THE GREAT SCHISM OF THE WEST [1378-1417 A.D.]

11378 The Romans urge the election of a Roman pope; under this pressure the cardinals choose Bartolommeo Prignani, =Urban VI=. The French cardinals immediately band against him, and, withdrawing to Fondi, pronounce the election invalid and elect Robert of Geneva, _Clement VII_. Germany, England, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Italy (except Naples) support Urban. France, Naples, Scotland, Savoy, Lorraine, and the Spanish kingdoms support Clement. Urban resides at Rome; Clement, at Avignon. Urban excommunicates Clement. Wycliffe attacks the papal primacy.

21379 War between the two popes. Bloodshed and strife in Italy. Defeat of Clement’s forces in Urban’s crusade against Naples. St. Angelo surrenders. Clement retreats to Avignon.

31380 Joanna I of Naples attempts to poison Urban, who allies himself with Hungary. Charles of Durazzo reaches Rome on his way to Naples.

41381 Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo and the Hungarians. He takes the throne.

51383 Urban VI goes to Naples, which Louis of Anjou, adopted by Joanna, has invaded. Urban obtains many advantages there for himself and family.

61384 Hostilities arise between Urban and Charles, owing to the former’s arrogance. Louis dies, and his forces are dispersed.

71385 Charles induces several cardinals to plot against Urban. They are seized and tortured. Urban excommunicates Charles, who ignores the bull. Siege and capture of Nocera by Charles’ army. Urban flees to Genoa. Charles goes to Hungary, leaving Naples to his son, Ladislaus.

81386 Urban orders the imprisoned cardinals (except one) put to death. The doge of Venice compels Urban to leave Genoa; he goes to Lucca.

91387 Urban moves to Perugia.

101388 Urban leaves Perugia for Naples, to which he has laid claim. His army breaks up, and he retires to Rome.

111389 Death of Urban. Pietro Tomacelli, =Boniface IX=. Clement crowns Louis II of Anjou king of Naples. Boniface adopts a conciliatory spirit and recognises Ladislaus.

121390 The Jubilee brings a great revenue into Boniface’s treasury. He recognises the many dynasties within the papal states.

131392 Through influence of Boniface, who goes to Perugia, the warfare among the states of northern Italy is terminated.

141394 Death of Clement VII. Pedro de Luna, _Benedict XIII_, anti-pope.

151395 The University of Paris tries without success to heal the schism.

161398 France withdraws its allegiance from Benedict, who resists all efforts to make him abdicate. Scotland and Aragon alone remain faithful to him. Boniface makes himself master of Rome.

171399 Surrender of Benedict, who has been besieged by the French in Avignon. He promises to abdicate if Boniface will do the same.

181400 A reaction in favour of Benedict sets in. Rising of the Colonnas in Rome interferes with the Jubilee. The plague destroys many pilgrims. Edicts against the Bianchi.

191402 Boniface declares Ladislaus king of Hungary.

201403 The Visconti begin to lose their power. Boniface recovers Perugia, Bologna, and other towns by treaty. Benedict escapes from Avignon and recovers the allegiance of France.

211404 Death of Boniface, followed by a rising in Rome. The Orsini defeat the Colonnas. Cosimo de’ Migliorati, =Innocent VII=. He possesses nothing in Rome but the Vatican and St. Angelo. Ladislaus of Naples comes to Rome to settle differences between pope and Romans.

221405 Innocent takes refuge at Viterbo. Sack of the Vatican by the Roman populace. Ladislaus attempts to seize Rome, and the people return to the pope. Futile negotiations between Innocent and Benedict, who leave France for Genoa.

231406 Benedict at Savona. The University of Paris proceeds against him. Innocent returns to Rome and dies. Angelo di Corraro, =Gregory XII=.

241408 France, having tried in vain to end the schism, renounces obedience to either pope. Benedict at Perpignan. Ladislaus seizes Rome. Gregory finally settles in Rimini. The cardinals of both parties arrange for a council at Pisa.

