History of the Popes, Volume III: Their Church and State

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…After the attempt made by the Popes to renew their dominion over the world had been finally defeated, notwithstanding its partial success, their position and the character of the interest taken in their affairs underwent a general change… –Leopold von Ranke, Volume III, Book VIII, 1836

History of the Popes: Their Church and State in three volumes, by German historian Leopold von Ranke, was first published in German in 1834-36, and translated into English by E. Fowler in 1901. Von Ranke described the papacy not only as a clerical institution, but also as a political power. In volume III (book VIII), von Ranke offers colorful profiles of many Popes, including Pope Leo X, Marcellus II, Pius IV, and Sixtus V. Although praised by many as a masterpiece, both Catholics and Protestants criticized this book as too biased. As was the case in his other books, von Ranke’s writing was based on eye-witness accounts, in this instance the use of private papers in Rome and Venice.