Juan Carvajal (cardinal) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cardinal Juan Carvajal
Cardinal-Bishop
Church	Sant'Angelo in Pescheria (1446-1469)
Diocese	Porto (1461-1469)
Orders
Created Cardinal	16 December 1446
Personal details
Born	ca. 1400 Truxillo (Trujillo), Spain
Died	6 December 1469 Rome
Buried	San Marcello al Corso, Rome
Nationality	Castilian
Occupation	diplomat
Profession	Bishop
Education	Licenciate in Civil and Canon Law
Alma mater	Salamanca

Juan Carvajal (around 1400 – 6 December 1469) was an important Spanish leader in the Catholic Church, known as a Cardinal. He started his career as a lawyer and judge. However, he spent most of his life as a diplomat, traveling across Europe. His main goal was to organize a big effort to protect Europe from the Ottoman Turks. He was especially active in Bohemia and Hungary. He also worked hard to keep the Pope's power strong during a time of disagreement within the Church.

Early Life and Career

Juan Carvajal earned a special degree in both Church law (canon law) and regular law (civil law) from the University of Salamanca in 1436. He worked as a church official in Avila and Salamanca. By 1438, he became a judge in Rome, helping with important legal cases for the Pope. He also served as the Governor of the City of Rome under Pope Martin V.

Carvajal spent most of his career working for the Pope in other countries. A writer from his time said that he was sent as a papal legate (a special representative of the Pope) to different rulers and countries twenty-two times!

In 1434, Pope Eugene IV had to leave Rome because of fighting groups. Juan Carvajal and other church officials went with him to Florence. During the Council of Basel, a big meeting of church leaders, Carvajal worked to support the Pope. This was important because some people at the Council believed that the Council itself had more power than the Pope.

Diplomatic Missions in Europe

Between 1440 and 1448, Carvajal spent a lot of time in Germany. He worked with another important church leader, Nicholas of Cusa, to calm down German princes who were unhappy with Pope Eugene IV. These princes were trying to stay neutral during the disagreements at the Council of Basel. The Council believed that a meeting of all church representatives was more powerful than the Pope alone.

In 1442, Carvajal was sent to a meeting in Frankfurt. He also helped negotiate important agreements. One was the Concordat of the Princes (1447), which helped bring the German princes back to supporting the Pope. Another was the Concordat of Aschaffenburg (1448), which further strengthened the Pope's position.

Becoming a Cardinal

Because of his important work, Pope Eugene IV made Juan Carvajal a Cardinal on 14 December 1446. He was given the title of St. Angelo in Foro Piscium. He was also chosen to be the Bishop of Plasencia in Spain. However, he never actually lived in Plasencia because his diplomatic work kept him too busy. An assistant bishop handled things there.

In 1444 and again in 1448, Juan Carvajal went to Bohemia. He tried to bring different religious groups together, but he was not successful. This was partly because of the strong beliefs of the Hussites, a religious group in Bohemia.

Pope Eugene IV died in 1447. Cardinal Carvajal was one of the cardinals who met to choose the next Pope. They elected Cardinal Tommaso Parentucelli, who became Pope Nicholas V.

Fighting the Ottoman Turks

After Nicholas V died, Carvajal helped elect Pope Callixtus III in 1455. Callixtus III sent Carvajal to Hungary to encourage a big military effort, called a crusade, against the Ottoman Turks. The Turks had recently captured Constantinople (1453).

For six years, Carvajal led the first real resistance against the Ottomans in Europe. He worked with a preacher named John Capistran and a military leader named John Hunyadi. Together, they gathered an army of about 40,000 men. In 1456, they won a major victory at the Siege of Belgrade. This victory was very important because it stopped the Ottomans from moving further into Europe for a long time.

Carvajal also helped King Thomas of Bosnia officially join the Roman Catholic Church.

Later Years and Legacy

Pope Callixtus III died in 1458. Cardinal Carvajal was still in Hungary and could not attend the meeting to elect the next Pope. Pope Pius II was chosen.

Carvajal continued his work in Hungary, helping to make peace between different groups. He stayed there until 1461, even though he was getting old and tired from the difficult climate and constant travel.

In 1461, Carvajal became the Cardinal-Bishop of Porto and Santa Rufina. He then lived in Rome. Even in his old age, he was ready to join a new crusade that Pope Pius II was planning in 1464. However, the Pope died, and the plan ended.

When Pope Pius II died, the cardinals met in Rome to choose a new Pope. Cardinal Carvajal was one of the most senior cardinals present. He was even considered as a possible Pope himself. However, Cardinal Pietro Barbo was elected and became Pope Paul II.

Under Pope Paul II, Carvajal continued to advise on important church matters. He deeply mistrusted the King of Bohemia, George of Poděbrady, because of his religious views.

Carvajal's last mission was to Venice in 1466.

Reputation and Death

Many people admired Juan Carvajal. The King of Hungary, Ladislaus V, said that Carvajal was exactly the kind of leader they needed. People at the time thought he was a great example for the Church. He was friendly but also inspiring. He lived a simple life and used his money to help the poor and churches in need.

A historian named František Palacký wrote that Carvajal was unmatched in his faith, good character, and knowledge of the world. He said that Carvajal's hard work for twenty years helped the Pope regain power and glory. Carvajal was known for being humble and dedicated to the Church. He once said, "I must not refuse to Christ this last portion of my life," when offering to help protect a city from the Turks.

Juan Carvajal died in Rome on 6 December 1469. He was buried in the church of San Marcello al Corso. A monument was built there in his honor.

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