[hprints-00683151, v2] Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pius II ... - Hprints.org

hprints-00683151, version 2 - 19 Mar 2013
1. Pavia is acceptable to the Greeks
[18] Let us now examine the first requirement. It has three parts:
* the location must be mentioned in or covered by the decree 256 ;
* the necessary funds must be available;
* large and light triremes 257 must be available as well as 300 archers (you usually use
the term balistarii).
1.1. Pavia is covered by the decree of the council
[19] Nobody doubts that Pavia is covered by the decree since all Italian cities are
eligible except those that have been expressly rejected by the Greeks - so Pavia is
obviously covered by the decree. To state this issue quite emphatically: if we want
to respect the interests of the Greeks, we must choose a location which they cannot
reject 258 . But the Greeks themselves have already asked in writing for the territories
of the Duke of Milan so in this respect there is absolutely no reason for us to reject
Pavia; we really do owe it to the Greeks to listen to them carefully.
256 I.e. the decree of the council, Sicut pia mater, of September 7, 1434
257 Trireme: a galley, developed by the ancient Greeks as a warship, with three banks of oars on each side
258 The meaning of the Latin text is somewhat unclear
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