Bishop John Vitez and Early Renaissance Central Europe

This will be the first English language biography of John Vitez, an important, if little understood figure in the history of fifteenth-century Europe. Vitez rose through the ranks of the Late Medieval Catholic Church and the Hungarian royal bureaucracy, reaching the higher echelons of power. He developed a network of allies, informants and protégés and built a reputation as a patron of the arts, creating a magnificent library, promoting liberal arts and studying astrology. He is also...
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This will be the first English language biography of John Vitez, an important, if little understood figure in the history of fifteenth-century Europe. Vitez rose through the ranks of the Late Medieval Catholic Church and the Hungarian royal bureaucracy, reaching the higher echelons of power. He developed a network of allies, informants and protégés and built a reputation as a patron of the arts, creating a magnificent library, promoting liberal arts and studying astrology. He is also acknowledged as integral to the introduction of Renaissance Humanism to Central Europe. Moreover, as a master diplomat, he was a force to be reckoned with at the Holy Roman, Papal and Hungarian courts and instrumental in the accession of several kings to the throne - those of Hungary, Bohemia, and Austria. By bringing together the various strands of an eventful life, and assessing Vitez in the context of his relationships, this biography demonstrates Vitez's wide sphere of influence in fifteenth-century Europe.