Great (Western) Schism

This page forms part of a brief outline of some of the aspects of Christianity about which some readers of AWE may want to know more. It is written in a sequence that you may want to follow. The best place to start, if you want to follow the whole course, is Principal Christian Denominations. Many users of AWE will come to this group of articles only wanting to know more about one of the denominations mentioned, or by way of links from other places. You should of course read a larger book if you are taking a serious interest in the Christian religion - our articles are the merest sketches of what is a vast array of complex ideas.

You may have been looking for the Great Schism - a term that has two meanings, one better known as the Great Western Schism (this article), and the other better known as The Great (East-West) Schism, to which you should go if this page is not what you want

At the end of the 70 years in which the papacy had resided in Avignon rather than Rome with the arrival of Gregory XI (1370-1378) in Italy in 1377, and the election of Urban VI in Rome on Gregory's death in 1378, it appeared that a divisive episode of western Christianity had ended. Unfortunately, the election was violent and disputed. Urban (the popular choice of the Roman mob) was enthroned on 18th April, but so alienated the Cardinals (it appears possible that his elevation had disturbed the balance of his mind, making him autocratic, tactless, violent and 'paranoid') that on 9 August the French cardinals (those appointed at Avignon) deposed him as an intruder. By 30th September they had elected Robert of Geneva as Clement (VII) (1378-1394), now recognized as the first antipope of the Great (Western} Schism. The schism continued after the deaths of both initial claimants; Boniface IX, crowned at Rome in 1389, and Benedict (XIII), who reigned in Avignon from 1394, maintained their rival courts; different countries acknowledged one or the other as 'The' Pope.

Attempts were made to heal the rift: when Boniface died in 1404, the Roman conclave offered to refrain from electing a new pope if Benedict would resign; but when this was refused, the Roman party then proceeded to elect Innocent VII (1404-6). The French crown even tried to coerce Benedict XIII, whom it nominally supported, into resigning, without success. From the beginning, a Church Council had been suggested. This eventually met in 1409 at Pisa, which when neither Benedict (XIII) nor Gregory XII (1406-1415), who had succeeded Innocent, would resign, elected a third man, Alexander (V) (1409-10). After Alexander's brief reign, he was succeeded by John (XXIII). John had strong support internationally, but the three-way schism was still in effect. He called a General Council of the Church to meet in Constance in 1414. This secured the resignations of John (XXIII) and Gregory XII. It excommunicated the Avignon Pope Benedict (XIII), who refused to step down. The Council then elected Pope Martin V (1417-31), essentially ending the schism. Benedict continued to pretend to the Papacy, although he had been expelled from Avignon in 1403. He was followed by two 'Avignon (anti)popes' who never actually reigned there: Clement (VIII) (1423-1429) and Benedict (XIV) (born Bernard Garnier) (1424-1429 or 1430). A second Benedict (XIV) (Jean Carrier) (1430?-1437) was in schism from the schismatics.

This page is included in AWE's category:essentially contested concepts. This is designed to draw the reader's attention to the fact that there are some ideas that will always cause disagreement among the people who use them. For a fuller explanation, read the text at the head of the category.