Francesco Coppini

Who is Francesco Coppini?

Francesco Coppini or Francesco dei Coppini was an Italian prelate, who was Bishop of Terni from 1458 to 1462, appointed by Pope Pius II with support from Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan. He gave his name to the Coppini Mission to England as papal legate, with the double purpose of bringing about an end to the Wars of the Roses, and persuading Henry VI of England to join the crusade against the Turks agreed at the Council of Mantua.

Coppini travelled to England in 1459 and initially opened negotiations with Henry VI. After being rebuffed by Margaret of Anjou, he entered into negotiations with the Yorkists and explicitly favoured their cause at the Battle of Northampton. He had to terminate his mission in 1461 after the Battle of Wakefield. He returned in disgrace and Pius II dismissed him from his bishopric in 1462.