CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2008
| Author | Mercan, Ozden Fatma |
|---|---|
| Title | Constructing a Self-Image in the Image of the Other: Political and Religious Interpretations of Pope Pius II's Letter to Mehmed II (1461) |
| Summary | This study analyzes the puzzling letter written by Pope Pius II to the Ottoman sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in order to convert him to Christianity. The letter was written in 1461, however it was never sent to Mehmed and it was made public in Europe only after the death of Pope Pius. This fact makes the intended audience and the purpose of the letter rather problematic. Due to these ambiguities, this letter has led to debates among scholars about its main purpose. A close analysis of the letter and its comparison with the previous papal letters written to Muslim rulers reveals that, more than a conversion letter, Pope Pius planned this letter as a propaganda tool and ideological support for Christians in their fight against the Ottomans. In order to revive the crusading spirit in Christian princes Pope Pius made use of medieval polemical rhetoric against Islam and constructed a European self-image through the image of the Ottomans and Islam. Combining medieval attitudes towards Islam with humanist rhetoric, Pius’ letter is a fascinating representative of the concerns and attitudes of the fifteenth century humanists in the face of the Ottoman peril. |
| Supervisor | Al-Azmeh, Aziz; Sebok, Marcell |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2008/mercan_ozden.pdf |
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