251409 Council of Pisa. The two popes refuse to appear, and are deposed. Pietro Philarghi, =Alexander V=, elected. The greater part of Christendom gives him allegiance, but Gregory is obeyed in Bavaria, Naples, and Friuli, and Benedict in Aragon. The three popes issue bulls of excommunication against each other. Alexander issues bull against heresy in Bohemia.

261410 Rome is captured from Ladislaus by Alexander’s party. Death of Alexander. Baltasare Cossa, =John XXII= or =XXIII=. He allies himself with the cause of Louis of Anjou.

271411 On the election of the emperor Sigismund, Germany gives allegiance to John. The pope, Louis, and the Orsini defeat Ladislaus at Roccasecca.

281412 Peace between the pope and Ladislaus, who abandons Gregory. The latter flees from Gaeta to Rimini. John Huss protests against the sale of indulgences, and is excommunicated.

291413 Ladislaus makes treaty, and seizes Rome and other papal possessions. John retreats to Florence, and turns to Sigismund for help. The Council of Constance is agreed on.

301414 Ladislaus enters Rome, but dies shortly after. The people restore Rome to John. John goes to Constance, and opens council. Gregory and Benedict send representatives.

311415 Deposition of John by the council. He is imprisoned. Voluntary abdication of Gregory. Benedict refuses to give up. Perfidious treatment and execution of John Huss.

321416 Execution of Jerome of Prague at Constance.

331417 The council considers measures of reform. Election of Otto di Colonna, =Martin V=, as pope. Benedict still opposes him. Death of Gregory. Andrea Braccio takes Rome. Sforza and the Neapolitans drive him out, and restore the papal governor.

34FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE ERA OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION [1417-1513 A.D.]

351418 Close of the Council of Constance. Martin goes to Italy, accompanied by Sigismund.

361419 Martin fixes his residence at Florence. John is pardoned, and dies.

371420 Martin Sforza assists Louis III of Anjou in his attempts on Naples. Reconciliation of Martin and Braccio. The latter recovers Bologna for the pope. Martin goes to Rome.

381424 Death of Benedict XIII. Some of the cardinals elect Gil de Munion (Ægidius Nuños), _Clement VIII_, and a single French one elects _Benedict XIV_. Reform constitution of Martin. Death of Braccio. Martin soon recovers all the papal possessions.

391429 Clement VIII submits to Martin. Cardinal Beaufort’s crusade against the Hussites.

401431 Gabriel Condolmieri, =Eugenius IV=. He quarrels with the Colonnas, and deprives them of their offices. They take up arms against him, but peace is made. Eugenius favours the Orsini. Opening of the Council of Bâle. It declares itself, in spiritual matters, superior to the pope. Eugenius orders the council dissolved.

411432 The council refuses to dissolve, and accuses the pope of contumacy.

421433 Eugenius revokes his dissolution. Negotiations for a union with the Greek church are begun.

431434 The limits of papal authority fixed by the council. Eugenius gives Francesco Sforza the march of Ancona. Rising in Rome against Eugenius, Niccolo Fortebraccio captures the city. Eugenius escapes to Florence.

441435 Defeat and death of Fortebraccio. Eugenius quarrels with the council.

451436 Eugenius removes to Bologna.

461437 The Council of Bâle summons Eugenius to answer charges; he replies with a bull dissolving council and summoning another at Ferrara, to which the emperor of Constantinople, Joannes VIII, is invited, that a union between the two churches may be effected. The council ignores the bull, and continues its sittings.

471438 The Council of Bâle passes a decree suspending the pope. Opening of the Council of Ferrara attended by the emperor and patriarch of Constantinople. The pope’s fiscal rights annulled in France. The Council of Bâle is henceforth recognised only in Germany.

