POPE PIUS II AND EMPEROR FREDERICK III
Pope Pius II (1405–1464) was born in Italy, studied in the University of Siena, created with his friends a circle of lovers of Antique culture, wrote poems, was a secretary to bishops and cardinals, travelled in France and in Scotland, was a diplomat. In 1442/1443 he accompanied an embassy to the Emperor Frederick III (1415–1493) who crowned him as 'the emperor of poets' and gave him a place of secretary in the Imperial Chancellery. In 1445, he started his Church career and in 1455, he was elected Pope. In 1458, he tried to create an alliance of European countries against the Ottoman Empire and became leader of a crusade but died.