Pope Callixtus III, Alphonso de Borgia, was raised to the papal chair in 1455 at a very advanced age. He was feeble and incompetent. The great object of his policy was the excitement of a crusade against the Turks, but he did not find the Christian princes responsive to his call. He died in 1458 |
Callixtus III, pope (April 8, 1455? - August 6, 1458), born Alphonso de Borgia, Jativa, Valencia, Spain (1378). His early career was spent as a professor of law at Lerida and then as a diplomat in the service of the kings of Aragon, especially during the [Council of Basel]?. He became a cardinal after reconciling [Pope Eugene IV]? with King Alfonso V of Aragon. |
He was raised to the papal chair in 1455 at a very advanced age as a compromise candidate. He was feeble and incompetent. The great object of his policy was the urging of a crusade against the Turks, who had captured Constantinople in 1453, but he did not find the Christian princes responsive to his call despite his every effort. He made 2 of his nephews cardinals; one of the two, Rodrigo Borgia, later became Pope Alexander VI. |
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He died in 1458. |
from the 9th edition (1876) of an unnamed encyclopedia |
:preceded by [Pope Nicholas V]?, (1447?-1455?) :succeeded by Pope Pius II, (1458-1464?) |
He was raised to the papal chair in 1455 at a very advanced age as a compromise candidate. He was feeble and incompetent. The great object of his policy was the urging of a crusade against the Turks, who had captured Constantinople in 1453, but he did not find the Christian princes responsive to his call despite his every effort. He made 2 of his nephews cardinals; one of the two, Rodrigo Borgia, later became Pope Alexander VI.
He died in 1458.