JOHN
434
JOHN
(N'ionna. 1S71): Moltexsen, De Avignonske Pavers forhold lit
Danmark {Copenhagen, 1S96): Pastoh, Cesch. der Pdpste,l,
(4th ed.. Freiburg im Br., 1901), 67 sqq.; Hefele, Komilicn-
ffescA., VI (2nd ed.), 575 sqq. j p J^mggjj
John XXIII, antipope of the Pisan party (1410-15), b. about 1370; d. 22 November, 1419. Cardinal Bal- dassare Cossa was one of the seven cardinals who, in May, 1408, deserted Gregory XII (q. v.), and, with those belonging to the obedience of Benedict XIII (see Luna, Pedro de), convened the Council of Pisa, of which Cossa became the leader. Descended from a nolile but impoverished Neapolitan family, he em- braced in his youth a military career, but later for- sook it for the service of the Church. Endowed with great energy and very talented, he studied law at Bologna, where he took his doctor's degree, and then entered the service of the papal curia. On 27 Febru- ary, 1402, Boniface IX made him Cardinal-Deacon of St. Eustachius, and in the following year appointed him legate of Romandiola. On 17 March, 1403. he set out for Bologna, where, until 140.S, he proved him- self an astute financial administrator of the papal
Tomb op John XXIII
Donatello, and Michelozzo. Baptistery, Florence
territory, as well as a skilful statesman and able com- mander. At the same time he was utterly worldly minded, ambitious, crafty, unscrupulous, and immoral, a good soldier but no churchman. He played an im- portant part in the Cotmcil of Pisa (1409), and, when the two popes, Gregory XII of Rome and Benedict XIII of Avignon, were deposed, he conducted the election of Pietro Philarhgi, who was elevated to the papacy and crowned as Alexander V (q. v.). The new pope was entirely under the influence of Baldassare Cossa. The latter supported Louis of .\njou in a military expedition against Ladislaus of Naples. Louis seized on several fortresses in the Ecclesiastical vStates, and in 1410 captured Rome. Alexander V was now proclaimed pope at Rome, but refused to leave Bo- logna, where he died on 3 May, 1410. In the hope of procuring an understanding with that pope. Prince Malatesta of Rimini, protector of Gregory XII, begged the cardinals of the Pisan obedience to defer a new election. These cardinals assembled at Bologna would not consent, but, supported by Louis of .Vnjou and the city of Morenco, oloclcd Baldassare Cossa, 17 May, 1410. On 21 May ( 'osml wiis onlained priest, and on the following dav was ((Hiscrrated anil crowned pope, taking the name of .lohii .X.XIII.
Soon after he ascended t he throne, ,Iohn received an ambassador from Sigismund of Hungary, who wished to confer with him about, the political and religious
affairs of his kingdom. On IS May King Ruprecht of
Germany, the firm supporter of Gregroy XII, died.
The electors of Mainz and Cologne wrote informing
John that they intended to elect Sigismund, King of
Hungary, as King of Germany. As Sigismund had,
even before he heard of Ruprecht's death, entered into
negotiationswith the Pisan pope, John exerted himself
all the more readily on his behalf, and on 21 July Sig-
ismund, who had become reconciled with his brother
Wenzel of Bohemia, was chosen King of Germany.
Sigismund's election was also recognized by Gregory
XII. In April, 1411, John XXIII advanced with
Louis of Anjou upon Rome, where they vigorously
prosecuted the war against Ladislaus of Naples, and
completely routed him at the battle of Roccasecca
(19 May, 1411), but made no use of their victory.
Soon afterwards Louis of Anjou returned to France,
thus enabling Ladislaus to rally his troops and
strengthen his positions. Sub.sequently, John began
negotiations with Ladislaus in spite of the excom-
munication of 11 August, 1411. Ladislaus thereupon
abandoned the cause of Gregory, and acknowledged
John as legitimate pope, in recognition of which the
latter withdrew his excommimication, enfeoffed Lad-
islaus with the Kingdom of Naples, consented to his
conquest of Sicily, appointed him gonfalnnie.r , or stand-
ard-bearer, of the Roman Church, and gave him finan-
cial aid (10 October, 1412).
In conformity with a resolution passed at the Council of Pisa, John had summoned a new council to meet at Rome on 29 April, 1412, for the purpose of carrying out ecclesiastical reforms. He also appointed a number of new cardinals, among whom were many able men, such as Francesco Zarabella of Florence, Pierre d'.^illy, Bishop of Cambrai, Guillaume Fillastre, clean of Reims, and Robert Hallam, Bishop of Salis- bury. From the beginning of 1412 conferences and meetings of the clergy had been held throughout France in preparation for tliis council, among the rep- resentatives appointed by the king being Cardinal Pierre d'.Villy and Patriarch Cramaud, created cardi- nal in 1413. But, when the council was opened in April, there were so very few participants that it had to be prorogued several times. When the sessions finally began, the only thing accomplished was the condemnation of the writings of Wyclif, the council being dissolved in March, 1413. Jolm's regrettable weakness in dealing with Ladislaus of Naples soon led to another attack by the latter upon papal terri- tory. In May, 1413, he invaded the Roman province, and John was compelled to fly with his cardinals. He escaped to Florence, where lie sought the protection of Sigismund, King of Germany, then labouring in Northern Italy for the convocation of a general council to put an end to the unfortunate schism. John's legates were authorized to come to an understanding with Sigismund on this matter, and Sigismund took advantage of the pope's predicament to insist on the selection of Constance as the meeting-place of the council. On .30 October, 1413, Sigismund invited Popes Gregory XII and Benedict Xtll anil all Chris- tendom to attend, and prevailed on John XXIII, with whom he had a meeting at Lodi towards the end of Noveml)cr, to issue the Convocation Bull (9 Decem- ber, 1413) of the general co\incil to be opened at Constance on 1 Novemlier, 1414.
By the sudden death of Ladislaus (G August, 1414) John's position in Italy was improved, and he could now return to Rome. But the cardinals urgently protested that his presence was needed at the Council of Constance, and that he imist adhere to his promise of presiding in jierson, and direct there the treatment of all ecelesiast ical matters. On 1 October, 1414, John .set out for Constance with a large following and sup- plied with ample means, but with heavy heart and anxious forebodings. Timidity and suspicion had re- placed the warlike spirit he had shown as cardinal.
