Martin V
Cardinal Oddo Colonna, elected pope at the Council of Constance on 11 November 1417. His election ended the Great Western Schism, and he closed the council the following April.
The Council of Constance had deposed two claimants to the papacy and accepted the resignation of the third before it allowed an election (Council of Constance, sessions 12, 14 and 37). On 11 November 1417 the conclave chose Cardinal Oddo Colonna, who took the name Martin V (Council of Constance, session 41 (editor’s summary)). As pope he presided over the last sessions: he had the deposed John XXIII released, issued reform decrees, named Pavia as the place of the next council as the decree Frequens required, and dissolved the council on 22 April 1418 (Council of Constance, sessions 42–45).
See the Great Western Schism and the Council of Constance and the Burning of Jan Hus.
In the timeline
- 1378 to 1417, firm dateThe Great Western Schism
The cardinals who elect Urban VI at Rome in 1378 declare the election forced and set up Clement VII. For nearly forty years two and then three lines of popes divide Latin Christendom, until at Constance two are deposed, one resigns and Martin V is elected.
- 1414 to 1418, firm dateThe Council of Constance and the Burning of Jan Hus
A general council ends the papal schism, declares that even a pope must obey it, and orders councils to meet at fixed intervals. It also tries the Czech preacher Jan Hus, who had come under the king’s safe-conduct, and hands him over to be burned on 6 July 1415.
- 1419 to 1436, firm dateThe Hussites and the Compacts of Basel
After the burning of Jan Hus, Praguers and Taborites defend the lay chalice in arms. A crusade proclaimed by Martin V fails before Prague in 1420, the city states its demands in Four Articles, and in 1436 legates of the Council of Basel concede the chalice at Jihlava.
Primary sources
Decrees of the Council of Constance
- Council of Constance, sessions 12, 14 and 37papalencyclicals.net
- Council of Constance, session 41 (editor’s summary)papalencyclicals.net
- Council of Constance, sessions 42–45papalencyclicals.net