Born: 18 October 1405 · Died: 14 August 1464 · Age at death: 58
How old was Pius II when he died?
Pius II died aged 58. He was born on 18 October 1405 and died on 14 August 1464.
Renaissance Pope and author of a famous erotic novel
Did you know?He was the only person ever to write an autobiography while serving as the head of the Catholic Church.
Quick facts
Date of birth18 October 1405
Date of death14 August 1464
Age at death58
Cause of deathPlague
NationalityItalian
BirthplaceCorsignano (now Pienza), Italy
OccupationCatholic priest, diplomat, writer
Editor's Take:
Pius II was a celebrated writer and diplomat long before he became pope. He travelled widely across Europe, including a secret mission to Scotland, and wrote history, geography and poetry. He had once supported councils over popes, a view he later rejected. As pope he dreamed of a crusade to recover Constantinople from the Ottomans. Few rulers answered his call. He set out to lead the expedition himself but died at Ancona while waiting for the fleet. His planned town of Pienza survives almost unchanged.
Key Milestones
1442: Crowned poet laureate by Emperor Frederick III
1456: Made a cardinal
1458: Elected pope
1459: Summons the Congress of Mantua
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.
