Eugene IV
Eugene IV,
1383–1447, pope (1431–47), a Venetian named Gabriele Condulmer; successor of Martin V. He was of exemplary character and ascetic habits. Gregory XII, his uncle, made him cardinal (1408). The first part of Eugene's reign was beset with the difficulties created by the Council of Basel (see Basel, Council ofBasel, Council of,1431–49, first part of the 17th ecumenical council in the Roman Catholic Church. It is generally considered to have been ecumenical until it fell into heresy in 1437; after that it is regarded as an anticouncil.
..... Click the link for more information. ), which began just after his election. Eugene at first opposed the council in its antipapal acts, but after he had been driven by rebellion from Rome into exile at Florence (1434) he was disposed to conciliate. Finally in 1437 he removed the council to Ferrara. Antipapal leaders refused to move, and the council, now in heresy, continued at Basel. It declared Eugene deposed and elected Amadeus VIIIAmadeus VIII
, 1383–1451, count (1391–1416) and duke (from 1416) of Savoy, antipope (1439–49) with the name Felix V. In 1434 he appointed his son regent of Savoy and retired to the hermitage of Ripaille, on Lake Geneva, which he had founded.
..... Click the link for more information. of Savoy antipope (as Felix V). It attracted little support, however. Meanwhile the Council of Ferrara-FlorenceFerrara-Florence, Council of,
1438–45, second part of the 17th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church; the first part was the Council of Basel, canonically convened but after 1437 schismatic (see Basel, Council of).
..... Click the link for more information. met and proclaimed (1439) the reunion of Eastern and Western churches. Abortive as this union proved to be, it greatly enhanced the papal prestige, and in 1443 Eugene returned to Rome from Florence. Eugene was succeeded by Nicholas V.
Bibliography
See biography by J. Gill (1961).
Eugene IV
(secular name,GabrielCondulmaro). Born 1383 in Venice; died Feb. 23, 1447, in Rome. Pope from 1431 to 1447.
Eugene IV carried on a bitter struggle with the Council of Basel, which sought to assert the primacy of councils over the pope. As a counter to it, he summoned his own council, the Council of Florence (1438-45). By a series of concessions, he was able to win a group of European sovereigns (including the monarchs of Spain and France) over to his side, thus isolating the appointee of Basel, Pope Felix V (later considered to be an antipope). At his council, he also succeeded in concluding the so-called Union of Florence between the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) churches, based on the recognition of papal supremacy. This union, however, was rejected by Byzantium and Rus’.