among scholars regarding this issue.Pius II, known in history as the "Diplomat Pope," distinguished himself with efforts to form anti-Ottoman coalitions and to reclaimConstantinople from Ottoman control. Within a year of his papal consecration in 1459, he convened a congress of European rulers in the city of Mantua (Northern Italy) to lay the foundations for a crusade against the Ottomans. This attempt by the Pope ended in failure because the European states, weakened by the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), were not able to unite against the then formidable Ottoman army. Since Pius's carefully planned anti-Ottoman campaign did not materialize and all hopes were lost, the last of his diplomatic efforts was to send a letter to Sultan Mehmed II, which we will examine in this work.  My interest in this topic was sparked by the introduction of new European and Middle Eastern sources, which, after analysis, I believe, will allow me to draw certain conclusions regarding the Papal Letter of 1461.