Calixtus III

Pope, Spaniard of Valencia, named Alphonso Borgia, who was elevated to the papacy April 8,1455. He granted a commission to review the proceedings on the trial of Joan of Arc, which decided that she died a martyr for her religion and country. Calixtus did not canonize her, but permitted the celebration of certain expiatory ceremonies at her tomb. Calixtus made base use of his pontificate for the aggrandizement of his own nephews (or sons?), the Borgias. He proclaimed a crusade, collected immense sums, and sent an expedition against the Turks, which failed. He died Aug. 6, :1458. — Landon, Eccl. Diet. 2:494.