Instead of Anti-Ottoman Help an Anti-Imperial League Papal Nuncio Giovanni Francesco Capi’s Mission of 1526

Pope Clement VII was informed about Suleiman the Magnificent’s plans to occupy Buda from the reports of the nuncios. The pope sent letters to the monarchs of the Christian world on 9 February 1526 to urge a prompt aid to the Kingdom of Hungary, since it was threatened by a huge Ottoman attack. As there were further grim reports from Buda, Clement VII planned to send an extraordinary nuncio, whose main duty would have been to inform the European courts about the Ottoman campaign that threatened Hungary. At first, he chose the Florentine Paolo Vettori, the captain of the papal navy, for the role; however, he died soon after his departure. Therefore, the experienced papal diplomat, Giovanni Francesco (Capino) de’Capri was appointed. Capeno de’ Capi set off in March 1526 to France, where he entered negotiations with Francis I to form an ally against the emperor. On 22 May 1526 the League of Cognac was signed by the Clement, Francis, Venice, and Milan. Consequently, Hungary’s case of an anti-Ottoman campaign was rather for the sake of covering secret diplomatic negotiations.1n