"The threat of the Turks to the West dominated the period of the conception and writing of Rome in Triumph. The Fall of Constantinople (1453) has been emphasized as an important factor in Biondo's advocacy of Roman civilization in this work. Its framing certainly sets it in the context of resistance to Turkish encroachments, now threateningly close to Italy. In his dedication to Pius II Biondo speaks of an alliance of Italy, France, Spain and Germany for "the liberation of Europe" and of the role his work might play in stimulating such an enterprise. In the light of the lack of real success achieved by the Congress of Mantua, he concludes the whole work with a disillusioned warning that if Western Christians do not fight they will eventually suffer the fate of the Greeks. Two of the longer digressions concerned with contemporary events are more or less connected with the Turkish threat: the description of the victory celebration (March 1457) for the battle at Belgrade on 21-22 July, 1456 in Book 2, 51 and, in Book 5 (pp.117d-118b), the commendation of Isabel of Burgundy's support (in 1454?) of a crusade against the Turks."--Provided by publisher
volume 1. Book I-II --
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