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

hprints-00683151, version 2 - 19 Mar 2013
1.1.2. The attitude of Genoa and Venice
[22] Some people claim, however, that if you go to the territories of the duke, the
Venetians will forbid the Greeks to pass through their territory. They also murmur
that the Genoese 296 will oppose this choice. To say – nay even to think - thus about
these flourishing Christian cities, two lights of Christendom, is a gross injustice.
These two cities alone protect us from the East, they defend us against the attacks
of the barbarians, they protect the lands of the Christians from the incursions of the
infidels, and by military force they hold many cities and even provinces in the middle
of Barbary 297 . Shall we really believe that these two cities, which are fighting
continuously for the Faith, would hinder the travel of the Greeks to the Union
council? No good man claims this, and no wise man believes it.
[23] For my own part, I am convinced that both Venice and Genoa will render every
assistance to your enterprise wherever you decide to transfer the council.
Concerning the Venetians, you already have their safeconduct, and the Genovese
will send theirs shortly. In the meantime they have sent devoted letters full of
goodwill and commitment to your decisions. They also say that they will, when
needed, offer a large fleet as well as their own persons to this cause. So, I do not
fear that there will be any obstacles or that the Greeks will suffer any violence,
unless the Turks make trouble, as I have aready mentioned. I do not know or think
that any Christian could be so wicked, so evil and so perversely opposed to
everything that is good that he would obstruct this matter.
296 Genoa (Genova): capital city of Liguria. Merchant state during the Middle Age and traditional rival of Venice … and
Milan
297 Here used to designate the territories held by non-Christian rulers
71