V._ Of Alfonso Borgia, who reigned for three years as Calixtus III., little need be said, except that his pontificate prepared for the greatness of his nephew, Roderigo Lenzuoli, known as Borgia in compliment to his uncle.

The last days of Nicholas had been imbittered by the fall of Constantinople and the imminent peril which threatened Europe from the Turks.

The whole energies of Pius II.

were directed towards the one end of uniting the European nations against the infidel.

AEneas Sylvius Piccolomini, as an author, an orator, a diplomatist, a traveller, and a courtier, bears a name illustrious in the annals of the Renaissance.