Nicholas of Cusa

His Eminence Nicholas of Cusa
Nicholas of Cusa, by Master of the Life of the Virgin
Born	1401 Kues, Electorate of Trier, Holy Roman Empire
Died	11 August 1464 Todi, Umbria, Papal States
Other names	Doctor Christianus, "Nikolaus Cryfftz", "Nicholas of Kues", "Nicolaus Cusanus"
Alma mater	Heidelberg University University of Padua
Era	Medieval philosophy Renaissance philosophy
Region	Western philosophy
School	Renaissance humanism[1] Christian humanism[1]
Main interests	Christian theology[1] Christian mysticism[1] Humanism[1] Mathematics[1]
Notable ideas	Learned ignorance, coincidence of opposites
Bishop of Brixen
Church	Catholic Church
In office	1450–1464
Other post(s)	Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli
Orders
Ordination	1436[2]
Consecration	26 April 1450[2] by Pope Nicholas V
Created cardinal	20 December 1448 by Pope Nicholas V

Nicholas of Cusa (1401 – 11 August 1464), also referred to as Nicholas of Kues and Nicolaus Cusanus (/kjuːˈseɪnəs/), was a German Catholic cardinal and polymath active as a philosopher, theologian, jurist, mathematician and astronomer. One of the first German proponents of Renaissance humanism, he made spiritual and political contributions in European history. A notable example of this is his mystical or spiritual writings on "learned ignorance," as well as his participation in power struggles between Rome and the German states of the Holy Roman Empire.

As papal legate to Germany from 1446, he was appointed cardinal for his merits by Pope Nicholas V in 1448 and Prince–Bishop of Brixen two years later. In 1459, he became vicar general in the Papal States.

Nicholas has remained an influential figure. In 2001, the sixth centennial of his birth was celebrated on four continents and commemorated by publications on his life and work.^[4]