Valencian Popes and continued reminders of the siege of Belgrade


 We are mooching down about 50m and heading 3.6km nearer our latest goal.  That is about as exciting as it gets.  We;ve missed the Dia de la Region de Murcia and Dia de la Rioja.  Look, Popes are still in the news and Spain has provided two so let's get papal.  As we are heading for the Valencian region let's do the one who isn’t Pope Alexander VI - because those Borgias are just so last year - whereas this one needs more limelight.


Alonso Borgia Callixtus III - which means there were a I and II - was born in La Torreta, south of Valencia.  His sister Isabel married Jofré Llançol i Escrivà and was the mother of Pope Alexander VI.  Borgia spent his early career as a professor of law at the University of Lleida.  Later he served as a diplomat for the kings of Aragon, arranging a reconciliation between AlfonsoV  and Pope Martin V  Obviously a useful chap he was made Bishop of Valencia.



In 1444, Pope Eugene IV named Borgia a cardinal, and he became a member of the Roman Curia. During the siege of Belgrade (1456), Callixtus initiated the custom that bells be rung at midday to remind the faithful to pray for the crusaders and thus the Angelus was born. He was also responsible for the retrial of Joan of Arc that saw her vindicated or get off on a technicality, depending on your viewpoint. He followed a strong Medieval tradition and appointed two nephews as cardinals, one of whom became Pope Alexander VI. 



Borgia was elected pope at an advanced age as a "compromise candidate" in the conclave of 8 April 1455. He took the pontifical name Callixtus III. He was crowned on 20th April 1455.  After his coronation, he rode a white horse through the streets of the city and followed the ancient custom, known as Monte Giordano, where representatives of the Jews met with the pope and presented him with the roll of the law. Callixtus III then read from the law and stated "We ratify the law, but condemn your interpretation", which instigated a riot at the ceremony that endangered the pope's life - so, diplomatic skills were a bit on/off.



He was just starting his papacy when Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, so Callixtus was tried to organise Christian Europe to crusade to get it back for Christendom.  An extensive building program underway in Rome was cancelled and the money funneled toward a crusade. Papal nuncios were dispatched to all the countries of Europe to beg the princes to join once more in an effort to check the danger of a Turkish invasion. Missionaries were sent out to preach and the Angelus bell became a thing to chivvy the reluctant.  When Belgrade was saved by the actions of his inspired Crusaders he ordered the Feast of the Transfiguration to become a yearly event.



In 1456 the pope issued a papal bull  which recognized Portugal's trade rights in territories it had ‘discovered’ along the West African coast. 



Callixtus III died on 6th  August 1458. His remains were transferred in 1586 and again in 1610 with the remains of his nephew Alexander VI to Santa Maria in Monserrato. His remains were transferred once more on 21st August 1889 in the chapel of San Diego. In his will he left 5000 ducats to establish a hospital.

More landscapes with footnotes tomorrow.

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