Oration “Dominatorem caeli” of Pope Pius II (Spring 1459, Siena). Edited and translated by Michael von Cotta-Schönberg. 7th version. (Orations of Enea Silvio Piccolomini / Pope Pius II; 35)

Published as part of project Edition and Translation of the Orations of Enea Silvio Piccolomini / Pope Pius IIDuring a prolonged stay in Siena in the spring of 1459, Pope Pius II received a number of embassies from the rulers of Europe declaring obedience to the Apostolic See and to the new pope. One of the embassies was from Enrique IV, King of Castile. In his short reply to the oration of the ambassadors, the pope touched upon five themes recurring in all his responses to such embassies: supremacy of the Roman Church; his own unworthiness for the exalted papal office; merits of the king and his House; acceptance of the king’s obedience; gratitude for the king’s offer of aid to the projected crusade against the Turks; and benevolence of pope and cardinals towards the king