Pius III (Francesco Todeschini),
pope from September 22 to October 18 1503, was born at Siena,
May 9, 1439. As the nephew of
Pius II by his sister Laodamia, he was
received into favour by that pontiff, who permitted him to
assume the name and arms of the Piccolomini family, and raised
him, when only twenty-two years of age, to the see of Siena and the
cardinalate. He was employed by subsequent popes in several important legations, as by [Paul II]
? at the diet of Ratisbon, and by
Sixtus IV. to secure the restoration of ecclesiastical authority in Umbria. Amid the disturbances consequent upon the death of
Alexander VI. he was, by the not wholly disinterested influence of Cardinal Rovera, elected pope on September 22, 1503, his installation taking place on the 8th October following. He at once took in hand the reform of the papal court and arrested [Caesar Borgia]
?; but after a brief pontificate of twenty-six days he died (October 18, 1503) of an ulcer in the leg, or, as some have alleged, of poison administered
at the instigation of Pandolfo Petrucci, governor of Siena. See
Pope John Paul I for another example of a short pontificate generating
conspiracy theories.
He was succeeded by
Julius II.
- preceded by Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503)
- succeeded by Pope Julius II (1503-1513)