WI Pius II launched a Crusade against Ottomans in 1464?

[Don_Giorgio]

In 1463 Pope Pius II called for a Crusade against the Ottomans in Constantinople... Some Princes answered his call and a Crusading army assembled in Ancona waiting for the venetian fleet to arrive and transport them to Constantinople... Finally the ill and aged Pope arrived in Ancona in 10 August...
Venetian fleet arrived in 14 August while the Pope was at death's door... the next day the Pope died and the Crusading army melted away...
WI Crusaders managed to get to Constantinople and siege it before the Pope's death?
I am sure that if Pius II died while Crusaders attacked Constantinople Cardinal Bessario would have had secured the Papal tiara in order to continue the Crusade...
Any thoughts?

[Promethean]

it would be better to let the pope die in the starting fase of the crusade a new pope would like to send a crusade

[Don_Giorgio]

Nah... the new Pope wouldnt be interested in Crusades... (assuming that he is Cardinal della Rovere as Sixtus IV as in OTL)
Unless from a twist of fate the new Pope is Cardinal Bessario... (at 1464 he was still able to claim the throne that was denied to him in 1455...)

[037771]

would they have gone to Constantinople? WHy not Thessalonica first; it doesnt have such ruddy high walls (considering the problems of supply for such an army, an accessible port would be viable).

[Don_Giorgio]

Pius II and Bessario wanted Constantinople... nothing more nothing less...

[037771]

Then theres a great chance they would fail. Crusades frequently showed stupidity; the one under King Louis of France struck at Egypt, which then ruled the Holy Land-they didnt stop fighting until they were defeated, and thus lost the chance of getting Jerusalem when it was offered by the desperate Egyptians.

[Don_Giorgio]

Well Pius II wanted to continue the call for crusade started by Callixtus III and cut short upon his death... The only way i see for the Crusade to continue after Pius II death is that Bessario is been elected Pope (which he might had succeded if the Conclave wasnt deadlocked by the French Cardinals...)

[carlton_bach]

The thought of a crusade against the POttoman in the 1460s to me sounds a bit like the idea of a Saxon-Polish war against Prussia in the 1770s. Meaning they could certainly try, in case Nicopolis really *was* too long ago.

If it says Mehmet Fatih on the label, it's crusaderproof.

[Don_Giorgio]

Sounds to me that France is undermining any thoughts for a Crusade in 15th century...

[Don_Giorgio]

As i see it the only way for a succesfull Crusade after 1453 is that Bessario gets the Papal Chair in 1455 or 1458 or 1464....