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

hprints-00683151, version 2 - 19 Mar 2013
1.1.1. The attitude of the Turks
[20] They are in fact acting with good reason since they know that the duke
descends from the Turks 265 of old 266 . Thus, he is related to them by a hereditary
bond which cannot in good faith be disclaimed. The Byzantine 267 emperor 268 fears
that the Turks will lay siege to Constantinople in his absence 269 , but because of that
relationship he thinks that the duke may obviate the risk by writing a letter to the
prince of the Turks that the Greeks would be coming to Italy purely for the sake of
the faith. As long as his own power is not concerned, the Turk is indifferent to the
matter of the Christian faith, and he would believe the duke writing to him to this
effect. Others the Turk would not believe as he would consider their words as
coming from enemies and believe that he was being deceived. It must also be kept
in mind that almost all Greeks are subject to the power of the Turks, and we
therefore have to take pains to avoid that their overlords begin to suspect a revolt
and hinder their departure. For indeed, no one can bring over the Greeks if the
Turks are unwilling.
265 Interestingly, in this very early text Piccolomini follows the thesis that the Turks originate from the Trojans, a thesis
that he later vehemently – and correctly – opposes, cf. Pius II: Orationes, I, p. 269, and Helmrath, p. 106-107. He does
not, however, use the term “teucri”, a classical term for the people living around Troy, used also by Virgil in that
famous passage: Equo ne credite, Teucri. Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes (Men of Troy, trust not the
horse. Whatever it be, I fear the the Greeks, even when bringing gifts). Virgil, Aeneid, 2, 48-49.
266 In the style of the times, a classical genealogy had been constructed for the house of the Viscontis, making them
the descendants of the Trojans. Piccolomini probably knew about this genealogy from Andrea Biglia, cf. above section
4.4.1. If both the present-day Turks and the Viscontis descended from the Trojans (Turks of old), they are related
through their common forefathers, and Piccolomini therefore claims that this family bond will make the Turks trust
the Visconti Duke. The claim is, of course, completely preposterous, and it is doubtful that any educated person in the
assembly would have believed it all. Cf. Pius II: Orationes, p. 36, n.8
267 “romeorum”
268 Johannes VIII Palaiologos (b. 1392, e. 1425, d. 1448): Second last Greek Roman emperor
269 As well he might in view of the expansionist policies of the Turks and their former attacks on Constantinople
67