De Viris Illustribus and other biographical writings of Enea Silvio Piccolomini

In 1447, Enea Silvio Piccolomini (later Pope Pius II), at the time senior diplomat of Emperor Friedrich III, wrote a book De viris Illustribus. It contains 43 biographies of varying length of eminent persons of his time, emperors, popes, dukes, cardinals, and others, many of whom he had met or seen in person. He also wrote some other biographical texts, included in the present volume. Piccolomini was a past - and entertaining - master of characterisation. His work gives a reasonably adequate description of the persons selected and provides a highly interesting picture of his age.