Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa (1401 – August 11, 1464) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church, a philosopher, a mathematician, and an astronomer. He was born Nikolaus Krebs in Kues, Germany (latinized as "Cusa") to a merchant family, and received his doctorate in canon law from the University of Padua in 1423. After a successful career as a papal legate, he was made a cardinal by Pope Nicholas V in 1448 or 1449, and was named Bishop of Brixen in 1450. His work as bishop was opposed by Archduke Sigismund of Austria; the duke imprisoned Nicholas in 1460, for which Pope Pius II excommunicated Sigismund and laid an interdict on his lands. Nicholas of Cusa was never able to return to his bishopric, however: Sigmund's capitulation in 1464 came a few days after Nicholas's death at Todi in Umbria.

External links

• Bernkastel-Kues tribute to Nikolaus von Kues
• biography of Nicholas of Cusa
• MacTutor biography, focusing on mathematical achievements
• Catholic Encyclopedia article on Nicholas of Cusa