NICOLÒ DE**, a learned cardinal, born in 1401, at Cusa, where his father was a fisherman. He was created cardinal in 1448; and having been appointed governor of Rome by Pope Pius II, during the absence of that pontiff at Mantua, Cusa became the chief author and manager of the war against Mohammed II. He founded a church, and a noble library of Greek and Latin authors, at Cusa; and left many excellent works, which were collected and published in three vols. at Basle in 1565. In these he boldly exposed the fabulous traditions and the sophistries of the Roman Church.