History or Fiction? The value of Pius II’s Letter to Mehmed II (1461).
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Pope Pius II's 1461 letter to Mehmed II offers a rich exploration of papal diplomacy, ideological shifts, and the European-Ottoman struggle for dominance. Scholars are divided on the letter's intent: some argue it was a sincere appeal for Mehmed's conversion to Christianity, reflecting Pius II's pragmatism amid European disunity and failed crusades. Others believe it was a calculated move to galvanize European powers against a common enemy by invoking the possibility of Mehmed's conversion. This debate contributes to a deeper understanding of the political and religious complexities of the era.
