On This Day
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Aenea Silvio Piccolomini chosen as Pope Pius II

Pope Pius II (Latin: Pius PP. II, Italian: Pio II), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (Latin: Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and...

Pope Pius II (Latin: Pius PP. II, Italian: Pio II), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (Latin: Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 August 1458 to his death in 1464.

Aeneas Silvius was an author, diplomat, and orator, and private secretary of Antipope Felix V and then the Emperor Frederick III, and then Pope Eugenius IV. He participated in the Council of Basel, but left it in 1443 to follow Frederick, whom he reconciled to the Roman obedience. He became Bishop of Trieste in 1447, Bishop of Siena in 1450, and a cardinal in 1456.

He was a Renaissance humanist with an international reputation.

Historical Significance

Pope Pius II (Latin: Pius PP.

Events Before

  1. Hungarian army under John Hunyadi defeats the forces of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and ends the Siege of Belgrade (Nándorf

    Hungarian army under John Hunyadi defeats the forces of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and ends the Siege of Belgrade (Nándorfehérvár), halting Ottoman expansion in Europe for 70 years

  2. BC Battle of Megiddo: Egyptian forces of Thutmose III defeat a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh. First

    BC Battle of Megiddo: Egyptian forces of Thutmose III defeat a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh. First battle recorded with a reliable account.

  3. The Unitas Fratrum is established in the village of Kunvald, on the Bohemian-Moravian borderland. It is to date the seco

    The Unitas Fratrum is established in the village of Kunvald, on the Bohemian-Moravian borderland. It is to date the second oldest Protestant denomination.

  4. "Mainz Psalter," the earliest dated book and the first to be printed in three colors, is completed

    "Mainz Psalter," the earliest dated book and the first to be printed in three colors, is completed

  5. Henry VII is born

    Henry VII is born

Events After

  1. Fra Mauro completes his Map of the World in Venice for King Alfonso V of Portugal - largest known world map from Medieva

    Fra Mauro completes his Map of the World in Venice for King Alfonso V of Portugal - largest known world map from Medieval Europe and the first to show Africa as a free-standing continent [1]

  2. Jodhpur, Sun City, founded by Rao Jodhpur in India

    Jodhpur is the second-largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, after its capital Jaipur. As of 2025, the city has a population of 1.6 million.

  3. Pope Pius II opens the Council of Mantua to call for a new crusade against the Ottoman Empire - crusade never amounts t

    Pope Pius II opens the Council of Mantua to call for a new crusade against the Ottoman Empire - crusade never amounts to much (Council disbanded January 1560)

  4. Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire: an inferior Yorkist force defeats a larger Lancastrian force in a major battle o

    Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire: an inferior Yorkist force defeats a larger Lancastrian force in a major battle of the English Wars of the Roses

  5. Battle at Ludford Bridge: Richard of York defeated

    The Rout of Ludford Bridge was a largely bloodless confrontation fought in the early years of the Wars of the Roses. It took place on 12 October 1459, and resulted in a setback for the Yorkists.

More from the 1450s

Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire

The sultans of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in…

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Johannes Gutenberg prints his first Bible [estimated date] [1]

The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42, was the earliest major book printed in Europe using mass-produced metal movable type.

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible print

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible printed a year earlier

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on August 19, 1458?
Pope Pius II (Latin: Pius PP. II, Italian: Pio II), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (Latin: Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 August 1458 to his death in 1464. Aeneas Silvius was an author, diplomat, and orator, and private secretary of Antipope Felix V and then the Emperor Frederick III, and then Pope Eugenius IV.
Why is Aenea Silvio Piccolomini chosen as Pope Pius II significant?
Pope Pius II (Latin: Pius PP.

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August 19 in HistoryYear 1458