- PIUS II, [BRIEF NAMING ADOLF VON NASSAU AS ARCHBISHOP OF MAINZ]. [Mainz: Johann Fust & Peter Schoeffer, after 21 August 1461]
- Collections:
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- Incunabula at Princeton
- In Principio
- Collections Donated to Princeton University Library
- F & S grouping
- The Scheide Library
- Treasures of Rare Book Division
- Curatorial Note:
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- Two German nobles, both canons of the cathedral, competed for election as Archbishop of Mainz in 1459. The chosen candidate, Diether von Isenburg, displeased Pius II by defaulting on payments he had promised to the Roman curia. In August 1461 Pius excommunicated him, and urged election of the second competitor, Adolf von Nassau. Diether, supported by the citizens of Mainz, refused to surrender the chair, and both parties raised troops. Fust and Schoeffer printed official broadsides supporting both sides in the controversy, for distribution to the city councils, courts, cathedrals and major convents within the archdiocese. In October 1462, just weeks after Fust and Schoeffer completed their ambitious Latin Bible, Adolf’s troops besieged and captured the city of Mainz, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Mainz citizens were sent into exile, putting a temporary end to printing in Mainz.
- Bookseller:
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- Jacques Rosenthal (Firm)
- Christie, Manson & Woods International Inc
- H.P. Kraus (Firm)
- Author:
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- Catholic Church. Pope (1458-1464 : Pius II).
- Uniform title:
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- Breve ad apostolicae dignitatis apicem
- Provenance:
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- Provenance: Estelle Doheny; acquired Oct. 1987 from Christie's.
- Former owner:
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- Doheny, Estelle, 1875-1958
- Abstract:
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- In 1459 Diether von Isenburg was elected as Archbishop of Mainz, but soon became seen by Pius II as disobedient. On 21 August 1461, from his summer palace at Tivoli, Pius II, after careful diplomatic negotiations with the emperor and the German imperial electors, announced Diether's deposition, and his replacement by Adolf von Nassau, the unsuccessful candidate of 1459. Adolf proclaimed the papal action in Mainz in late September 1461. Over the next months Fust and Schöffer printed nine different documents relating to this “Cathedral War”, four of which in two editions each, some supporting Adolf and Pius II, and some Diether von Isenburg. Diether, who was supported by most of the citizens of Mainz, did not go easily. Finally, in late October 1462, Adolf used mercenary troops to capture Mainz, and expel temporarily many of its citizens; Mainz was stripped of its status as an Imperial Free City.
- Creator:
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- Catholic Church. Pope (1458-1464 : Pius II).
- Language:
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- Latin
- Call number:
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- 113.8
- Extent:
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- Broadside ; 28 x 41.9 cm (oblong Chancery sheet).
- Format:
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- Book
- Type:
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- Early works to 1800
- Publisher:
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- [Mainz : Fust & Schöffer, after 21 August 1461].
- Subject:
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- Briefs, Papal—Early works to 1800
- Title sort:
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- Brief addressed to Adolf, Count of Nassau, sanctioning his election to the see of Mainz.
- References:
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- Goff P-655.
- Contributor:
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- Pius II, Pope, 1405-1464
- Printer:
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- Fust, Johannes, 1400-1466
- Schöffer, Peter, approximately 1425-approximately 1502
- Created:
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- 1461-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Date:
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- 1461
- Identifier:
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- ark:/88435/rb68xb932
- Location:
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- WHS 113.8
- Edm rights:
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- No Known Copyright
- View in catalog:
- Available online: