Francesco Coppini facts for kids

Francesco Coppini was an Italian church leader. He was born in Prato before 1415 and passed away in Rome in 1464. Pope Pius II sent him to England in 1459. His main job was to help bring peace between the powerful families of Lancaster and York during the Wars of the Roses.

Early Life and Church Career

Francesco Coppini was born in Prato, Italy. He first worked as a lawyer in Florence in 1433. Later, he moved to Bologna to practice law. He then decided to join the church. He became a priest in Florence. From 1450 to 1452, he worked as a treasurer for the Pope in Bologna. He made many important friends in the church. In 1458, Pope Callistus III made him a bishop.

Coppini's Important Mission

On January 7, 1459, Pope Pius II gave Francesco Coppini a very important job. He was sent to England on what became known as the "Coppini Mission." This mission had two main goals. First, he wanted to help end the Wars of the Roses. This was a long and difficult fight between the Lancaster and York families for control of England. Second, he hoped to convince King Henry VI of England to join a big fight against the Ottoman Turks. Coppini also had tasks to complete in other places like Burgundy and the Netherlands.

He arrived in England in June 1459. He began talking with King Henry VI. He invited the King to a special meeting in Italy. However, England was very unstable because of the ongoing war. This made it hard for the King to focus on other matters.

At first, Coppini was a papal messenger. To give him more power, Pope Pius II made him a higher-ranking church official in December 1459. This new role allowed him to try and arrange another meeting in 1460. He also tried to collect money to help fight the Turks.

Challenges and Difficult Choices

In 1460, Queen Margaret of Anjou, who was on the Lancaster side, did not agree with Coppini's plans. Because of this, Coppini started talking with the York family leaders. These included the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of March. He returned to England in July 1460.

Even though he said he wanted to negotiate, Coppini openly supported the York family at the Battle of Northampton in 1460. After this battle, the Yorkists gained control of King Henry VI. Coppini believed he could now achieve his goals for the Pope.

However, things changed again after the Battle of Wakefield in December 1460. The Lancaster side gained strength. In January 1461, Coppini tried to negotiate with Queen Margaret again, but it didn't work. He then called for a fight against the Lancastrians. He even promised forgiveness for those who fought with the Yorkists. Fearing for his safety, Coppini left London in February 1461. After another battle, he ended his mission and fled to Bruges. He continued to stay in touch with the Yorkists from other cities.

Return to Rome and Later Life

After the Battle of Towton in March 1461, the new King Edward IV (from the York family) and Coppini's supporter in Milan asked the Pope to give Coppini a high position. However, the Pope chose someone else. This was partly because the new King of France, Louis XI, supported the Lancastrians.

Coppini returned to England with the new official, but after complaints from France and the Lancastrians, he went back to Rome in November 1461. In March 1462, Pope Pius II started a review of Francesco Coppini's actions. He was removed from his bishop position and faced serious accusations about his conduct. Coppini admitted to some issues under pressure. In March 1463, he was sent to live in a monastery. He changed his name to Ignatius. He tried to clear his name with the new Pope, but he passed away on September 29, 1464.