481439 The council removed to Florence. Union of the Greek and Latin churches effected. It comes to nothing, through hostile influences at Constantinople and the failure of Eugenius to keep his promises. Deposition of Eugenius at Bâle. Amadeus VIII of Savoy, _Felix V_, elected anti-pope. Eugenius excommunicates the Council of Bâle.

491440 Coronation of Felix.

501441 Felix quarrels with the council over questions of money. General peace in northern Italy concluded at Cremona.

511443 Felix deserts the council, but retains allegiance of Germany. Henceforth it exists only in name. Eugenius leaves Florence for Rome.

521445 Eugenius’ deposition of the archbishop of Cologne and Trèves brings his dispute with the electors of Germany to a climax. The emperor Frederick III comes to his aid.

531446 Treaty between Frederick and Eugenius. Two electors are deposed, and the electors league against the pope.

541447 Through efforts of Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini the obedience of Germany is restored. Death of Eugenius. Tommaso Parentucelli, =Nicholas V=. Under him the revival of learning properly begins. The Vatican library is founded. Frederick III forbids any allegiance to Felix in Germany.

551448 Nicholas recognised by the German electors. Dissolution of the Council of Bâle.

561449 Abdication of Felix.

571450 Francesco Sforza becomes lord of Milan. Peace restored in Italy.

581451 Nicholas begins great building operations.

591452 Nicholas crowns Frederick III emperor. Cardinal Isidore and a small force are sent to the relief of Constantinople.

601453 Plot of Stefano Porcaro to re-establish the Roman Republic. It fails, and Porcaro is exiled. The Ottoman conquest of Constantinople brings many learned men to Rome, who assist in the Renaissance. Nicholas proclaims a crusade against the Turks.

611454 League of Lodi.

621455 Alfonso Borgia, =Calixtus III=. His election is unpopular.

631456 Calixtus proclaims war against the Turks. The papal fleet is sent, but only wins a few unimportant victories.

641458 At death of Alfonso of Naples, Calixtus claims Naples, which he wants for a fief for his nephew, Pedro. These plans are terminated by Calixtus’ death. Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini, =Pius II=. He recognises Ferdinand as king of Naples.

651459 Congress of Mantua. Pius dreams of converting Muhammed to Christianity.

661460 Publication of the bull “Execrabilis” in which appeals to future councils are condemned. Revolt of Tiburzio in Rome. Pius returns from Mantua and subdues it.

671463 Excommunication of George of Bohemia. Pius issues bull retracting opinions he held at the Council of Bâle.

681464 In league with Venice and Hungary, Pius starts a crusade against the Turks. He dies at Ancona and the crusade is abandoned. Pietro Barbo, =Paul II=. He is apathetic about the crusade. The moral corruption of the court begins to alienate the respect of Germany.

691465 Paul recovers the patrimony from the sons of Everso di Anguillara.

701469 Departure of Frederick III from Rome--the last appearance of an emperor in Rome.

711470 Paul resigns his claim to Rimini. Publication of statutes for the government of Rome.

721471 Francesco della Rovere, =Sixtus IV=. He pursues a policy of family aggrandisement. He attempts a new crusade.

731472 The papal fleet plunders the Turkish coast, but makes little effect.

741478 Sixtus tacitly abets the conspiracy against the Medici. Interdiction of Florence for the execution of Archbishop Salviati. War declared on the Florentines who are in alliance with the king of Naples. Louis XI of France fails in offers of mediation.

751480 Peace arranged. The conquest of Otranto by the Turks unites all Italy (except Venice) against the invaders. Absolution of Florence.

761481 The Turks surrender Otranto after death of Muhammed II. Girolamo Riario seizes Forlì.

771482 Sixtus goes to war with Ferrara. Feuds in Rome. Victory at Campo Morto of Roberto Malatesta, the papal general. Peace with Ferrara.

781483 Excommunication of Venice for not making peace with Ferrara. Savonarola begins to preach.

791484 Sixtus attacks the Colonnas in his designs to increase power of Girolamo Riario. Death of Sixtus. The Romans attack Riario and other members of the pope’s family. Giovanni Battista Cibo, =Innocent VIII=.

