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Name:
Pope Nicholas V
Born: Tomaso Parentucelli or Tomaso da Sarzana
Preceded by: Eugene IV (1431 - 1447)
Succeeded by: Callistus III (1455 - 1458)
Roman Catholic Pope #209
Anti-pope: Felix V
Dates:
Born: November 15, 1397 (Italy)
Died: March 24, 1455
Pope: March 6, 1447 - March 24, 1455 (8 years)
Concordat of Vienna: February 17, 1448
Crowned Frederick III: March 19, 1452
Biography:
Pope Nicholas V was the first of the Renaissance popes and is known as a Humanist
Pope because of the resources he devoted to scholarship and learning. He founded
the Vatican Library and invested considerable sums for the translation of Greek
literature. He was more politically astute that many of his predecessors and he
was able to make peace with a number of political rivals. One, Frederick III, was
crowned emperor in St. Peter's in 1451, the last time such a coronation occurred
there.
For Nicholas, the worst aspect of his reign seems to have been the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453. He described this as "a second death" for Homer and Plato and called for a Crusade to be launched for the purpose of retaking the city.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
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Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means "father." Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title expressing affectionate respect for any bishop and sometimes even priests. Today it continues to be used in Eastern Orthodox churches for the patriarch of Alexandria.