801485 Siege of Rome by Virginio Orsini in a quarrel at the instigation of Naples. Innocent intimidated. Relief of Rome by Roberto Sanseverino.

811486 Rumours of French intervention lead the cardinals to urge the pope to make peace with Ferdinand, which he does in a manner favourable to Naples.

821487 Alliance of Innocent with Lorenzo de’ Medici.

831489 Djem, brother of Bajazet II, arrives a prisoner in Rome. Innocent claims the kingdom of Naples because Ferdinand will not pay tribute.

841492 Peace made between the pope and Naples after three years of bickering. Death of Innocent. Rodrigo Borgia, =Alexander VI=. He suppresses the disorder in Rome occasioned by Innocent’s death. Naples offers obedience.

851493 Lodovico Il Moro arrays the pope, Milan, and Venice against Florence and Naples and invites Charles VIII of France to revive the Anjou claim to Naples. Alexander divides the lands of the new world between the Spanish and Portuguese. Peace made with Naples.

861494 Close alliance of the pope and Naples. Charles VIII arrives in Italy.

871495 Charles in Rome. The pope comes to terms with him and receives the obedience of France. Djem is delivered to Charles. Death of Djem, probably due to natural causes and not to poison administered by the pope, as usually believed. The pope joins a league to expel Charles from Naples. Charles’ retreat. Inundation of Rome.

881496 Alexander makes war upon the Orsini.

891497 Excommunication of Savonarola. Peace with the Orsini. Divorce of Lucrezia Borgia from Giovanni Sforza. Murder of Alexander’s son, the duke of Gandia, who has been made duke of Benevento. Alexander’s mock plans for reform.

901498 The Orsini and Colonnas make peace in order to unite against the pope. Alexander allies himself with France. His object is the consolidation of Italy. Execution of Savonarola.

911499 Venice joins the pope and France against Milan. Louis XII captures Milan.

921500 Cesare Borgia captures Imola and Forlì. Murder of Lucrezia’s third husband, Alfonso of Este, at instigation of Cesare. Year of Jubilee. Indulgences sold in foreign countries.

931501 Conquest of the Romagna by Cesare Borgia completed. Conquest of Naples by the French. The Colonnas submit to the pope.

941502 Cesare seizes Urbino and Sinigaglia.

951503 The pope takes violent measures against the Orsini family. Death of Alexander. Francesco Piccolomini, =Pius III=. His great desire is for peace. Cesare’s dominions begin to fall to pieces. Death of Pius after a rule of less than four weeks. Giuliano della Rovere, =Julius II=. He imprisons Cesare.

961504 Liberation of Cesare, who is again imprisoned and sent to Spain. His domains are restored to the papacy. Inquisition introduced into Naples. Julius begins to practise nepotism.

971505 Treaty between the pope and Venice.

981506 Foundation of the present St. Peter’s cathedral laid. Capture of Perugia and Bologna by Julius.

991507 The emperor Maximilian plans to unite the empire and papacy.

1001508 League of Cambray against Venice.

1011509 Julius joins the league and excommunicates the Venetians. Defeat of Venice at Agnadello.

1021510 Venice makes humiliating terms with Julius and is absolved. France placed under the ban. At synod of Tours the French bishops withdraw obedience and seek to depose Julius. Julius makes an alliance with the Swiss. The Swiss guard of the pope still exists. Julius makes war on the duchy of Ferrara.

1031511 Julius besieges and captures Mirandola. Failure of the expedition against Ferrara. The “Holy League” of the papacy. Ferdinand and Venice to recover Bologna, captured by the French. Gaston de Foix continues hostilities against Ferrara and Venice.

1041512 Successes of Gaston de Foix. His death at the battle of Ravenna. Many cities surrender to the Holy League. Opening of the Lateran Council to consider the schismatic French bishops. Julius recovers Bologna.

1051513 Death of Julius.